Orders, Decorations and Medals

Original Documents relating to Sergeant William McNally, V.C., M.M., Yorkshire Regiment, comprising original forwarding letter for Defence Medal to Mr. W. McNally, V.C., M.M., from the Territorial Army and Air Force Association of the County of Durham, dated 20 May, 1946 ; Coronation 1937, original award certificate to Mr. William McNally, V.C., M.M.; original Army Telegraph “The G.O.C. congratulates you on your being awarded the Military Medal by the Corps Commander.”; a printed ‘Souvenir in Commemoration of the V.C.s, invitation to dinner by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, Saturday 9th November 1929’, and a small portrait photograph, generally good condition (Lot) £150-200

V.C. London Gazette 14 December, 1918. ‘For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading during the operations on 27 Oct. 1918, across the Piave, when his company was most seriously hindered in its advance by heavy machine gun fire from the vicinity of some buildings on a flank; utterly regardless of personal safety, he rushed the machine gun post single-handed, killing the team and capturing the gun. Later at Varzola, on 29 Oct. 1918, when his company, having crossed the Monticano River, came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire, Sergt. McNally immediately directed the fire of his platoon against the danger point, while he himself crept to the rear of the enemy position. Realizing that a frontal attack would mean heavy losses, he, unaided, rushed the position, killing or putting to flight the garrison, and capturing a machine gun. On the same day, when holding a newly-captured ditch, he was strongly counter attacked from both flanks. By his coolness and skill in controlling the fire of his party, he frustrated the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Throughout the whole operations his innumerable acts of gallantry set a high example to his men, and his leading was beyond all praise.’ Sold with a quantity of additional research and some recent photographs of his memorial stone, etc.