Auction Catalogue

12 May 2015

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

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Lot

№ 401 x

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12 May 2015

Hammer Price:
£1,200

A fine Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain J. F. Wallace, 1st West Yorkshire Regiment, for gallantry in the battle of St Quentin, 21-23 March 1918, when he was wounded and taken prisoner

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. J. F. Wallace. W. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. F. Wallace) mounted as worn, polished, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1000-1200

M.C. London Gazette 10 December 1919:

‘On 21st March, east of Monchies [Morchies], he carried out his duties during a critical day with the greatest coolness, writing orders, etc., with the enemy bombing within fifty yards of the battalion headquarters. He was also frequently exposed while taking instructions to company commanders to close cross fire. During the retirement he continued to resist with his men till the evening of the 22nd in the corps line, when the regiment practically ceased to exist.’

Captain and Adjutant James Francis Wallace was taken prisoner on 21st March 1918, together with his commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Boyall, and eleven other officers and more than 500 other ranks. Wallace was repatriated on 17 December 1918. Sold with detailed account copied from the regimental history, together with copied War Diary, gazette entry and m.i.c.