Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal A. E. C. Griffin, Somerset Light Infantry

Military Medal, G.V.R. (11221 L. Cpl. A. E. C. Griffin, 6/Som. L.I.) nearly extremely fine £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th Regiment and Somerset Light Infantry.

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M.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917.

Arthur E. C. Griffin is believed to have been decorated for an action on 22 August 1917, when the 6th Somersets and 6th D.C.L.I. went “over the top” at the Inverness Copse during ongoing operations in the Battle of Ypres - the same month being given as the date of his gallant deeds by a local newspaper.

Griffin was subsequently taken P.O.W. during the German attack on St. Quentin on 21 March 1918 but returned to a hero’s welcome at the end of the War. Indeed a special ceremony was mounted at Colston Hall by the Mayor and citizens of Bristol in February 1919, at which a number of local men who had been decorated in the War received an illuminated address - V.C. recipients also received a gold pocket watch.

On 20 May 1919, at another local parade, General Sir Henry Sclater, G.C.B., the G.O.C. Southern Command, presented a number of Honours and Awards to men from the Bristol area who had not yet received them; given his time as a P.O.W., it is likely that Griffin received his M.M. on the same occasion.

Sold with original illuminated address from the Mayor, Sheriff and citizens of Bristol, as presented to the recipient at the above described ceremony; together with a German “Parting Word” leaflet, as given to British P.O.Ws returning home after the War, and two wartime newspaper cuttings, both with portrait photographs.