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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 365

A Great War M.S.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Corporal T. C. Sunderland, 2/5th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, decorated for having tended to the wounded under sniper fire

British War and Victory Medals (33628 Pte. T. C. Sunderland. L. N. Lan. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (33628 L.Cpl. T. C. Sunderland. 2/5 L. N. Lan: R.), good very fine (3)

M.S.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918. The following citation is offered by The Rochdale Times on 28 December 1918:

'Won by attending to wounded men with total disregard to the continuous firing of snipers.'

Tom Chew Sunderland was born at Rochdale on 1 February 1893, the son of James and Sarah Sunderland, who owned a chip potato shop and coffee house. He served in France with the 7th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and sometime transferred to the 2/5th Battalion. The exact location of his gallantry in winning his M.S.M. remains something of a mystery, but in May and June 1918 they were in the front lines around Gommecourt Park. He was presented his M.S.M. by the Mayor of Rochdale on 27 December 1918 and was married in April 1920. He died at 50 Willbutts Lane on 22 January 1985 and is buried in Rochdale Cemetery; sold together with an original newspaper cutting and copied research.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£210