Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. pair awarded to Lieutenant G. Stephens, Gloucestershire Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. G. Stephens.) mounted and housed in a glazed display frame, with two silver plaques, the first inscribed ‘To Lieutenant George Bligh Cecil Stephens of the 1/6th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment’, and the second inscribed ‘The Military Cross (GV), The British War Medal 1914-1920.’, nearly extremely fine (2) £460-£550

M.C. London Gazette 26 March 1917: ‘2nd Lt. George Stephens, Gloc. R.:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He handled his platoon with great gallantry, and materially assisted in repelling a strong raiding party.’

George Stephens was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 26 September 1916, and served with the 5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, being awarded the Military Cross in 1917. He was advanced Lieutenant on 26 March 1918.

Note: George Bligh Cecil Stephens was commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 29 May 1918, and his Medal Index Card gives date of entry into the theatre of War first served (France) as 15 September 1918- as a result (given the discrepancy in the date of his first entering the War, and the award of the M.C.) it is likely that the recipient of the Military Cross and accompanying British War Medal is the different George Stephens referred to above.