Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Passchendaele 1917’ M.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal W. J. Pike, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, who was killed in action in April 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (15596 L. Cpl. W. J. Pike. 2/Devon: R.); 1914-15 Star (15596 Pte. W. J. Pike. Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (15596 Pte. W. J. Pike. Devon. R.) extremely fine (4) £400-500

M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918.

The battalion War Diary states that the M.M. was awarded ‘for gallantry and devotion to duty near Passchendaele between 25th and 30th Novr. 1917’ whilst with “A” Company.

An old hand-written note sold with the group states: ‘Corporal Pike was in charge of a Lewis gun, near Ypres. Standing on a plank to raise himself sufficiently high in the Trench to work his gun, he was facing a fierce counter attack of the Huns. The plank went down and Pike with it into the Trench, but he managed to get the gun on its parapet to keep the foe in check. He was much exposed in the open, but he kept up his fire until the few of the enemy that were left fled back to their own quarters. He despatched all 3 of the last Germans who tried to do for him - His action saved many English lives and the Trench. Hence the award.’

William John Pike served with the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment during the Great War, and was killed in action on the Western Front on 24 April 1918, aged 23. He was the son of Samuel and Alice Pike, of East Worlington, Crediton, Devon, and is commemorated by name on the Pozieres Memorial.

Sold with an original post card photograph of Pike in uniform and another in a group of soldiers, together with copied War Diary entries and other research.