Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding Great War M.C. and double-M.S.M. group of eleven awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major William Lawrance, 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse inscribed ‘Sgt. Major, 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade (P.C.O.)’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Orange Free State (5262 Corpl., Rifle Bde.) the last clasp with unofficial rivets; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5262 Corpl., Rifle Brigade); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (5262 R.S. Mjr., 1/Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (5262 W.O. Cl.1, Rif. Brig.); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1935; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5262 S. Mjr., Rif. Bde.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (5262 R.S. Mjr., M.C. 1/Rif. Brig.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (6905015 W.O. Cl.1, R.B.) the Boer War medals with contact marks, nearly very fine, otherwise generally extremely fine and a very rare group (11) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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See Colour Plate II.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917: ‘For distinguished service in the Field. Sergeant-Major, Rifle Brigade.’

M.S.M. (Immediate) London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders. Regimental Sergeant-Major, M.C., 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade (Colchester).’

M.S.M. (Annuity) Army Order 98 of 1953 without annuity.

There are only nine recorded instances of Immediate M.S.M. recipients subsequently receiving a non-Immediate M.S.M.