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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 232

The Great War '1917' M.M. and '1918' Second Award Bar awarded to Sergeant J. Smith, 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (16861 L.Cpl. J. Smith. 11/Ches:R.), some overstriking to number; 1914-15 Star (16861 Pte. J. Smith. Ches:R.); British War and Victory Medals (16861 Sjt. J. Smith. Ches. R.), minor edge bruising, light pitting, good very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917.

Second Award Bar to M.M. London Gazette 27 June 1918.

John Smith was born at Heswell, Cheshire on 7 July 1896 and was working as a Flag Maker on the outbreak of the Great War. Enlisting at Wallesay on 5 September 1914 he was posted to the 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment entered the war in France on 25 September 1915.

Their first major action was the Defence of Vimy Ridge in May 1916 before being withdrawn from the line and entering the Somme theatre. Here they saw continual fighting from June-October 1916, suffering more than 200 casualties during that period. The Battalion was next in action at the Battle of Messines in June 1917, Smith was awarded his first M.M. two months after this engagement.

Smith was taken Prisoner of war at Ploegsteert, Belgium on 8 April 1918, just two months before his Second Award Bar was gazetted. The records of his capture make it clear that he did not come quietly, suffering a bullet in the right thigh for his troubles. Taken to a Reserve Hospital at Antwerp he convalesced there before being taken into captivity where he remained until the end of the war.

Released after the end of the war Smith was repatriated and returned to Britain in November 1918; sold together with an M.M. riband bar and rosette along with copied research.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£400