Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain L. E. Francis, 16th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, late 1/16th Battalion London Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Capt. L. E. Francis, 16 K.R.R.C. Menin Road. Sept. 25th to 27th 1917’; 1914 Star, with clasp (2242 Pte., 1/16 Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) mounted as worn; together with a mounted set of four miniature dress medals, very fine and better (8) £1200-1500

M.C. London Gazette 26 November 1917. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. It was principally due to his remarkable skill and coolness under very difficult conditions that the position was maintained and the objective finally captured. He set a splendid example of courage throughout.’

Lawrence Edmund Francis was born in Uxbridge on 28 February 1895. He enlisted into the 16th Battalion London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) on 7 August 1914. With them he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 1 November 1914 (clasp to be confirmed). He was discharged to a commission in the 16th (Church Lad’s Brigade) Battalion K.R.R.C. on 10 April 1915. Awarded the M.C. for services at the Menin Road, 25-27 September 1917. Research with the lot indicates he was wounded and held as a prisoner-of-war. After the war he went to Malaya and became a Rubber Planter in Penang. He died in February 1934.`

With original Discharge Certificate of a Soldier of the Territorial Army, with associated slip; Commission Document, appointing him a 2nd Lieutenant; War Officer letter (damaged) appointing him a 2nd Lieutenant in the 16th K.R.R.C., and a leaflet (damaged and repaired) entitled ‘A Parting Word’ - given to German P.O.W’s about to be released to return to a new Republic of Germany. Also with a photograph of the recipient in uniform with his mother taken outside of Buckingham Palace possibly after his investiture. The photo shows clearly shell splinter wounds to his face. With copied m.i.c. and service notes.

For his wife’s medals, see lot 710.