Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Good Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private L. Day, Royal Munster Fusiliers, subsequently taken prisoner of war during the German Spring Offensive

Military Medal, G.V.R. (15004 Pte., 1/R.M. Fus.) good very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Chris Murphy Collection of Medals to the Royal Munster Fusiliers.

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M.M. London Gazette 19 November 1917.

Sold with photocopied extracts from the Preston Guardian, from which the following is taken. ‘On Saturday, from Preston Town Hall steps, the Mayor presented the Military Medal to Private L. Day of the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, and in the course of a speech outlined Private Day’s military career. The ceremony was witnessed by some hundreds of people.

On May 18th 1915, said the Mayor, Pte. Day joined the South Wales Borderers. That was at a time when it was thought that men could only fight if they were a certain height, and consequently he joined the Welshmen, where such people were appreciated, as they were everywhere else afterwards. If Pte. Day had had his way he would have been in the army earlier, for he actually applied at the beginning of hostilities. Pte. Day went to France on May 31st 1916, was at two important engagements at Ypres and Wystchaete, and was made a prisoner of war at St Emlis on March 22nd 1918. He was a prisoner of war till November 26th, and admitted he was fairly well treated. He was awarded the Military Medal for bringing up rations to the firing line under heavy shell fire.’