Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘French theatre’ M.M. and rare 1919 ‘North Russia Relief Force’ Second Award Bar group of five awarded to Sergeant W. M. Ross, 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, late 1st and 8th Battalions, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (9691 Sjt W. Ross. 8/R. Berks: R.); 1914 Star, with clasp (9691 Pte W. Ross. 1/R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (L-9691 Sjt. W. Ross. R. Berks. R.); France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, gilt, and enamel, with trophy of arms suspension, mounted as originally worn, minor blue enamel damage to last, otherwise generally good very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400

M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1919.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 3 January 1920 (North Russia - Archangel).

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 October 1914.

William M. Ross was a native of Warwick. He served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 13 August 1914. Ross advanced to Sergeant, and subsequently served with the 8th Battalion, for services with whom he was awarded the M.M.

Following the cessation of hostilities Ross volunteered for service with the North Russia Relief Force in 1919, and was posted to the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, who along with their sister unit the 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, had been formed specifically for service in North Russia. Ross subsequently served during the Allied Intervention in North Russia, and was awarded a Second Award Bar to his Military Medal. His Bar was awarded most likely for his gallantry during either the great ‘Dvina Offensive’ of 10 August 1919, the largest battle fought by British troops against the Soviet Red Army during British military intervention in the Russian Civil War - in the same action Corporal Arthur Sullivan, an Australian volunteer also serving with the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was awarded the Victoria Cross; or for an attack against a Red Army battery position near the village of Emtsa on the Archangel-Vologda Railway Front on 29 August 1919, which resulted in a further posthumous Victoria Cross being awarded to Sergeant Samuel Pearse, another Australian volunteer serving with the 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

All British troops were withdrawn from North Russia in October 1919 just as the Dvina River and the White Sea were freezing over. The North Russia Relief Force and the short lived 45th and 46th Battalions, Royal Fusiliers, were disbanded the following month, having gained the Battle Honour ‘Archangel 1919’.

Sold with Bestowal Document for the Medaille Militaire, dated 24 July 1915.