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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 445

The Battle of the Somme 1916 M.C. group of four awarded to Major I. A. Baxter, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was later killed in action when his Battalion was encircled and engaged in hand-to-hand combat on 30 May 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse engraved 'Capt. I. A. Baxter Nov 1916'; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. I. A. Baxter. R.W.Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Major. I. A. Baxter.), very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 26 January 1917:

'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed coolness and courage in reorganising the front line under heavy fire. He set a splendid example throughout.'

Ian Alexander Baxter was the son of James and Kate Baxter of Conway, Caernarvonshire. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 22 January 1915 he served in France from 5 October 1915 with the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Promoted Lieutenant on 14 May 1916 and further advanced Captain on 29 November 1916 - around the same date that he won his M.C. - he was made Major on 7 December 1917, whilst Acting Second-in-Command of the Battalion.

Stationed in the valley of the River Ardre near Rheims on 30 May 1918 the Battalion came under heavy attack by German forces advancing from Lhery to their south-west. The left of the line was driven in and a large portion was encircled and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Those troops that were extracted from the combat were combined with the 9th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Baxter was not amongst them, having been killed in action during the encirclement; he is buried at Chambrecy British Cemetery.

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Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£700