Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War German Offensives 1918 ‘Battle of Bethune’ M.C. Attributed to Lieutenant J. L. Hall, Gloucestershire Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in case of issue, this with ‘J. L. Hall’ marked on the back, extremely fine £400-500

M.C. London Gazette 16 October 1918.

John Lanyon Hall was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment on 21 February 1917, and served with the Regiment at the Battle of Bethune, 18 April 1918, where the Battalion repulsed the German attack on the section of the line at Festubert:
‘The Bosch attacked and surrounded my position. I was in a very difficult position. My men were being knocked out right and left. I wouldn’t give in, but stuck to my post with the few men I had left. I asked for three volunteers to come with me and attack the enemy with bombs. We went and only myself and 1 man came back alive. The other two were killed. It was an absolute wonder that all of us weren’t shot. I held on all day until I had only three men left. During the evening fresh men were sent up to me and I was able to attack and drive the Hun back to his Trench again. We killed quite a large number. It was like killing rabbits. It was awful to hear the cries of my poor men who had been wounded. All that we could do with them was to bandage up their wounds.’ (Recipient’s account of the Battle refers).
Hall was awarded one of the Regiment’s four M.C.s for the Battle, and was promoted Lieutenant on 21 August 1918.

Sold together with seven photographs of the recipient and copies of various accounts of the Battle.