Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War April 1918 ‘Aveluy Wood’ D.C.M., 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. and 1919 ‘North Russia Archangel Command’ Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Sergeant J. Johns, 1/22nd (The Queen’s) Battalion, London Regiment, later 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (682490 Sjt: J. Johns. M.M. 1/22 Lond: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (5238 L.Cpl. J. Johns. 1/22 Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5238 Sjt. J. Johns. 22-Lond. R.) light contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £2,400-£2,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a counter-attack by his company. After all the officers and the warrant officer of his company had become casualties, he took command, and later extricated the company from a dangerous position without a casualty.’ (Annotated Gazette states ‘Near Aveluy Wood, 9 April 1918.’)

M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 22 January 1920:
‘For bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia - Archangel Command.’

Joseph Johns was a native of Bethnal Green and served with the 1/22nd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s) during the Great War on the Western Front from 17 June 1916. He was awarded the Military Medal for services with his Battalion on the Somme, September - October 1916, during which period his Battalion captured High Wood and Eaucourt l’Abbaye and made attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt, as part of the 142nd Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division.

Having been promoted to Sergeant, he was awarded the D.C.M., the annotated London Gazette stating that it was for gallantry near Aveluy Wood on 9 April 1918. A close inspection of the battalion War Diary reveals that it was on 5 April that the battalion was involved in heavy fighting near Aveluy Wood, matching the citation:
‘Martinsart - 5 April - The enemy attacked at 7.50am and drove back the outposts in the front line held by the 23rd Battn.
The right flank of the 24th Battn. (holding the left front line of the Brigade sector) was compelled to fall back owing to enemy pressure.
At 4.15pm A and D Companys counter-attacked to regain this lost ground. They were unsuccessful however owing to heavy machine-gun fire, especially from the right flank of the position.
Officer casualties: Lts. Wicker and Boyer killed; Captain Dudley, Lt. Anderson, 2nd Lts Grosin, Benwell, Owens and Boxall wounded.’

The battalion was then relieved from the line on 7 April. The diary later states that on 10 May 1918, at Warloy, following inspections and refittings, the Field Marshall Commander in Chief awarded the D.C.M. to both Johns and Colour Sergeant Edwin Sullivan.

After the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, Johns’ appetite for more active service led him to re-enlist in the 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. This battalion, which in April 1919 was just forming for service with the North Russia Relief Force, consisted of volunteers, mostly battle hardened veterans from the Western Front. It included a large number of Australian troops who had been awaiting demobilisation and a number of Officers who had relinquished their commissions to serve in the ranks. One member of the 46th battalion would write on the ‘very mixed crowd in action with him - a testimony to the multinational character of the anti-Bolshevik forces’.

Another would write on their arrival in June that ‘they are all volunteers and any quantity of ex-officers in the ranks, Colonels galore; fellows wearing D.S.O.’s and M.C.’s on a private’s uniform.’

The 45th and 46th Battalions, Royal Fusiliers played a leading role in the operations in Northern Russia. Arriving in Archangel in early June 1919, they would take part in many operations on the Dvina front, including the 10 August 1919 offensive, which was the largest battle fought by British troops during the Russian Intervention. They were also among the last British troops to leave the North Russian port more than four months later.

Appointed Corporal and given the regimental number 129110, Johns distinguished himself in action once more in Russia, adding a Bar to his Military Medal. The award was approved by Brigadier-General L. W. de V. Sadleir-Jackson, Commanding Dvina Force, on 21 August 1919 and was gazetted the following January by which time Johns had been restored to his Great War rank of Sergeant.