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Auction: 21102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 3
Lot: 191

Sold by Order of a Direct Desendant

A 'Battle of the Somme 1916' M.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Stone, Middlesex Regiment, for braving enemy fire to rescue a wounded Officer at Poizieres

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1017 Pte H. Stone. 11/Middx:R); 1914-15 Star (G-1017 Pte. H. Stone, Middx.R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-1017 Pte. H. Stone. Midd'x R.), minor pitting, very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916, the original citation states:

'For his gallant conduct on 28/29 July 1916 near Poizieres when he brought in a wounded officer under fire.'

H. Stone served in the trenches around Poizieres with the 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in 1916. Between 28-29 July the Regimental Diary makes note of heavy fighting in July and August with two officers being wounded - either of which could have been the officer Stone bought in.

Lieutenant Shaw was injured on the night of 28-29 July, while attempting to reduce a German 'bombing point'. This attempt was unsuccessful due in part to an Australian attack to their left which placed the German sentries on alert. It is noted in the diary that Shaw later died from his wounds on 30 July, a testament to the intensity of the struggle.

German bombing attacks continued to be an issue for the Regiment as an attempt was again made to target part of this operation the next day. Second Lieutenant Wright led 20 men of 'D' Company in an attack on the trenches which managed to get inside the wire before a barrage of grenades drove them back. Wright was also wounded in the fighting, although he survived his injuries. It is not known which of these incidents Stone was involved in or whether there was a third which went unrecorded. However the ferocity of the fighting is obvious even in the matter-of-fact style of the Regimental Diary and the liberal use of grenades on both sides, making any of these small actions particularly deadly. Sold together with a small attractive original presentation document on vellum, including citation.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£280