A Great War ‘German Spring Offensive’ M.M. and Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal W. Ready, Northumberland Fusiliers

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (13-5947 Pte. W. Ready. 9/North’d Fus:); 1914-15 Star (5947 Pte. W. Ready. North’d Fus:) unofficially re-engraved; British War and Victory Medals (5947 Pte. W. Ready. North’d Fus.) edge bruise and light contact marks to MM, nearly very fine and better (4) £500-£700

M.M. London Gazette 6 August 1918.
The Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland, adds: ‘For gallantry in the field on 21/22 March 1918 in operations near St. Ledger.’

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 7 October 1918.

Walter Ready was born in Newcastle on 11 June 1892 and worked as a builder’s labourer in Blaydon, Tyne and Wear. Posted to the 13th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, he proceeded to France on 9 September 1915 and joined the British assault at the Battle of Loos, notably the action of 26 September 1915 at Chalk Pit Wood. Sometime transferred to the 9th Battalion, Ready was present in the trenches on the morning of 21 March 1918 when the Germans launched a devastating artillery bombardment followed by an infantry assault over a ridge known as the Hog’s Back. The Battalion War Diary confirms heavy engagement, the scene being temporarily stabilised via a counter-barrage by the Royal Field Artillery. Further attacks continued into the early hours of the next morning and it soon became clear that the positions of the 9th Battalion were untenable; Brigade orders were therefore issued at 8.15pm for a retirement west towards the village of Hamelincourt. The Battalion War Diary lists Ready alongside 18 comrades as awarded the Military Medal for this action.

Relocated from Hamelincourt to Armentieres, the Battalion survivors spent April 1918 engaging in defensive measures, most likely the reinforcement of strong points, maintenance of the trench network and wire, and camouflaging of positions to prevent aerial attack. On 9 April 1918 the enemy launched a dawn barrage on the Northumberland’s positions using gas shells; advancing a midday, the storm troopers soon captured Bois Grenier and the ground around Nieppe and Armentieres; this included street fighting in the village of Neuve Eglise where every cellar was bitterly fought over using grenades and small arms. On 16 April 1918 the 9th Battalion launched a successful counterattack, followed by a successful holding action the next day which drove off lines of fast moving enemy infantry; Ready is listed once more in the Battalion War Diary alongside men who ‘distinguished themselves in the fighting’ and had done ‘exceptionally well’.

Awarded a Second Award Bar to the M.M., Ready remained in the trenches and is noted by the Fusiliers Museum as having been wounded in May 1918. This is confirmed in the St. George’s Gazette of 31 May 1918. Returned home, he was discharged from the Army Reserve in 1919 and later worked as a miner in the Stargate colliery.

Sold with extensive copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.