Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Great War Battle of the Somme M.C. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant J. A. B. Paul, East Surrey Regiment, late Honourable Artillery Company, who was killed in action in October 1916
Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved, ‘2nd Lieut. John Andrew Bowring Paul, 7th East Surrey Regt., Ovillers, 1916, 29th July, 2nd Aug., 13th Aug., Killed at Geudecourt 10th Oct. 1916’; 1914-15 Star (2384 Pte. J. A. B. Paul, H.A.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. J. A. B. Paul), the whole contained in an old wooden display case, the outer lid set with the recipient’s Memorial Plaque (John Andrew Bowring Paul), and the interior including an inlaid portrait photograph and East Surrey’s cap badge, generally extremely fine (6) £1800-2200

M.C. London Gazette 26 September 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry when in charge of a working party. When a shell burst in an ammunition store, causing many casualties, he rescued and bound up several wounded men at great risk from exploding bombs. Later, on two occasions, he rescued officers under heavy fire.’

This incident took place on 29 July 1916, as related in the regimental history of the East Surrey Regiment: ‘On the night of the 29th, C Company sustained thirty-two casualties through an 8-in. shell landing in the Brigade advanced store containing bombs, S.A.A., Véry lights and rockets. Several men were badly burnt by the Véry lights and rockets, but only a few bombs exploded. 2nd Lieut. J. A. B. Paul, who was in charge of the working party, showed great coolness in extricating his men from their dangerous position, and for this and other gallant acts was subsequently awarded the Military Cross.’

John Andrew Bowring Paul was killed in action on 10 October 1916, while serving on attachment to the 7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment - ‘He was an absolutely fearless officer and a great loss to the Battalion’. The son of William and Phoebe Paul of Lorne Lodge, Sutton, Surrey, he was 22 years of age, but has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Sold with original illuminated memorial scroll, Buckingham Palace forwarding message for the Memorial Plaque and War Office forwarding letter for his campaign awards, this dated 10 November 1921.