Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War 'Western Front' M.M. and Second and Third Award Bars group of four awarded to Private G. Fraser, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, who was decorated with a trio of awards whilst attempting to supply the heavy artillery with shells

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second and Third Award Bars (M.2-050512 Pte. G. Fraser. M.T. A.S.C.); 1914-15 Star (M2-050512 Pte. G. Fraser. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M2-050512 Pte. G. Fraser. A.S.C.) minor official correction to prefix to number on MM, good very fine (4) £2,400-£2,800

1 of 180 Military Medals and 2 Bars awarded during the Great War.

M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 7 October 1918.

M.M. Third Award Bar London Gazette 21 October 1918.

George Fraser was born at Templestones, Rafford, on 10 October 1887. A resident of Edinburgh, Fraser attested at Cupar on 21 February 1915 for one of the Mechanical Transport Companies of the Army Service Corps, his trade noted as motor driver. Application successful, he was posted to France on 9 March 1915 with the newly formed 272 Company, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, attached to the ammunition column of the 12th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

According to the recipient's Army Form Z.21., Fraser served as a 'Heavy I. C. Driver'. This most likely refers to a role as a heavy internal combustion driver. The London Gazette entries for each of his awards further note that he was thrice decorated whilst serving with the 12th Siege Battery, with whom Fraser appears to have served for almost the entire war. It was not uncommon at that time for those with specialist skills to remain with their units for the long term; the responsibility associated with transporting vast quantities of explosive and poison gas shells across a landscape raked by enemy artillery fire being entrusted to a handful of experienced men with long-standing appreciation of their part of the front.

Sold with the recipient's original Certificate of Demobilisation, a letter from the dealer who purchased the group directly from the recipient's daughter, dated 15 August 1972, and extensive copied research.