Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Acting Corporal F. Nichols, 17th (Armoured Car) Battalion, Tank Corps, for great gallantry on the La Cateau-Maretz Road on 9 October 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (309328 Pte. - A. Cpl., 17/Tank C.); British War and Victory Medals (309328 A. Cpl., Tank Corps); together with original Certificate of Discharge; and letter of reference from his C.O., this dated 2 April 1920, very fine (3) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Tank Corps formed by the late Bill Green.

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M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919. The recommendation states ‘On the La Cateau-Maretz Road on 9 October 1918, this N.C.O. displayed great gallantry, skill and devotion to duty. He drove his armoured car with great skill and determination against a strong point containing ten hostile machine-guns, and his action was largely instrumental in clearing it and capturing the guns. When, later, his car was the only remaining one out of three, and his rear was cut off by the enemy blowing up a bridge behind him, he proceeded forward through two villages strongly held by the enemy and successfully brought his car back through them, and finally to our line by another route. The safe return of the car and the whole crew was largely down to his gallant and skilful driving.’