Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘Warrant Officers’ M.C. group of eight awarded to Captain (Quartermaster) H. J. Anderson, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches in the early months of the Great War, and was one of the very first 99 Officers and Warrant Officers to be awarded the Military Cross in the first London Gazette of 1 January 1915

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (10434 Cpl. H. J. Anderson. R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (10434 Corpl: H. J. Anderson. R.A.M.C.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (10434 S. Mjr. H. J. Anderson. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Capt. H. J. Anderson.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Q.M. & Capt. H. J. Anderson.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (10434 S. Sjt: H. J. Anderson. R.A.M.C.) mounted court-style for display, contact marks to the Boer War pair, these nearly very fine; the rest good very fine (8) £1,400-£1,800

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1915: Serjeant-Major H. J. Anderson, Royal Army Medical Corps.

M.I.D. London Gazettes 19 October 1914 (Field Marshal Sir John French’s Despatch of 8 October 1914) and 17 February 1915 (Field Marshal Sir John French’s Despatch of 20 November 1914) .

Henry John Anderson was born on 18 October 1879 and attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Boy soldier in March 1895. Promoted Corporal, he served with the R.A.M.C. in South Africa throughout the Boer War, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct medal in March 1913. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 August 1914 (entitlement to the clasp to his 1914 Star confirmed), and within the space of five months on the Western Front had been twice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Military Cross. Advanced Warrant Officer Class I in January 1915, he was commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 9 May 1915, and was promoted Captain on 9 May 1918. Appointed temporary Major on 20 February 1919, he finally relinquished his commission on 25 June 1919.

Sold with a Royal Army Medical Corps silver and enamel lapel badge; and copied research.