Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Gallipoli’ D.C.M., M.S.M. group of eight awarded to Staff Sergeant Major H. Faint, Royal Army Service Corps, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches and was honoured by the French, Belgian, and Serbian authorities for his administrative abilities in hostile environments

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (S-16343 S.S. Mjr: H. Faint. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (S-15343 W.O. Cl.1. H. Faint. A.S.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S-16343 S.S. Mjr: H. Faint. D.C.M. A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S-16343 T.S.S.Mjr. H. Faint. D.C.M. R.A.S.C.); France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver-gilt and enamel; Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze star on riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Medal of the Order of the Crown, First Class, gilt, the silver medals heavily toned, good very fine (8) £800-£1,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 21 June 1916:
‘For excellent work as Chief Clerk often carried out under difficult conditions.'

M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919:
'For services rendered with British Forces in the Balkans.'

France, Medaille Militaire London Gazette 5 November 1920.

France, Croix de Guerre London Gazette 21 August 1919.

Belgium, Medal of the Order of the Crown, First Class London Gazette 19 December 1922.

Harry Faint was born at Carlton Husthwaite, Yorkshire, on 11 December 1878. A butcher by trade, he attested at Leeds for the Royal Artillery on 11 September 1899, and transferred to the Army Service Corps on 4 August 1900. Appointed Sergeant in 1907 and Staff Sergeant Major at the outbreak of hostilities, Faint served in the Gallipoli theatre of war from 20 September 1915, and was decorated with the D.C.M. for distinguished and gallant service whilst under the Command of General Sir Charles Munro, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He was further twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 13 July 1916 and 28 November 1917) and was awarded the M.S.M. in the Peace Gazette as Temporary 1st Class Staff Sergeant Major with the Royal Army Service Corps in Salonika. He was further honoured by France, Belgium, and Serbia (awarded the Serbian Medal for Military Virtue, London Gazette 7 June 1919).

The 1939 Register later records Faint living in Fulham, London, his inter-war profession stated as civil servant and shorthand typist.

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