Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of nine miniature dress medals attributed to Private H. Tandey, V.C., D.C.M., M.M., Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, late Yorkshire Regiment, the most decorated Private Soldier of the Great War

Victoria Cross; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R.; Military Medal, G.V.R.; 1914 Star, with clasp; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Defence Medal; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn but now lacking retaining pin, VC detached from suspension bar but present, generally very fine (9) £700-£900

David Harvey Collection, 2004.

V.C. London Gazette 14 December 1918:
‘For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the capture of the village and the crossings at Marcoing, and the subsequent counter-attack on September 28th 1918. When, during the advance on Marcoing, his platoon was held up by machine-gun fire, he at once crawled forward, located the machine gun, and, with a Lewis gun team, knocked it out. On arrival at the crossings he restored the plank bridge under a hail of bullets, thus enabling the first crossing to be made at this vital spot.
Later in the evening, during an attack, he, with eight comrades, was surrounded by an overwhelming number of Germans, and though the position was apparently hopeless, he led a bayonet charge through them, fighting so fiercely that 37 of the enemy were driven into the hands of the remainder of his company. Although twice wounded, he refused to leave till the fight was won.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 5 December 1918:
‘He was in charge of a reserve bombing party in action, and finding the advance temporarily held up, he called on two other men of his party, and working across the open in rear of the enemy, he rushed a post, returning with twenty prisoners, having killed several of the enemy. He was an example of daring, courage throughout the whole of the operations.’

M.M. London Gazette 11 March 1919.

Henry Tandey was born in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, on 30 August 1891, and attested for the Yorkshire Regiment at Richmond, Yorkshire, on 12 August 1910. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from October 1914, and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in October 1916. He saw further service with the 9th Battalion, and was again wounded at Passchendaele in November 1917. He transferred to the 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment on 26 July 1918, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry at Vaulx Vraucourt during the period 25 August to 2 September 1918; the Military Medal for his gallantry at Havrincourt on 12-13 September 1918; and the Victoria Cross for this gallantry at Marcoing on 28 September 1918, during which action he was wounded.

Tandey was invested with his V.C. by H.M. King George V at Buckingham Palace on 17 December 1919. He saw further service at home during the Second World War, and died in Coventry on 20 December 1977 (also entitled to a Jubilee 1977 Medal).