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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 714

(x) The fine annuity M.S.M. awarded to Company Sergeant-Major F. Gardner, 253rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers; having served during the Second Boer War, Gardner received a head wound during the desperate action at Marcelcave in March 1918, earning an immediate Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd type (25065 Sjt. F. Gardner. R.E.), naming officially re-impressed, good very fine

Frederick Gardner was born at Caterham in 1872. Joining the Royal Engineers in 1890, he served during the 2nd Boer War as a Second Corporal, 'B' Company, 42 (Fortress) Company, Royal Engineers, earning a Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony; he was also awarded the King's South Africa Medal and Long Service & Good Conduct Medal with a gratuity of £5 in April 1909. He was discharged at Gosport on 28 August 1911, having served 21 years.

On 4 May 1915 Gardner re-joined as a Sapper, rising to Sergeant the next day. He arrived in France on 10 August that year, transferring to the 253rd Tunnelling Company on 4 November. On 25 March 1916 he rose to Company Sergeant-Major. In mid-1917, the Company was engaged in constructing light railways to the battery positions of 5th Army, preparatory to the 31 July 1917 attack at Ypres. In March 1918, they were at rest in Wiencourt when the great German attack opened and had to halt a panic retreat by French (and probably British) units on the Guillaucourt-Marcelcave road by placing trucks across the road. Absorbed into Carey's Force, they dug in as infantry in front of Marcelcave on 26 March 1918. A disjointed defensive battle followed, in which the Company suffered more than 100 casualties, and Gardner received a bullet wound to the head. The Company reformed at Boves, and Gardner received an immediate M.S.M. on 17 June 1918. He was discharged to a Royal Hospital pension on 30 November 1918; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£100

Sale 20001 Notices
Estimate changed to £140-180.