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Auction: 7022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 376

A Great War Western Front ´Immediate´ M.C., and 1918 ´Battle of Ypres´ Bar Group of Five to Lieutenant W.J. Brinkman, Machine Gun Corps, Late Royal Fusiliers Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (2362 Pte. W. Brinkman. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W.J. Brinkman.); Defence Medal, nearly extremely fine, together with the recipient´s riband bar, and the following documents &c.: - Commission appointing William John Brinkman Second Lieutenant, Land Forces, dated 26.9.1917 - Two Copies of Army Orders, by General Sir H.S. Rawlinson, Bart., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., K.C.M.G., announcing the award to the recipient of his M.C., and Second Award Bar, dated 2.6.1918 and 4.3.1919 respectively - Two Fourth Army Certificates to the recipient, for his M.C., and Second Award Bar, dated 2.6.1918 and 4.3.1919 respectively - Recipient´s Soldiers´ Small Book from his period in the ranks with the Royal Fusiliers - Defence Medal enclosure - Machine Gun Corps Christmas Card 1918, from ´Jack´ - Copy of the recipient´s birth certificate - Two photographs of the recipient (5) Estimate £ 1,200-1,400 M.C. London Gazette 16.9.1918 T./2nd Lt. William John Brinkman, M.G.C. ´For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In order to better observation he frequently exposed himself under heavy machine gun and rifle fire and with his guns, inflicted heavy losses on the advancing enemy. His courage and cheerfulness greatly encouraged his men.´ M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 8.3.1919 T./2nd Lt. William John Brinkman, M.C., 18th Bn., M.G. Corps The Citation, published in the London Gazette 4.10.1919, states: ´For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations on 29/30 September 1918. In the attack at Vendhuile he went well ahead of the infantry with his four guns and by doing so was responsible for enfilading a number of the enemy and allowing the infantry to advance on his left. No enemy in this area escaped. Owing to his fine work in pushing his guns so far in advance of the infantry and placing a barrage behind their position over sixty prisoners were taken. Second Lieutenant William John Brinkman, M.C., born Dorking, Surrey, February 1891, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brinkmann, naturalised British subjects of German origins; enlisted in the 24th (Service) (2nd Sportsmans) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, 1.1.1915; served in France with the 5th Infantry Brigade in the Somme sector; Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Machine Gun Corps, 26.9.1917; seriously wounded by shrapnel; temporary Lieutenant, 26.3.1919; relinquished his Commission with the rank of Lieutenant, 29.4.1919. Lieutenant Brinkman volunteered for the Home Guard during the Second World War, but failed to be accepted due to his German ancestry, despite his Great War service.

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£2,300