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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 136

The 1918 M.C. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant W. H. Statham, Shropshire Light Infantry

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse attractively engraved 'For gallantry in action Lieut. W. H. Statham. King's Shropshire L.I. Octr. 1918.'; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W. H. Statham.); France, Republic, Croix de Guerre, with Palme upon riband, reverse dated '1914-1918', good very fine (4)

Purchased March 1991, when accompanied by the French award (this remains unconfirmed).

M.C. London Gazette 2 April 1918:

'For gallantry and initiative during the operations from the 4-5th November 1918, when he acted as Intelligence Officer to the Battalion. He repeatedly went forward to the front Companies under fire to ascertain what the situation was. On 4 November, when the right front Company was held up by machine-gun fire, he pushed forward and some early information. He went forward to Warquis-le-Grave and with a scout explored the place and brought home five prisoners.'

William Henry Statham was born in Jersey, Channel Islands on 10 October 1877, his father being a Sergeant in the 53rd Foot. A store keeper by trade and having served in the ranks of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, Statham was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry in November 1916. Wounded in action in late October 1917, he was returned to England for treatment, his address in the United Kingdom was noted as C/O Sir Everard Ferdinand im Thurn K.C.M.G., K.B.E., C.B.

Statham moved out to New Zealand and died at Avondale, Auckland in February 1971.

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Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550