A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the South Wales Borderers

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal G. Miles, 252 Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, late Brecknocks Battalion, South Wales Borderers, for gallantry in removing mines from enemy dugouts and wells

Military Medal, G.V.R. (146066 Sapr. G. Miles. 252/Coy. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (146066 Cpl. G. Miles. R.E.); Defence Medal, mounted as worn, very fine (4) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the South Wales Borderers.

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M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917.

George Miles was born in 1880 and attested for the Brecknocks Battalion, South Wales Borderers, for Home Service on 16 December 1914. A miner by trade, he transferred to the Royal Engineers on 25 January 1916 as a Tunnellers Mate, and served with No. 252 Tunnelling Company on the Western Front. The Company War Diary records him as having been awarded the Military Medal on 15 May 1917, which appears to have been awarded for removing mines from enemy dugouts and wells. He was promoted Lance-Corporal on 30 April 1918, and was presented with his Military Medal at Shrewsbury on 20 July 1918.

Sold together with a Presentation silver cigarette case, the lid inscribed ‘Presented to Cpl. George Miles M.M. Royal Engineers (Late Brecknocks) by the Brecon Branch Comrades of the Great War. Brecon, July 19, 1919.’; South Wales Borderers and Royal Engineers cap badges; and much copied research.