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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 686

A poignant 'Western Front' M.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal G. Brenchley, East Kent Regiment, the eldest of four brothers from Margate who all served during the Great War, two of whom died, whilst another suffered the loss of a limb and was invalided home

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2652 Pte. G. Brenchley. 7/E. Kent R.), nearly extremely fine

M.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918.

George Brenchley was born around 1882 at Nash, Kent, and served in France with the 7th Battalion, East Kent Regiment, from 18 August 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the Western Front and was soon thereafter promoted Lance-Corporal. He was killed in action on 27 August 1918 and is buried at Becourt Military Cemetery, Belcordel-Becourt, on the Somme. The son of Mrs Emma Jane Brenchley, of 14 Church Square, Margate, his gravestone bears the poignant inscription:

'Those who loved him best miss him most. Mother.'

The loss of George was sadly not the only devastating news received by Mrs Brenchley during the course of the war. On 5 October 1918, the Thanet Advertiser and Echo published a piece titled 'The Story of Four Service Sons':

'We are glad to be able to reproduce the photographs of four local brothers who have served in the war. Two unfortunately have been killed; one lost an arm and the fourth one is now serving in France. They are the sons of Mrs. Brenchley, of Rose-cottage, Nash.

Lce.-Corpl. George Brenchley of the Buffs, enlisted within a month of the outbreak of the war and went to France eleven months later. In April of this year he won the Military Medal but was killed in action on August 28th at the age of 35, after seeing three years of active service.

Leading-Seaman A. Brenchley, of H.M.S. Aboukir, was drowned in action with an enemy submarine in the first few weeks of the war. He joined the Navy when 16 years old and had served eleven years at the time of his death.

Gunner Ernest Brenchley, R.F.A., enlisted in the Territorials in December 1913, and was attached to the Margate Company. In February, 1916, he was transferred to the Regular Army and in the following year went to Egypt. After a year of active service he is now serving in Palestine.

Gunner William Brenchley, the fourth brother, whose wife lives in Tabernacle-cottages, Northwood, was attached to the Veterinary Corps. He went to France in 1917, and on the 10th August was wounded. On the 28th of August of this year he was discharged from the Army with the loss of an arm.'

Sold with copied MIC and newspaper entry.


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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£200