Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private W. A. Mardell, 1/1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment - three times wounded in action

Military Medal, G.V.R. (266531 Pte., 1/1 Herts. R.-T.F.); British War and Victory Medals (4800 Cpl., Herts.) fine and better (3) £350-450

M.M. London Gazette

William Alfred Mardell was the third son of Mr John Mardell, of Fore Street, Welwyn. Prior to joining the Army on 9 April 1915, he had been employed as a Groom- Gardener at New House Park, St. Albans and Head Kennel Man for a Mr Winton Smith at Borehamwood. Serving with the 1/1 Hertfordshire Regiment, he entered France on 6 April 1916. He served during the battle of the Somme and was wounded in action at Swafon Redoubt, 14 November 1916. He was wounded in the foot at St. Julien, 31 July 1917 but remained on the field attending to other wounded whilst under heavy fire until he was hit again by shrapnel and was obliged to retire. For this action he was recommended (by an N.C.O.) for the Military Medal. On 21 March 1918, whilst trying to rescue a comrade who was badly wounded, he was again wounded, by shrapnel to the leg. He was briefly captured by the Germans but was recovered by a British tank and was eventually passed, via British dressing stations which were bombed by German aircraft, to hospital in France and thence to England. He was presented with his well deserved M.M. whilst recuperating. (Ref. Herts Advertiser). Mardell was discharged on 9 April 1919.

With copied newspaper extracts and m.i.c..