Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War M.C. group of three awarded to 2nd Lieutenant E. I. Sheat, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, whose helmet had four bullet holes through it when he returned from knocking out an enemy machine-gun post

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in its case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. E. I. Sheat), in their original card boxes of issue, together with an Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers cap badge, extremely fine (4) £1100-1300

M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When a party of the enemy with a machine-gun began enfilading his platoon, this officer with two men made a detour and put most of the machine-gun team out of action. The two men were killed but he destroyed the machine-gun with a stick bomb. As a consequence of this exploit the gap in the line was restored and the position held for another two hours. His helmet had four bullet holes through it when he returned.’

Edward Iles Sheat, who was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, in 1891, originally enlisted in the 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, but subsequently transferred in the rank of Corporal to the Middlesex Regiment. However, He did not go out to France until after he had been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in August 1917, in which capacity he won his M.C. for the above cited deeds at Ham, near St. Quentin, during the German offensive in March 1918, while attached to the 11th Battalion. He was invalided back to the U.K. on account of ill-health that July; sold with a quantity of research, his MIC entry revealing his late claim to his campaign medals in February 1928.