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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 234

A Great War 'Somme 1916' M.M. and Second Award Bar awarded to 2nd Lieutenant C. Horwood, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was twice wounded during the Great War

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (12572 L. Sjt: C. Horwood. 6/R. Berks: R.), contact marks, edge bruising with a couple edge knocks, otherwise very fine

Provenance:
Spink, November 2008.

M.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916.

Charles Horwood was born in Wigginton, Hertfordshire in 1892 and attested at the Reading Depot in September 1914 along with his brothers Joseph and Frederick. Horwood was posted to the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment, and was appointed Lance Corporal in February the following year.

Horwood, along with his brother Frederick, entered the Western Front on 25 July 1915 - further entitling him to the 1914-15 Star Trio - disembarking at Boulogne with the 6th Battalion. Horwood was later made Acting Corporal before the Regiment moved to Carnoy, where he suffered a gun shot wound to the left leg and buttock. The unit was involved in the attack on Montauban during the Battle of the Somme and Horwood was promoted Lance-Sergeant in advance of the Regiment's attack on Delville Wood. They were further engaged in the attack on Schwaben Redoubt during which time Horwood became Acting Sergeant and was awarded his Military Medal on 25 October 1916. The unit moved on to the Ancre in January, where he was again promoted Sergeant and then Acting Company Sergeant-Major as the 6th Battalion was on the front line at Cherisy, Arras. They arrived in Belgium in July ahead of the Battle of Passchendaele, before which Horwood was appointed Warrant Officer Class II and during which he suffered a slight wound to the face while in action in the field.

Charles returned to the Reading Depot in August 1918 and was awarded a Bar to his Military Medal, as Sergeant, the next month. He soon returned to France where he served with the 5th Battalion at Arras and then Cambrai before rejoining the 6th Battalion in December 1917. Posted back to England in January to join an Officer Cadet Unit, Horwood joined the Household Officer Cadet Battalion at Bushey that June. In 1919 he was transferred to the Class Z Army Reserve and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. The three Horwood brothers are commemorated on the Wigginton War Memorial; sold together with a large quantity of comprehensive copied research, including photographs of the Wigginton War Memorial.

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Sold for
£520

Starting price
£400