Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

A Great War M.C. group of four to Captain T. W. Hardy, “Z” Special Company (Flame Throwers) Royal Engineers, late Royal Fusiliers

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘2nd Lt. T. W. Hardy, R.E., Bulicourt May 14 1917’, in case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Stk-999 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) good very fine and better (4) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late A. A. Mount.

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M.C. London Gazette 18 June 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His unit was employed in preparing a battery of ejectors when an enemy shell hit a wagon containing bombs, many of which exploded. This officer behaved in a very gallant manner under the hostile barrage which followed and succeeded in removing many of the injured.’

Thomas Walter Hardy was born in Limehouse, London; an engineer by trade he enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers on 29 August 1914, aged 19 years. Serving with the 10th Battalion Royal Fusiliers in France, he received a gunshot wound to the face on 11 July 1916. On 16 December 1916 he was discharged, being appointed to a commission in the Royal Engineers. Hardy served with “Z” Special Company Royal Engineers in France between 27 December 1916 and 13 May 1918. The Special Company utilised flame throwers on the Western Front. After suffering with chronic ear catarrh during the early part of 1918, he was posted, for health reasons, to the Egypt Expeditionary Force on anti-gas duties and was appointed Divisional Gas Officer, 76th Division in October 1918.

Sold with 23 sheets of copied service papers and a quantity of original papers including: Officers’ Army Book 439; Discharge Certificate, 16 December 1916; 2nd Lieutenant Commission Document, 7 December 1916; telegram re. presentation of M.C. at Buckingham Palace; Officers’ Protection Certificate; Flame Projectors manual dated 30 January 1917; Civilian Anti-Gas School Certificate, 7 November 1938 and some photographs.