A Great War M.M. pair awarded to Pte. E. R. Jennings, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment

Military Medal G.V.R. (15882 Pte. E. R. Jennings. 2/Linc: R.); 1914-15 Star (15882 Pte. E. R. Jennings. Linc. R.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment.

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M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916.

Ernest R. Jennings served with the 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 September 1915.

The 2nd Battalion, 25th Brigade, 8th Division, suffered 473 casualties (including 30 officers) on 1 July 1916, the First Day of the Battle of the Somme and numerous acts of gallantry are recorded of the attack made by the Battalion. The Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Bastard is quoted in the Battalion History stating that after 2-3 hours fighting in the German front line only he and one other officer were left from a starting total of twenty-two officers– ‘and we had bullet holes in our clothing’.
Counter attacks forced withdrawal after 9am and they were relieved from the line by midnight. The battalion had previously completed tours in the Somme Sector between March and July 1916 with minimal casualties. They later then saw regular trench tours in the Bethune Sector at intervals from 23 July to the end of August 1916 ‘with few incidents of outstanding importance to record’ so it is likely that Jennings’ M.M. was awarded for actions on 1 July 1916.

Jennings later transferred to the Army Ordnance Corps and was discharged to the reserve on 15 April 1919.