Five: Sergeant V. S. S. Mann, Royal Engineers

1914-15 Star (3167 L. Cpl., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (3167 Sjt., R.E.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (610072 Spr. - A. Sjt., R.E.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with silver star the first with initials ‘V. S.’ and the fourth officially corrected, good very fine and better (5) £140-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Engineers.

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French Croix de Guerre Maroc Division, Ordre General 152 3 August 1918. The recommendation states:

‘On 26 April 1918, this N.C.O., in charge of a party of four linesmen, patrolled cables between 174th Infantry Brigade, at Bois de Gantaelles and the 7th and 8th London Regiments at H.Q. near Hangard, a distance of 2.5 miles, under very heavy shell fire from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and by his fine example and courage enabled his party to carry on under very trying conditions and maintain communications. As many as 20 breaks were repaired in one line, a break usually consisting of 10 to 30 yards of cable being completely blown away.’

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising French Division Maroc citation / certificate for the recipient’s Croix de Guerre, and a local Salisbury newspaper cutting which states that he had also been recommended for the D.C.M.; a British 27th Division notice from Major-General Snow, commending the recipient for his bravery, dated 9 May 1915, and related ‘Green Card’, also signed by the General; and a portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform.