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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 569

The historic Second World War 'Immediate' M.M. and French Croix de Guerre group of four awarded to Fusilier J. Worsley, Lancashire Fusiliers, who received the very first Military Medal of the entire the war - having graced the front cover of The War Illustrated, Worsley would be tragically killed in action in a little over a month after his award

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3446868 Fsr. J. Worsley. Lan. Fus.); 1939-1945 Star; War Medal; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-1945, reverse dated '1939', good very fine

M.M. London Gazette 19 April 1940. The recommendation for an Immediate award states:

'On 19th/20th March, Fusilier Worsley was Second in Command of a Patrol consisting of an Officer and six men, which were moving to an objective some 2000 yards in front of our lines in the British Sector. During the patrol, a German Patrol of double the strength was sighted. This patrol was followed for a considerable way and, to engage it, the Officer in charge of our patrol divided his party into two portions, Fusilier Worsley taking command of one portion.

The enemy patrol was engaged and dispersed, leaving five dead and a wounded prisoner, who was carried back to our line by Fusilier Worsley. The latter's personal bravery and coolness and his leadership of half the patrol contributed largely to the success gained.'



Croix de Guerre, ungazetted, likely on account of the recipient being killed in action shortly after his investiture.

John Worsley was born on 25 May 1914 at St Peters, Salford, Lancashire and was a core maker upon his enlistment at Bury on 21 October 1933.

Posted from the Depot to the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers on 4 May 1934, he was then posted for garrison duty at Shanghai from 12 December 1935, being awarded 28 days detention by his Commanding Officer for 'misconduct' on 22 July 1936. Sent to the Military Detention Barracks, Shanghai to serve out his spell, he was released and returned to duty on 17 August 1936, returning home and transferring to the 2nd Battalion on 28 February 1939.

At the outbreak of the Second World War the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers was deployed with the 11th Infantry Brigade, with Worsley seeing service overseas from 2 October 1939, being promoted Lance-Corporal on 14 December 1939.

Worsley was stationed alongside French troops on the Maginot Line and on the night of 19 March 1940 was Second-in-Command for the patrol of Captain J. H. Hudson. Their objective was some 2000 yards in front of the lines in the British Sector and during the patrol a German Patrol of double strength was sighted, followed and ambushed.

In addition the French opted to award both men the Croix de Guerre, this award being presented to Worsley and Hudson by a French General in the field, an incident which gained them fame, being featured on the front cover The War Illustrated, 12 April 1940. Worsley was granted some well-deserved leave home from 2-11 April 1940. War's end would come for Worsley in just a few weeks. His battalion were one of the first to engage to the German forces and he was killed in action on 21 May 1940 during the withdrawal to Dunkirk, being buried in the Waarmaarde Churchyard, Belgium; sold together with an original copy of The War Illustrated, 12 April 1940 and a quantity of copied research.



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Sold for
£4,200