Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War ‘Logeast Wood’ M.C. group of five awarded to Captain R. H. Vance, Royal Marine Light Infantry, 1st R.M. Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse inscribed ‘Capt. R. H. Vance, Royal Marines’; 1914-15 Star (PS-861 Cpl. R. H. Vance, Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. H. Vance, R.M.); Defence Medal, mounted for display, a little polished, otherwise very fine (5) £1600-1800

Approximately 51 awards of the Military Cross were made to members of the Royal Marines during the Great War.

M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a counter-attack. Under very heavy machine-gun fire, this officer led his men successfully against a strong enemy point, and took forty prisoners and six-machine guns. A fine performance.’

Richard Halsted Vance, a nephew of Lady Mallett, was formerly a Purser serving with the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, before joining the Middlesex Regiment and receiving a commission in the Royal Marines. He was awarded the M.C. for gallantry at Logeast Wood on 21 August 1918, when the 1/R.M.L.I. were subjected to three strong counter-attacks which were repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. During this action Captain Vance was severely wounded, his arm being blown off. He received his Military Cross from King George V at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 27 February 1919.