Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of six awarded to Second Lieutenant H. Parsons, Royal Garrison Artillery, for his gallantry at Barleux on 29-30 August 1918; for his services he was also Mentioned in Despatches

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (49969. Gnr. R. Parsons. R.G.A.) in named card box of issue; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2. Lieut. R. Parsons.) both in named card boxes of issue; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Defence Council enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘Lt. R. Parsons, M.C., Greencroft, Kirkleavington, Yarm, Yorks’; together with the recipient’s card identity discs, good very fine (6) £800-£1,000

M.C. London Gazette 1 February 1919:
‘At Barleux on 29-30 August 1918, his courage under heavy tire and his devotion to duty were very largely instrumental in keeping the battery in action during a trying period. He rendered particularly valuable service in rallying the men and clearing the road, where heavy shelling had put one or his guns out of action on the way to a forward position, and a block at that spot would have been the cause of severe casualties.’

Roy Parsons was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, Yorkshire, on 9 October 1895 and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery on 5 November 1914, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 September 1915. He was commissioned second lieutenant on 3 August 1917, and was awarded his Military Cross whilst serving with 160th Siege Battery. For his services during the Great War he was also Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 7 July 1919). He saw further service during the Second World War, and died in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, on 2 October 1975.

Sold with the recipient’s original Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, this mounted in a glazed frame; the recipient’s Soldiers Small Book; Great War riband bar, a portrait photograph of the recipient, this mounted in a glazed display frame; and copied research.