Orders, Decorations and Medals

A ‘replacement’ Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of three awarded to 2nd Lieutenant G. L. Wincer, Tank Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; British War and Victory Medals (2/Lieut. G. L. Wincer, M.C. Tank Corps (Replacement)) extremely fine (3) £550-650

M.C. London Gazette 15 February 1919. ‘T/2nd Lt., 16 Bn., Tank Corps.’; citation London Gazette 30 July 1919, ‘Whilst in action on September 29th, 1918, north of Guillemont Farm, his tank received a direct hit, killing one of his gunners and severely wounding himself. In spite of this he kept his tank in action, reorganising his crew as they got wounded one after the other until finally, having received three more direct hits and all but one of his crew wounded, the tank caught fire, and he was forced to evacuate it. His courage and determination and personal example were of the highest order’.

George Leslie Wincer was born in Walsall, Staffordshire on 30 October 1898. A Bank Clerk by occupation, he attested for service with the 28th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles) on 23 October 1916, aged 18 years. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in April 1917 and discharged to a commission with the Tank Corps in September 1917. 2nd Lieutenant Wincer entered the France/Flanders theatre of war with the 16th Battalion Tank Corps on 10 September 1918. Soon in action, he was awarded the M.C. for his services above, having received gunshot wounds to his right eye, head and left hand in the process. As a result of his injuries he was invalided to England on 22 October 1918 and demobilized on 27 March 1919.

His M.C. and pair, lost in a burglary, were replaced in 1958. Sold with a quantity of copied research, including gazette extracts, diary extracts, service papers, medical reports and m.i.c.