Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Regimental Sergeant Major A. B. Lillicrapp, Royal Engineers, who served with the Balloon Section in China during the Boxer Rebellion, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during the Great War

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2876 C.S. Mjr: A. B. Lillicrapp. 20/A. Tps: Co: R.E.); China 1900, no clasp (2876 Cpl. A. Lillicrapp. R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (2876 Sjt. A. Lillicrapp. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2876 A.W.O. Cl.1. A. B. Lillicrapp. R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (2876 C.S. Mjr: A. B. Lillicrapp. R.E.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R, 1st issue (2876 C.S. Mjr. -A.R.S. Mjr.- A. B. Lillicrapp. M.M. R.E.) nearly extremely fine (7) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916.

Alfred Bailey Lillicrapp was born in Plymouth, Devon, in April 1879, and attested for the Royal Engineers at Kinsale, Ireland, on 8 July 1899. Appointed to the 4th Balloon Section, Royal Engineers, he served during the Boxer Rebellion, and was promoted Second Corporal on 1 April 1901. Following three months’ service in Gibraltar he was promoted First Corporal on 1 August 1904 and was posted to the 2nd Balloon Section. Transferring to the 15th Company, Royal Engineers on 14 September 1909, the following year he was promoted Sergeant, and continued to serve with the 15th Company in Gibraltar until early 1914.

Transferring to 20th Company, Royal Engineers on 14 March 1914, Lillicrapp embarked with the British Expeditionary Force for the Western Front on 15 August 1914, and was promoted Company Sergeant Major on 18 April 1915. Awarded the Military Medal in 1916, he was posted as Acting Regimental Sergeant Major at 66th Division’s Headquarters on 7 May 1917, before reverting back to Company Sergeant Major on 10 July 1919 and transferring to the Tunnelling Depot Company, Royal Engineers. For his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1916 and 17 May 1918) and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (London Gazette 5 June 1919). He was discharged at Chatham on 7 July 1920 and died in Bristol on 5 September 1962.