Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. group of six to Private W. Lever, East Lancashire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (240115 Pte., 1/5 E. Lan. R.); 1914-15 Star (1497 Pte., E. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (240115 Pte., E. Lan. R.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (3377201 Pte., 5-E. Lan. R.); Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial (3377201 Pte., 4/5 E. Lan. R.), mounted for display, slight edge bruise to first, some contact marks, very fine (6) £550-650

M.M. London Gazette 27 June 1918.

With an old card bearing the recommendation, ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty. On the night 3/4th April, 1918, when the road from Hannescamps through Essarts les Bucquoy was being heavily shelled, he showed great courage in getting his animals and limber safely through to the Battalion with rations. He has also done exceptionally fine work during the period 23rd March to 7th April, 1018’.

Sold additionally with copied research, including a photocopied extract from the Accrington Observer and Times of 29 October 1918 in which Lever was one of two ‘local heroes honoured’. The article states that he was presented with the Military Medal by the Mayor. It goes on to say of him, ‘Pte. Lever is well known in athletic circles in Accrington, and before the war was a boxer of considerable local repute. He was in the 1-5th East Lancashire Volunteer Regiment and proceeded to Gallipoli with the battalion. During the heavy fighting on the Peninsula he was slightly wounded. After evacuation he proceeded to France and beyond a slight touch of gas poisoning at Ypres has thus far come through unscathed....’