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

A fine Great War B.E.F. 1914 D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Company Sergeant-Major A. C. Hanks, Royal Field Artillery: he went on to win the M.S.M. for services in the 88th Chinese Company, Labour Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (84198 B.S. Mjr. A. C. Hanks, 9/Bty. R.F.A.); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (84198 Corpl., R.A.); 1914 Star with clasp (84198 B.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (84198 A.W.O. Cl.1, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (84198 B.S. Mjr., R.F.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (427000 C.S. Mjr., Lab. C.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (84198 Cpl., 32 F.B., R.A.), minor contact marks, generally good very fine (8) £2000-2500

D.C.M. London Gazette 17 December 1914: ‘For gallantry and ability. He had heavy responsibilities when the battery had lost many officers, and has performed good work under all circumstances.’

Albert C. Hanks served in 32nd Field Battery, R.F.A. in the Sudan campaign, where it played a prominent part at the Battle of Omdurman, ‘virtually winning the day single-handed’, leaving just a broken remmant of the enemy for the advancing Infantry.

The situation in 1914 was somewhat different. Hanks, by now a Battery Sergeant-Major serving in 9th Battery, R.F.A., participated in a series of bloody rear-guard actions, among them the engagement on 24 August, when his battery formed part of the rear-guard for I Corps after the Battle of Mons, and, in a similar role at Villers Cotteret on 1 September, while covering the 4th (Guards) Brigade, when it had several brisk exchanges with the German artillery. At the Battle of Langemarck on 21 October, 9th Battery went into action only 1200 yards from the enemy and fired 1400 rounds during the day; and again, on the last day of the month, in the First Battle of Ypres, the battery was heavily engaged in supporting the 2nd Worcestershires in their assault on Gheluvelt Chateau.

Hanks was awarded his M.S.M. for subsequent services in the 88th Chinese Company, Labour Corps, at Woolwich (London Gazette 16 October 1919 refers).