The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay

Four: Private Harry Miles, Royal Marine Brigade, who served with the so called ‘Motor Bandits’ under Major Samson in September 1914 - One of the very first Royal Marines to serve in France he subsequently fought in the Gallipoli Campaign where he was wounded by a rifle bullet

1914 Star, with clasp (PO.15073 Pte., R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals (PO.15073 Pte., R.M.L.I.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (PO.15073 PLY. B.1813 Mne., R.F.R.) good very fine and better (4) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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Harry Miles was born in Montford, Leicester in November 1887 and joined the Royal Marines in 1907. He served at Ostend with the Royal Marine Brigade from 26 August 1914. Sold with copy service papers which state: ‘10 Sept 1914 to 17 Oct. 1914, served with armed motor cars under Commander Samson; 12 June 1915, granted certificate for wounds in action on the Gallipoli peninsula by a rifle bullet.’

The following in relation to the early service of the Armoured Car Section is extracted from the book, The Royal Marine Artillery 1804-1923, Volume II, by L. G. Carr-Laughton:

‘The first Royal Marines landed in France on 10 September [1914], two hundred R.M.A. and R.M.L.I., fifty from each Division, were sent to Dunkirk for service with the motorcars, some of them armoured, which were attached to the R.N.A.S. under Commander Samson. The cars armed with machine guns and manned partly by Marines, partly by Air Service ratings, operated at first from Dunkirk, being attached to the aerodrome at St Pol, and afterwards were based on Morbecque. From the indefinite nature of their duties they acquired the name of the “Motor Bandits”. The original intention seems to have been that they should be employed for the defence of the St Pol air base, and against the German air bases nearest to England. The Battle of the Aisne, however, began on September 14th and during its continuance till September 28th, they patrolled wide areas, including, Amiens, Albert, Arras, and Courtai, acting in small columns of from three to ten cars, getting in touch with the German cavalry patrols, with which they had several small engagements.’