Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Cambrai’ M.M. awarded to Private J. E. Stephens, “B” Battalion, Tank Corps

Military Medal, G.V.R. (201827 Pte. J. E. Stephens, ‘B’ Bn. Tank Corps) good very fine £150-200

The following citation is taken from The Tank Corps Book of Honour: ‘Battle of Cambrai. This man was first driver in a tank on November 30, 1917, which was in action for about seven hours near Gouzeaucourt. The tank was subjected during the whole time to an intense hostile machine-gun fire and hostile artillery fire. Great difficulty was experienced by the gunners in picking up the exact location of the enemy machine-guns, which were causing considerable casualties to our infantry.

Private Stephens opened the flap in front of his tank, thereby exposing himself, in order to obtain better observation and successfully direct his tank towards the hostile machine-guns. This man showed a total disregard for his personal safety, and enabled the gunners of his crew to inflict severe casualties on the enemy.’