Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Salonika’ M.M. and French Medaille Militaire group of five awarded to Private W. A. Batson, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, attached Royal Munster Fusiliers, for his gallantry during the attack on Yenikoi, 3 October 1916, where he was wounded by gun shot to the shoulder

Military Medal, G.V.R. (20005 Pte. W. A. Batson. 6/R. Muns: Fus:); 1914-15 Star (18478 Pte. W. A. Batson, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (18478 Pte. W A. Batson. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, with trophy of arms suspension, in case of issue, enamel damage to motto on last, otherwise nearly extremely fine (5) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 22 January 1917.

French Medaille Militaire London Gazette 1 May 1917.

William Archibald Batson was born in 1894 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in London on 9 May 1915. Having qualifying as a Lewis Gun operator, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, as part of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, on 30 September 1915, he served with them during the Great War in the Balkan theatre of War from 16 October 1915. He was wounded by gun shot to the shoulder in Salonika on 3 October 1916, during the attack on Yenikoi: ‘At 3:30 a.m. the Battalion moved off to attack Jenikoj [Yenikoi]. We advanced at 5:30 a.m., and came under rifle fire from the front, and from the north side of the village. We advanced and lined the north bank of the road, and after noticing an enemy counter-attack developing we straightened our line by moving up to and across the Seres Road. Casualties were sustained but we consolidated our line and proceed forward under sever sniping fire. At 4:00 p.m. the enemy launched a heavy counter-attack chiefly against the north point of the village, which was successful, and the right flank of “A” Company became heavily enfiladed. 2 Platoons from “B” Company had not been able to dig in owing to continuous heavy sniping close up to the left, and was obliged to retire. The other two Platoons of “B” Company and “A” Company conformed in good order. These had suffered considerably but brought back all wounded and established themselves in their old positions in the sunken road, as the edge of the Seres Road at this point offered little protection. The enemy advanced to the Seres Road in numbers but was prevented by fire from crossing in front. The retirement was ordered at 8:45 p.m., and was carried out quietly and orderly. The Battalion marched back to Lonely Joe Tree, carrying all wounded. Total casualties during the day were 1 Officer and 10 other ranks killed, and 2 Officers and 32 other ranks wounded.’ (Battalion War Diary refers).

Batson was one of those wounded, and was admitted to No. 48 General Hospital in Salonika two days later, where he caught Malaria, being subsequently moved to St. John’s Hospital, Malta. Repatriated to England in early 1918, he was posted initially to the Depot, Royal Munster Fusiliers, on 3 March 1918, before being posted to the 3rd Battalion on 2 May of that year. Appointed Lance Corporal on 10 July 1918, he served with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front from 3 September 1918 until 12 March 1919, before he was discharged to the Reserve on 10 April 1919, after 3 years and 338 days’ service.

For his gallantry at Salonika he was awarded the Military Medal, almost certainly for his conduct during the attack on Jenikoj, as well as the French Medaille Militaire, the latter being on 13 March 1917 (Battalion War Diary refers).

Sold together with a large portrait photograph of the recipient and bestowal document of the Medaille Militaire, these both glazed and framed; a gold locket with photographs of the recipient and his wife inside; the recipient’s certificate of Identity and Certificate of employment during the War; letter from the Consulate General of France regarding the Medaille Militaire; and various copied research.