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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 360

A Great War M.M. and gold presentation Watch awarded to Private P. Ross, 20th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich), a Battalion Runner during the three-day Battle of Solesmes in October 1918

Military Medal G.V.R. (634963 Pte. P. Ross. 20/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (R-366232 Pte. P. Ross. A.S.C.), very fine (3)

M.M. London Gazette 22 July 1919.

Peter Ross, a native of Birtley, Durham, was born in April 1868. During the Great War he served in the 20th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich) and Army Service Corps. He was a Battalion Runner during the Battle of Solesmes in October 1918, during which he won his M.M.; his son gave further details:

'He was a runner in the London Regiment and when they went over the top he ran with the Officer and a Sergeant so if they took the German trench he would go back to HQ with the message. This particular time as they ran forward he was between the two...a German machine gun that jumped up on [them] springs & fired straight at them, they all dropped to the ground...both the Officer and Sergeant were dead cut through the middle. He only had a bullet go through the shoulder of his uniform...

The advance of his Section was held up by a German machine gun. He said for some reason he decided to single handed[ly] charge at it. The two or three Germans raised their hands and he took them Prisoner. He spoke to the German officer and he said that he was very lucky they didn't open fire, but they were distracted by another person further down the line who also jumped up they thought it was the start of a major attack so they surrendered. This might have been the MM?'

Either way, after the battle the unit counted losses of 19 killed, three died of wounds and 87 wounded. Returned home with the M.M. and his Gold Watch, by 1939 he was living in Malone Gardens, Chester-Le-Street, a retired coal hewer miner.

Sold together with a half-hunter pocket watch, this inscribed 'Presented by the Birtley Decoration Committee to Private Peter Ross on his winning the Military Medal in the Great War October 11th 1919' and copied research, including the account of his son.


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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£550

Sale 23001 Notices
'The presentation pocket watch which accompanies this Lot is plated - rather than solid - gold.'