Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘St. Quentin front’ M.C. group of six awarded to Major J. M. Bevan, Royal Field Artillery, who played Minor Counties Cricket for Carmarthenshire, and went on to be appointed the Deputy Lieutenant for Glamorgan during the Second War

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. M. Bevan.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, reverse dated ‘1914-1918’, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine (6) £800-1000

M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty throughout sixteen days’ operations. On one occasion he voluntarily carried a message under heavy hostile machine-gun fire at about 300 yards range.’

John Maybury Bevan was born in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, in September 1886. He was the son of Isaiah Bevan, a chemical manufacturer and Director of the Briton Ferry Steel Company. Bevan was educated at Clifton College, and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. He represented Carmarthenshire in Minor Counties Cricket, 1909-1911, and also turned out for the Gentlemen of Carmarthenshire and the Gentlemen of Glamorgan.

Bevan served as Second Lieutenant, with the 149th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, on the Western Front from 26 May 1916. He served as Acting Captain and Adjutant of 149th Brigade, 6 February 1917 - 19 April 1918, and was awarded the M.C. for gallantry in action on the St. Quentin front at the end of March 1918. Bevan was appointed Staff Captain, 49th Divisional Artillery, from 20 April 1918. He advanced to Major, and relinquished his commission in 1919.

After the war Bevan worked as an Engineer, and became Managing Director of Briton Ferry Steel Company. He was appointed Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1929, and a Justice of the Peace for Neath in 1939. He served as President of Glamorgan County Cricket Club throughout the Second War, and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Glamorgan in 1941. Bevan died in Neath in 1970.

Sold with a file of copied research, including photographic images of recipient.