Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Spring Offensive’ M.C. group of four awarded to Major H. Daniels, Royal Garrison Artillery and Glamorgan Home Guard

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. H. Daniels.); Defence Medal, good very fine (4) £600-£800

M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918:
‘When in charge of a corps of reserve heavy ammunition dumps he worked day and night superintending the urgent despatch of ammunition to the batteries. Not only was the dump being heavily shelled with high explosives and gas, but there was great danger of its being overrun by the advancing enemy. He kept up the supply when every round was of value, and also removed nearly all the reserve ammunition, preventing its falling into the enemy’s hands.’

Harry Daniels was born in Ystalyfera, near Swansea, on 15 August 1893, and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery at Swansea on 8 November 1915. He served with the Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 March 1916, and remained in theatre until 23 October of that year, serving with a heavy battery throughout the Somme campaign. He was admitted to hospital on 25 October 1916 suffering from trench fever, and having fully recovered by 25 November of that year was posted to the Heavy Artillery Depot at Woolwich. Applying for a commission on 31 January 1917, he was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 7 July 1917, and was posted to 120 Siege Battery in France on 21 September of that year. On 28 February 1918 he was posted to the 3rd Corps ammunition dumps, and was employed in this role during the German Spring Offensive, for which he was awarded the Military Cross. Promoted Lieutenant on 7 January 1919, he relinquished his commission in May 1920.

Daniels was employed in civilian life as an Auctioneer for the Swansea auction house Bowers, Evans, and Mills. He saw subsequent service during the Second World War as a Major in the Home Guard, commanding ‘E’ Company, Glamorgan Battalion. He died suddenly on 29 July 1942, aged 48, and is buried in Alltygrug Cemetery, Ystalyfera.

Sold with a large quantity of research, including original letters; newspaper cuttings; copied Medal Index Card and attestation papers; and a copy of an article on the recipient that appeared in the September 2003 edition of the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal.