Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Italian campaign’ M.M. and Italian War Merit Cross pair awarded to Private R. Horne, York & Lancaster Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (32553 Pte R. Horne. 8/York: & Lanc. R.); Italy, Kingdom, War Merit Cross, bronze, suspension slightly loose on first, heavy edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine, the Italian award better (2) £260-300

M.M. London Gazette 29 March 1919 (Italy).

Italian War Merit Cross London Gazette 17 May 1919.

Robert Horne was born in 1893 and attested at Middlesbrough on 7 December 1915. Posted to the 3rd Training Reserve Battalion, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 April 1916 at 31st Infantry Base Depot, before being posted to the 8th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment, and subsequently served with them in Italy from 10 November 1917. For his bravery in the field in Italy he was awarded the Military Medal and the Italian War Merit Cross. He was reported by his mother as seriously wounded (Sunderland Echo, 6 October 1918 refers), before being discharged on 10 April 1919.