Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918’ French theatre’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant B. J. Penberthy, 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, for a successful night raid near Hébuterne, 19/20 May 1918, where he single-handedly put a machine gun and its crew out of action, and despite suffering multiple gun shot wounds covered the withdrawal of his party

Military Medal, G.V.R. (25-403 Sjt: B. J. Penberthy. 3/N.Z. Rif: Brig:); British War and Victory Medals (25/403 Sjt. B. J. Penberthy. N.Z.E.F.) mounted for display, good very fine (3) £700-£900

M.M. London Gazette 7 October 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Near Hébuterne on the night of 19th/20th May 1918 Sgt Penberthy was a member of a raiding party, which had just proceeded to the assault when an enemy machine gun opened up on the party. Sgt. Penberthy without hesitation, dashed forward and single handed put the gun and its crew out of action, thereby making the assault possible and saving many casualties. The raid proved successful, three prisoners and two machine guns being taken and severe casualties inflicted on the enemy. Although suffering from numerous wounds Sgt. Penberthy secured the withdrawal of his officer and party, and returned safely to our lines .’

B. J. Penberthy was born in 1890, attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October 1915. Penberthy served in the Egyptian theatre of war, and with the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade in the French theatre of war from 7 April 1916.

Penberthy was awarded his M.M. for gallantry nearing Hébuterne, 19/20 May 1918, and The Official History of the N.Z. Rifle Brigade by Lt.-Col W. S. Austin, D.S.O., gives the following additional detail:

On the first night after coming into line, a 3rd Battalion patrol of two non-commissioned officers, walked down the sunken road leading eastwards towards Puisieux, located a number of enemy posts and at 2 o’clock next morning 2nd Lieut. M. McDonald, with a party of ten men moved out to raid the nearest of these and secure prisoners for identification. After assembling in ‘no man’s land’, they discovered some twenty Germans extended across their front. The latter threw bombs at our men, scattered and returned to their line, from which heavy machine gun fire was directed upon the assembly point. Not to be denied, 2nd Lieut. McDonald brought his party back, increased the strength to thirty, and set out again to renew the attempt. The position was successfully rushed, seven Germans were killed and three taken prisoner and the two machine guns brought in. The remaining garrison of thirty succeeded in making good their escape. The work of Sergeant B. J. Penberthy contributed greatly to the success of this undertaking. In the German trench he attack one of the gun crews single handed and although wounded, covered the withdrawal of the party when their object had been attained.’

Penberthy received multiple gun shot wounds in the above action. Penberthy returned to New Zealand in January 1919, and was discharged, 21 March 1919. He died in Gisborne, 19 October 1951.

Sold with copied research.