Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Great War M.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major J. Bushell, Royal Marine Light Infantry, attached Royal Naval Division, who was decorated for his gallantry at “Gavrelle Windmill” in the battle of Arras in 1917 - arguably the bloodiest action in the history of that distinguished corps and in which operations he was severely wounded in the face and arm

Military Medal, G.V.R. (Ch.-7771 Sjt. J. Bushell, R.M.L.I.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Ch. 7771 Sergt. J. Bushell, R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. 7771 Sgt. Maj. J. Bushell, R.M.L.I.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Ch./7771 John Bushnell, C.S.M. (W.O. 2), R.M.L.I.), note surname spelling on the last, mounted as worn, together with a set of related dress miniature medals, very fine and better (10) £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917.

John Bushell was born at Herne Bay, Kent in March 1877 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Walmer in April 1894. Posted to the Chatham Division, he enjoyed several seagoing appointments and steady advancement in the period leading up to the outbreak of hostilities, being appointed Corporal in July 1904 and Sergeant in July 1910. And it was in the latter rank that he was embarked for Dunkirk with the R.M. Brigade in September 1914, and thence for Antwerp, where he was present at the defence of that place in the following month.

Indeed Bushell went on to witness considerable fighting with the Royal Naval Division, quite probably in Gallipoli before his M.M.-winning exploits in the momentous action fought by the 1st and 2nd R.M.L.I. at Gavrelle Windmill in the battle of Arras on 28-29 April 1917, in which the two battalions suffered over 1000 casualties - at one point an overwhelming enemy counter-attack was only stemmed by the senior officer enlisting the assistance of his H.Q. Staff, cooks and bottlewashers.

As verified in Blumberg’s definitive history, Britain’s Sea Soldiers, three D.C.Ms and 15 M.Ms were awarded to the Royal Marine Light Infantry in respect of this action, Bushell being listed among the latter. And although severely wounded in the face and arm in the following month, as the Marines pluckily held their ground at Gavrelle, he returned to active duty and was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major in January 1918. He was demobilised in March 1919, in which year he also received his L.S. & G.C. Medal.