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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 338

(x) A rare Great War Serbia operations M.C. group of six awarded to Captain E. V. Mason, Royal Artillery, late South Irish Horse

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse inscribed, ‘Capt. E. Vance Mason, R.F.A., ‘P’ Ridge, Serbia, 19th Sept. 1918’; 1914-15 Star (1138 Cpl. E. V. Mason, S. Ir. H.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. E. V. Mason); France, Croix de Guerre, dated '1914-1916', with silver Star device upon riband; Russia, Order of St. Anne, Second Class neck Badge, with swords, by Albert Kiebel, St. Petersburg, 44mm, gold and enamel, manufacturer’s marks on reverse, gold (56 zolotniki), adapted for breast wear, mounted as worn, enamel reverse centre of the last chipped in places, otherwise good very fine, housed within a Goldsmiths & Silversmiths leather case (6)

M.C. London Gazette 1 February 1919:

‘For gallant conduct and forcefulness and the valuable information sent back under circumstances of extreme danger. When acting as F.L.O. on ‘P’ Ridge on 19 September 1918, though wounded three times, and placed continuously under heavy enemy barrage, he continued to report information of vital importance, showing great courage and devotion to duty.’

Ernest Vance Mason was born in Boyle, County Roscommon in 1887 and joined the Belfast Banking Company in 1904. Working for them in Donegal, Omagh and College Green, he was lodging in House 9, Doonan, County Donegal by 1911 with the title of 'Bank Official'.

Mason enlisted in the South Irish Horse in Dublin in September 1914 and served in France with ‘C’ Squadron from 18 December 1915 - October 1916. Returned home he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 23 June 1917, and again witnessed active service in France and Flanders in August-September of the same year, when he sustained mustard gas poisoning at Ypres and was evacuated home.

Next actively employed on the Salonica front, Mason was, as cited above, thrice wounded in his M.C.-winning exploits on ‘P’ Ridge, Serbia on 19 September 1918, and remained employed in that theatre of war until March 1919. Mason was latterly embarked for South Russia and re-embarked at Novorossisk that August, being finally demobilised in May 1920. Upon the publishing of the Northern Bank Roll of Honour his last known address was 'Salonika'.

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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£1200