Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

A good Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of three awarded to Captain F. C. Benton, 1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with a silver cigarette case, hallmarks for Birmingham 1918, the outer lid inscribed ‘To Captain F. C. Benton, 1/6th Manchester Regt., “Happy Days”, and additionally inscribed with facsimile signatures of five officers, nearly extremely fine (3) £500-700

M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919 ‘For conspicuous gallantry. During the advance across the River Selle, south of Solesmes on 20 October 1918, he was in command of the leading company. When it was held up by very strong resistance, he immediately organised attacks against machine gun nests and overcame the opposition, gained the first objective, and took about fifty prisoners. He then led his company on to their final objective, displaying excellent leadership, to which the success of the attack was mainly due.’