Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

A rare ‘Portugese East Africa’ M.M. awarded to Acting Sergeant S. Thompson, Liverpool Regiment, and 3rd/1st King’s African Rifles

Military Medal, G.V.R. (306098 Cpl.-A. Sjt., L’pool. R.) edge bruising and contact wear, therefore nearly very fine and a very rare award to a British N.C.O. for this theatre of war £300-350

M.M. Nyasaland Gazette 31 July 1918 ‘For devotion to duty and complete disregard of personal safety at Nakoti, Portugese East Africa on 5 May 1918, while commanding a platoon of native troops, necessitating his constant exposure to fire while moving along his men to check wild firing. He several times personally fetched up boxes of reserve ammunition and distributed them to his men under Maxim and rifle fire at close quarters in the bush.’ Sold with further detail of the action at Nakoti.

Samuel Thompson joined the Liverpool Irish in 1915, proceeding to France on 28 June 1915. He subsequently transferred to the King’s African Rifles with whom he served in East Africa, being commissioned in the rank of Lieutenant in December 1918.