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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 402

The Great War 'Italian Front - Piave River' M.M. group of four awarded to Lance Corporal J. Quinlan, 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (21508 Pte - L. Cpl - J. Quinlan: 11/ W. York: R.); 1914-15 Star (21508 Pte J. Quinlan. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (21508 Pte. J. Quinlan. W. York. R.), pitting, contact marks, edge bruising, nearly very fine (4)

M.M London Gazette 29 March 1919, the original recommendation states:

'Throughout the operations across the Piave from October 27th to 29th 1918, this N.C.O. on numerous occasions in spite of hostile machine guns and snipers placed his Lewis gun in a commanding positions, thus inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, and enabling the line to be advanced.'

James Quinlan was a native of 3 Stroud Street, Leeds, Yorkshire. Enlisting with the West Yorkshire Regiment he entered the war in France on 12 October 1915 as a Private with 12th Battalion, later transferring to 9th Battalion and finally 11th Battalion, with whom he was posted to Italy. The Battalion took part in the Operations around the Piave River in October 1918. On 23rd their leading element had been ferried to Italian held positions over the River and on 27 they attacked towards Oderzo. Held up several times between 27-29 October Quinlan's 'D' Company was it was invariably in the thickest of the fighting aiding the inexorable pushed onwards. The role he played in the fighting is displayed in the remarks made on his discharge papers which state:

'An excellent N.C.O
Has trained his section in the use of the Lewis Gun with good results
He shown [SIC] great courage in the operations on the Piave which resulted in the capture of many prisoners
He was awarded the M.M.'

Quinlan was sent to the 'Z' Class reserve on 18 March 1919 but re-joined the colours on 6 July 1923 with the number 4338872, he was discharged for the final time on 6 July 1927 at York; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., medal rolls and a London Gazette entry as well as Army book entries, and an extract from the Regimental History and original documents such as the recipient's Service and Pay book, discharge papers and a letter from his Company Sergeant Major congratulating him upon his award.

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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£220