Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Serjeant J. Cummings, Gordon Highlanders

Military Medal, G.V.R. (3-6724 Sjt;, 2/Gord. Hdrs.) good very fine £200-240

M.M. London Gazette 14 December 1916.

The 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders were stationed in Cairo when war broke out. They hurriedly returned and landed at Southampton on 1 October 1914 going on to Zeebrugge on 4 October. They formed part of 20th Brigade, 7th Division. On 31 October the Battalion was attacked by the weight of the German offensive and during the ensuing battle, the Battalion was awarded two VCs and suffered heavy casualties. On 16 November a draft of reinforcements arrived making the total of 500 soldiers in the battalion. Private James Cummings was amongst these reinforcements having landed on 9 November 1914. Throughout December 1914 the battalion carried out tours in the trenches although, as heavy rain had fallen, the trenches were flooded and full of mud. The War Diary records that “Not a shot was fired by either side during the Christmas period.”

From January 1915 until May 1915 the 2nd Gordons occupied several front line positions and took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle 11–14 March. In this Battle the Battalion lost 254 killed wounded and missing. In June 1915 the 2nd Gordons were heavily engaged around the trenches at Le Plantin and lost 5 officers and 150 other ranks.

James Cumming’s m.i.c. shows that having been promoted to Sergeant, he was discharged on 6 May 1916. It also states that on 3 October 1921 his 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals were returned as he could not be traced. With some copied research.