Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Final Advance’ M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal C. Brown, 21st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps

Military Medal, G.V.R. (45794 Pte. A. Cpl. - C. Brown. 21/M.G.C.); British War and Victory Medals (45794 Cpl. C. Brown. M.G.C.) small edge nick to M.M. otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £260-£300

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

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M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919.

Charlie Brown was born in 1890 and attested for General Service with the British Army on 9 December 1915. He was mobilised on 23 February 1916, posted to to 3/4th Somerset Light Infantry and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps at Bridgewater on 29 July 1916. Embarked for France, he joined 110 Company with the British Expeditionary Force in France on 24 September 1916 and was posted to the 21st Battalion in September 1918. He was promoted Corporal on 4 November 1918. A note in his ‘Soldier’s Pay Book’ states that he was awarded the Military Medal on 3 December 1918 - the award reflecting gallantry with the 21st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps most likely at the Battle of the Selle during the final advance in Picardy. He returned to England on 29 December 1918 and was discharged Class Z on 5 March 1919.

Sold together with the recipient’s ‘Soldier’s Pay Book for use on Active Service’ containing an original Army Form C.2123 - the typed instructions time-stamped 08.30am on 11 November 1918 informing the members of the 21st Battalion that ‘hostilities will cease at 11am today Nov 11th. Defensive precautions will be maintained. There will be no intercourse of any description with the enemy. Moves ordered in Divisional Order No. 2626 will take place.’