Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private R. J. Pitt, Berkshire Regiment, late Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Military Medal, G.V.R. (45383 Pte., 2/R. Berks. R.); British War and Victory Medals (20295 Pte., Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) nearly extremely fine (3) £450-550

M.M. London Gazette 4 May 1919.

Richard James Pitt was born in 1897 and came from Cork. He enlisted into the Hampshire Regiment on 13 November 1915. With the 4th Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, he served in France/Flanders, 9 October-10 December 1916. With the 5th Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry he served 24 July 1917-17 June 1918, and with the 2nd Battalion Berkshire Regiment he served, 18 June-11 November 1918. He was discharged from the 13th Battalion London Regiment on 28 April 1920.

He gained the Military Medal whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion Berkshire Regiment. The citation, taken from a copy of a letter from the ‘General Officer Commanding, 8th Division’, reads:

‘For action with command. Private Pitts displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty during operations in front of Garvelle on the 22nd September 1918 he was wounded in the early part of the attack but carried on did splendid service as Platoon runner both during the fight and more especially during the subsequent relief. He guided the incoming platoon in under extremely heavy shell fire and thinking it unsafe to take the platoon in as a whole across a certain portion of the communication trench he led them forwards in small parties making four journeys and getting the Platoon in without casualties he then led his own Platoon out in a similar manner all the time showing great coolness and giving the men great confidence he undoubtedly saved many casualties’.

Sold with above letter; notebook; Certificate of Discharge; Certificate of Employment during the War - this states ‘Awarded Military Medal Octr. 7 1918, Mentioned in Despatches 22.9.18’; photograph; together with copied research.