Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Battle of Flers-Courcelette’ M.M. awarded to Private E. Lymer, 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (10-3638 Pte E. Lymer. 2/Wellington R.) edge bruise, very fine £500-£600

M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘Action: Flers 15th, 16th and 17th September. This man is one of the 2nd Wellington Battalion and during these operations has shown great bravery and devotion to duty. He repeatedly went to the assistance of and removed to the air post wounded men whilst under heavy shell fire, regardless of his own safety’

E. Lymer was born in Liverpool, England in 1895, and attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Trentham, New Zealand in October 1915. He initially travelled to Egypt, before embarking on the S.S. Llandovery Castle for France, 9 April 1916. Lymer served with the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment in the French theatre of war, and was awarded his M.M. for gallantry during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15 - 22 September 1916), on the Somme. During the course of the three days mentioned in Lymer’s recommendation the Battalion suffered casualties of 30 other ranks killed, and 2 officers and 168 other ranks wounded or missing in action.