Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant W. B. Little, 5th Dragoon Guards and Machine Gun Corps Cavalry, late Military Mounted Police and 1st Dragoon Guards

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4852 Corpl: W. Little 1st. Dgn: Gds:) unofficial rivets between clasps; 1914 Star (P-162 Sjt. W. B. Little. M.M.P.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. B. Little.) good very fine (5) £1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to The Military Police.

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M.C. London Gazette 15 October 1918.

‘For conspicuous gallantry and clever handling of a section of four guns detailed to reinforce a squadron who were expected to counter-attack. Not knowing the location of this squadron, he reconnoitred the route under very heavy machine-gun fire, and then succeeded in reaching his objective without casualties in time to help the squadron. He showed daring enterprise and marked ability to command.’

William Butler Little was born in September 1880 and attested into the 1st Dragoon Guards in 1898. He served with his unit in South Africa, before transferring to the Military Mounted Police as a Sergeant on 25 September 1914. He served with the M.M.P. during the Great War in France from 11 October 1914, before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 5th Dragoon Guards, 29 November 1914. He served with that unit for the next year, before he became attached to the Machine Gun Corps Cavalry in March 1916. Promoted Lieutenant, 5 February 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross, before retiring from the Army in 1920. He died at home in Bournemouth on 25 June 1935, and is buried at Wimbourne Road Cemetery, Bournemouth.