Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War M.M. and Bar group of four awarded to Lance-Sergeant F. Emerson, Royal Fusiliers, who was decorated for his bravery in the 11th Battalion at Thiepval in September 1916 and at Westhoek Ridge in August 1917 - he died of wounds that November

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (7291 L. Cpl. F. Emerson, 11/R. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (7291 Pte. F. Emerson, R. Fus.); British War & Victory Medals (GS-7291 Cpl. F. Emerson, R. Fus.), together with related Memorial Plaque (Fred Emerson), nearly extremely fine (5) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

View
Collection

M.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916.

Bar to M.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘This N.C.O., who was in charge of a party of men, in an important strong point, succeeded in driving off repeated German counter-attacks, and when at last, he and his little garrison were driven out by overwhelming numbers, he rallied his men, and men from other units, and succeeded in recapturing the lost position immediately.’

Fred Emerson died of wounds while serving in the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, on 19 November 1917 and is buried in the Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Westvleteren, Belgium. The following notices appeared in the Bury Times:

On the award of his M.M.:

‘News has been received that Lance-Corporal Fred Emerson, Royal Fusiliers, whose home is at 34, Andrew Street, Bury, has been awarded the Military Medal. Lance-Corporal Emerson joined the forces on 17 September 1914, and went out to France in July 1915. He was wounded some time ago. In civilian life he followed the occupation of beetler at Messrs. Ashworth and Smith’s Burrs bleach works. He attended Holy Trinity Church and Sunday School, and his name is on the Holy Trinity roll of honour.’

And on the presentation of the Bar to his M.M.:

‘Mrs. Emerson, of 34, Andrew Street, off Heywood Street, Bury, widow of Sergeant F. Emerson (whose death from wounds received in action was recorded in the Bury Times of 28 November 1917), was presented at Bury barracks, on Sunday, with the Bar to the Military Medal, gained by her husband for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, he having, with his platoon, withstood repeated counter-attacks by the enemy at Westhoek Ridge on 10 August 1917. He had previously been awarded the Military Medal for similar action at Thiepval in September 1916. He was a native of Bury, and prior to enlisting was employed at the Burrs bleach works, where he was well respected. The presentation of the Bar was made to Mrs. Emerson by Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell on church parade at the barracks on Sunday.’

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including newspaper cuttings with the above cited notices; Divisional Commendation Card, signed by the Major-General commanding 18th Division, ‘for gallant conduct on 10 August 1917 during operations against Westhoek Ridge’; an old hand written copy of the citation for the recipient’s Bar to his M.M. (as cited above); a period photographic post card depicting the recipient and five of his comrades at camp; and two small cut-out portrait photographs of him in uniform.