Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A battle of the Ancre M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. G. Longthorne, Hertfordshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2731 Cpl. W. G. Longthorne, 1/1 Herts. R.-T.F.); 1914 Star, with clasp (2731 Pte., 1/1 Herts. R.) first initial given as ‘H’; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (2731 W.O. Cl. 2, Herts. R.) good very fine (4) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 19 February 1917. M.I.D. not confirmed.

Private Longthorne came from Rickmansworth and, according to records held at Hertford County Record Office, won the M.M. for the attack on the Hansa Line, near Beaumont Mill, during the battle of the Ancre, 13th-14th November 1916. The recommendation states: ‘Sergeant Longthorne was in command of a Platoon during the attack. He showed excellent leadership and initiative in collecting men who had got mixed up with other units in the fog, and leading them to the assault on the final objective.’

Lieutenant Hart, who was afterwards gazetted temporary Captain, was soon transferred to England, where he appeared to be making a good recovery. He died, however, at Brighton, on 28 January 1917, ‘of gun shot wounds to the larynx sustained at the Battle of the Ancre.’