Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Seven: Acting Quarter-Master F. G. Weight, Royal Marine Light Infantry

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Pte., R.M., H.M.S. Mohawk); 1914-15 Star (Ch. 11722 Sgt., R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. 11722 Act. Sgt. Maj., R.M.L.I.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Admiral’s bust (Ch. 11722 Sergeant, R.M.L.I.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (Ch-11722 Sjt. - A.Q.M.S., 1/R. Marines); Messina Earthquake 1908, unnamed as issued contact wear and edge bruising, generally very fine, an extremely rare Army M.S.M. to the R.M.L.I. (7) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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Frederick George Weight was born in Mitcham, Surrey in October 1883 and enlisted in the Royal Marines in London in July 1900. Having served at Deal and Chatham in the intervening period, he joined H.M.S. Mohawk as a Private, R.M. in January 1903, and was among those landed from her for service in the Naval Brigade at the capture of Illig during the Somaliland operations of 1904. Advanced to Corporal during his next seagoing appointment aboard the Resolution in the following year, it has not been confirmed whether he won entitlement to the Messina Earthquake Medal in 1908.

Weight had attained the rank of Sergeant by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in October 1915 and was subsequently ordered to join the 189th R.M. Brigade, Royal Naval Division out in France, in December of the latter year. He went on to serve with distinction and was awarded his Army M.S.M. in 1918 (London Gazette 17 June 1918) - one of only 30 such awards to the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

Tragically, Weight was killed in action with the 1st Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division on 2 September 1918, a loss recorded in the Royal Marines in the War of 1914-1919:

‘The 1/R.M.L.I. had suffered a great loss in the death of Regimental Sergeant-Major F. G. Weight, who was killed on this day when bringing up S.A.A. to the front line; he was a fine and gallant soldier, who had done good work at Logeast Wood and his loss was keenly felt ...’

He was buried in the Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy, France; see Ian McInnes’ The M.S.M. to Naval Forces for further career details and photograph.