The Jack Russell Collection of Medals to the Gloucestershire Regiment

A Great War ‘Italian theatre’ M.C. group of six awarded to Chaplain to the Forces Third Class the Reverend C. A. Clark, Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, attached 1/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, who was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry in bringing in the wounded and dead under enemy fire on the Asiago Plateau on 16 June 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Revd. C. A. Clark. C.F.’; British War and Victory Medals (Rev. C. A. Clark.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, reverse officially dated 1942, with integral top riband bar, mounted court-style as worn, very fine and better (6) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Russell Collection of Medals to the Gloucestershire Regiment.

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One of only four Military Crosses awarded to Chaplains attached to or serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment.

M.C. London Gazette 24 September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and resource shown during an enemy attack. He stayed with the firing line and collected three wounded men, whom with great difficulty (owing to the close approach of the enemy) he brought safely to the dressing station. When our line was restored, he immediately went forward again to assist in collecting the wounded and dead. He showed splendid devotion to duty.’
Annotated Gazette states ‘Asiago Plateau, Italy, 16 June 1918’.

The Reverend Charles Aubrey Clark was educated at the University of Wales and St Michael’s Theological College, Llandaff, and was ordained Deacon in 1913, and Priest in 1914. Appointed Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, Fourth Class in 1917, he served attached to the 1/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment during the Great War in Italy, and was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on the Asiago Plateau, Italy, on 6 June 1918. Post War he served as Vicar of St. Dyfrig, Cardiff, from 1921 to 1936, and was a Chaplain to the Forces in the Territorial Army from 1922 to 1945, being awarded the Efficiency Decoration as a Chaplain to the Forces Third Class in 1942 (London Gazette 23 June 1942). He served as Rector of Llanelwedd with Llanfaredd, Breconshire, from 1936, and was an Honorary Cannon of Brecon from 1949 to 1957.

Sold with the recipient’s Chaplain to the Forces black Clerical Stole, complete with riband bar; and copied research.