Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Lance-Bombardier A. E. Dean, Royal Field Artillery

Military Medal, G.V.R. (39730 L. Bmbr., ‘A’ By. 107/Bde. R.F.A.) good very fine £160-200

M.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918.

Alfred E. Dean was born in Hull, Yorkshire. A Engineer by occupation, he attested for service in the Artillery at Hull on 2 October 1914, aged 19 years, 8 months. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 31 August 1915 and served with 107 Brigade which was Divisional Artillery of the 24th Division. The Division took part in the Battle of Loos, Battle of the Somme, the Third Battle of Ypres 1917, and Battle of St Quentin in 1918 when the Germans launched their last major offensive. By 4 April 1918, 107 Brigade in support of the French Army had lost the Battery Commander of ‘C’ Battery and two of its three guns and every man in both detachments had been killed. The remaining guns then engaged the enemy over open sights and “Once again the Germans experienced the devastating effect of 18 pounder shrapnel bursting low and accurately amongst them.” (Official History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery refers). For his bravery in these actions Alfred Dean, then a Lance-Bombardier in ‘A’ Battery, was awarded the Military Medal. With some copied research.