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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 48

The Victory Medal awarded to Sergeant F. E. Stubbs, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was 'mentioned' and awarded the Victoria Cross for the 'Lancashire Landings' at Gallipoli, one of the Regiment's famous 'Six Before Breakfast'

Victory Medal 1914-19, with M.I.D. oak leaves (1506 Sjt. F. E. Stubbs. Lan. Fus.), very fine

Provenance:
Spink, July 2014.

[V.C.] London Gazette 15 March 1917:

'On the 25th April, 1915, Headquarters and three Companies of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine guns, which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Captain Bromley, Serjeant Stubbs, and Corporal Grimshaw have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 August 1915.

Frank Edward Stubbs was born on 12 March 1888 at Walworth, near the Kennington Oval. He had served with the Lancashire Fusiliers in India before the outbreak of the Great War. Little more needs to be said on the landing of the Lancashire Fusiliers on 'W' Beach, Cape Helles on 25 April 1915 as it is carved into the Military traditions of the British Army. They earned the famous 'Six Before Breakfast', one of whom was Stubbs. On that famous day, he led his men with remarkable bravery through the wire and up the cliffs. Stubbs was finally killed in the assault on their final objective, with his body never being recovered.

Commemorated upon the Helles Memorial, he was rewarded with the M.I.D. and latterly the Victoria Cross, which was presented to his mother in a private ceremony in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace on 2 May 1917. The V.C. resides in the collection of the Fusilier Museum, Bury.

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Sold for
£5,200

Starting price
£2700