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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 260

A Great War posthumous M.M. casualty group of three awarded to Private B. A. Gale, 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who died as a result of a gun shot wound on 13 April 1918 during the Battle of the Lys; in the same action Captain Thomas Pryce won himself a posthumous Victoria Cross

Military Medal, G.V.R. (28387 Pte B. A. Gale. 4/G. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (28387 Pte. B. A. Gale. G. Gds.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Bruce Arthur Gale), very fine or better (4)

M.M. London Gazette 16 July 1918.

Bruce Arthur Gale was born at Alton Barnes, Wiltshire, he was the son of Bruce J. and Emma Gale, of Alton Barnes, Marlborough, Wiltshire. He enlisted at Salisbury having previously been a porter within the Traffic Department of the Great Western Railway. He died of wounds on 13 April 1918 whilst serving with the 4th Battalion and is buried in the Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France.

The Grenadier Guards Battalions, particularly the 4th, suffered heavy casualties fighting in the desperate Battle of the Lys (Hazebrouck Sector) in April 1918 during Germany's Spring Offensive, defending against intense German attacks near Hazebrouck and Vieux Berquin. They faced fierce fighting with little cover, executing difficult counter-attacks and delaying enemy advances at great cost, with units losing over 60% of their men in single days, including Captain Thomas Pryce, who earned a posthumous Victoria Cross for holding back enemy forces and who was ultimately killed on the 13th April.

Sold with an Extract from letter from Sergt: Major No.1 New Zealnd Stationary Hospital B.E.F. France (written on No.1 New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst, Hants. notepaper).

"Your letter of the 8th inst just this moment to hand, and knowing how anxious relatives are for news such as you enquire after, am answering direct. It may seem strange when I tell you but the night Pte Gale was admitted we were very busy receiving close on 600 wounded, many straight from the field, and I had an idea some enquiries would be made concerning him although he was only one of the many who died soon after admission, and with that end in view paid attention to his case -

Well here is as much news as I am at liberty to tell -
He was admitted about midnight 12/13 April from the 89th Field Ambulance suffering from G.S.W. abdomen, and died three hours later. He was buried the same day by Rev Irvine C.F. N.Z.E.F. attached to this Hospital in Row A. Plot 5. Longuenesse Military Cemetery, which is situated 1 1/2 S.S.E. of St.Omer - I dare not give you the map reading: but what I recommend is this - the relations write to O.C. Graves Registration Units G.H.Q. 3rd Echelon B.E.F. France who have authority to do so. You quite understand how strict the censorship regulations are out here, and the reason why one cannot write fully: But I feel sure if they write as suggested they will receive confirmation to my letter which will mean a great deal of satisfaction to them. You can mention just as much of this matter as you deem fit, so I leave everything entirely to you".

The lot also includes the following items:i)
Photograph of him in uniform

ii)
A page from a Great Western Railway Magazine showing 16 G.W.R. men who had lost their lives of which Gale was one.

iii)
Box for Great War Medals.

iv)
Buckingham Palace slip.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400