Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Corporal G. Coates, 2/4th (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) London Regiment - wounded in action, 16 June 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (283836 L. Cpl. G. Coats, 2/4 Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (8039 Pte. G. W. Coates, 4-Lond. R.) note varied spelling of surname, nearly extremely fine (3) £380-420

M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1917.

George William Coates, a Gardener from 140 Sewardatone Road, Bethnal Green, enlisted into the 2/4th Battalion London Regiment on 11 December 1915. Serving in France near Bullecourt, on 16 June 1917, he both earned the M.M. for his bravery and was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the back. Coates was discharged due to his wounds on 20 September 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge (not with lot).

With an original typed letter addressed to Mrs Coats, of 164 Sewardaton Road, Victoria Park, London, N.E., dated 26 August 1917, which gives the citation for the M.M. -

‘.... As you have been informed, he was wounded during an attack on the 16th June, and transferred to hospital in England on the 26th June. .... The following is an extract from the account of the act for which your husband was awarded the Military Medal:-

“During an attack on Enemy Front Line trenches N.W. of Bullecourt, on June 16th 1917, after an attempt to rush a machine gun from the front had failed, this N.C.O. by himself, worked round under cover, and from a position in rear bombed, and put out of action, both the team and machine gun” ...’

Together with copied m.i.c., service papers and roll extracts.