Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War Western Front M.C. group of four awarded to Captain B. W. Fish, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. B. W. Fish. L.N. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. B. W. Fish.) mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £1000-1200

M.C. London Gazette 22 September 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry. With a serjeant he carried out three dangerous and successful reconnaissances, returning with most useful information.’

The following report is taken from the 8th Battalion War Diary for 31 July 1916: ‘On the night of 31 July Capt. B. W. Fish and Sgt. H. Holmes made a very good reconnaissance starting out from our right Coy at 10.30pm. The patrol remained out altogether until 1.50am making three separate journeys. The ground between various parts held by us was thoroughly reconnoitred, notably between LANCASHIRE POST and CROW’S NEST POST and between PICTUREDROME POST and the enemy’s first line of wire. The GOC Division expressed himself very pleased with the way in which this patrol was carried out.’ A footnote added on 31 August 1916 states that Captain Fish received the Military Cross for this action and Sergeant Holmes the Military Medal. The War Diary appends Captain Fish’s full report of the reconnaissance.

Captain Fish was injured in the knee shortly after this patrol and repatriated to England for treatment and subsequent medical discharge.

Brenard Weston Fish was born on 26 October 1884, son of W. H. Fish, J.P., of Blackburn and Birkdale. He was educated at Wellington and Wadham College, Oxford, and attested for the Inns of Court O.T.C. on 2 November 1914, being subsequently commissioned into the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He died at Hove, Sussex, on 19 April 1949.

Sold with comprehensive research including copied War Diary entries, medical report and Attestation papers for Inns of Court OTC.