A Great War ‘Western Front’ Crossing of the River Sambre M.M. group of four awarded to Lance Corporal A. G. Mason, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (6785 Pte L.Cpl. A. Mason. 1/Devon: R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (6785 Pte. A. Mason. 1/Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6785 Pte. A. Mason. Devon. R.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919.

Albert George Mason was born in St Luke, City Road, Middlesex, in 1882. A carman by occupation, he attested at London for the Devonshire Regiment on 21 October 1901 following 104 days’ service with the 7th (City of London) (Militia) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. From July 1902 to October 1909 he saw service with both the 1st and 2nd Battalions Devonshire Regiment in South Africa, India, Burma, Malta and Crete, before being transferred to the Army Reserve. Mobilised from the Reserve at Exeter on 5 August 1914, he embarked for France on 26 August 1914 with reinforcements for the 1st Battalion. Admitted to hospital with dyspepsia in November 1914, he was wounded in action following the attack on Fresnoy Park on 9 May 1917 and was admitted to No. 4 General Hospital, Camiers, suffering ‘Gun Shot Wound to Left Shoulder Severe’. Evacuated to England, Mason was operated on at Napsbury War Hospital to remove two foreign bodies from his shoulder. Posted back to the 1st Battalion in France on 14 April 1918 - only to be admitted to No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne with ‘Gas Poisoning’ on 24 August 1918 - he rejoined his battalion in the field on 13 September 1918 and took part in the successful attack and crossing of the River Sambre between 5 and 7 November 1918, for which services he was awarded the Military Medal.

Demobilised to the Reserve on 7 April 1919, Mason re-enlisted for Short Service on 22 June 1919 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment, embarking for India. His Military Medal being presented to him by Major General Sir David Campbell, K.C.B. during a commemorative parade in Quetta, Baluchistan, on 27 May 1920. Returning home he was finally discharged after 17 years and 155 days’ service on 29 January 1924. He died in London from heart disease on 8 October 1929, aged 46.

Sold with copied research.