Auction Catalogue

1 & 2 March 2017

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 1108

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2 March 2017

Hammer Price:
£2,800

Items relating to Sergeant W. McNally, V.C., M.M., The Yorkshire Regiment

A mounted set of four miniature dress medals attributed to Sergeant W. McNally, comprising Victoria Cross; Military Medal, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals, mounted for wear; together with a Great War ‘War Wounded’ lapel badge, pin-backed; a British Legion stick-pin; a French coin converted into an identity tag, impressed ‘13820 McNally W 8 Yks’; and a large archive of papers, very fine (lot) £1400-1800

Provenance: Sotheby’s, July 1998; Strong Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, May 2011.

V.C. London Gazette 14 December 1918:

‘For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading during the operations on the 27th October, 1918, across Piave, when his company was most seriously hindered in its advance by heavy machine-gun fire from the vicinity of some buildings on a flank. Utterly regardless of personal safety, he rushed the machine-gun post single-handed, killing the team and capturing the gun. Later, at Vazzola, on the 29th October, 1918, when his company, having crossed the Monticano River, came under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, Sergeant McNally immediately directed the fire of his platoon against the danger point, whilst he himself crept to the rear of the enemy position. Realising that a frontal attack would mean heavy losses, he, unaided, rushed the position, killing or putting to flight the garrison and capturing a machine-gun. On the same day, when holding a newly captured ditch, he was strongly counter-attacked from both flanks. By his coolness and skill in controlling the fire of his party he frustrated the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Throughout the whole operations his innumerable acts of gallantry set a high example to his men, and his leading was beyond all praise.’

M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1916.

The recommendation states: ‘When his Officer was wounded during the assault of Contalmaison on 10th July, 1916, he remained with him and tied him up under fire and subsequently reached the firing line by himself’.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23 February 1918.

Sold together with the recipient’s archive which contains the following original documents &c.:
An original Army Telegraph for the award of his Military Medal, ‘The G.O.C. congratulates you on your being awarded the Military Medal by the Corps Commander.’; citation for his M.M.,
this repaired, signed by Lieutenant-Colonel, A.A. & Q.M.G., 23rd Division; citation for his Victoria Cross, this repaired, signed by Major Gray Simpson, A. & Q. Branch of Staff, 23rd Division; Invitation to the V.C. Dinner at the House of Lords hosted by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, 9 November 1929, with accompanying Free Railway Travel Pass issued to McNally, 9-12 November 1929, and correspondence regarding the event; three V.C. Reunion programmes; Bestowal Certificate for Coronation Medal 1937; two letters relating to McNally’s application to re-enlist in August 1940; named slip regarding the award of the Defence Medal, dated 20 May 1946; a note of thanks from Winston Churchill, 1956; a letter from the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Durham paying tribute to McNally as a recipient of the V.C., dated 20 June 1956; letter to McNally from the V.C. & G.C. Association, dated 13 October 1975; two V.C. & G.C. Association Christmas cards; a Green Howards Christmas card; various Invitation cards to McNally; and papers regarding the funeral of the recipient; together with a quantity of copied research.

Note: Sergeant McNally’s full size group comprises the Victoria Cross; Military Medal with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; Defence Medal; Coronation Medal 1937; and Coronation Medal 1953.