Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘First Battle of Passchendaele’ stretcher bearer’s M.M. awarded to Private C. J. Arnold, 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who was later killed in action on the Western Front, 21 April 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (28951 Pte C. J. Arnold. 4/N.Z. Rif: Bde:) good very fine £600-£800

M.M. London Gazette 28 January 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack on Passchendaele Ridge on 12th October 1917, he worked continuously for 10 hours bandaging and carrying wounded, being under heavy machine gun fire during the greater part of the period. He undoubtedly save a number of lives by his work.’

Claude James Arnold was born in Lyttelton, New Zealand. He resided at 24 Leydon Street, Christchurch, and attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in June 1916. Arnold embarked for Europe 16 October 1916, and served with the 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade in the French theatre of war from 11 February 1917.

Arnold was awarded his M.M. for gallantry as a stretcher bearer during the First Battle of Passchendaele, 12 October 1917. The Regimental History gives the following:

‘If ever the devoted stretcher bearers were worthy of thanks and praise, it was doubly so on the sodden field of Passchendaele, and with others Riflemen J. L. Keogh, F. K. Judd, B. Booker, F. A. Clark, F. Backhom; S. G. Sterling, D. Stevenson, F. Smith, H. F. Orpwood, F. A. Murrant and C. J. Arnold are gratefully remembered for their devotion to duty through the long dreary days and nights from the 11th to the 14th.’

Arnold was killed in action whilst serving on the Western Front, 21 April 1918, and is buried in the Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, Pas de Calais, France.