Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War 1917 ‘Western Front’ stretcher-bearer’s M.M. and Second Award Bar awarded to Private C. Keyworth, 10th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action during the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, 20 November 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (R-4056 Pte C. Keyworth. 10/K.R.R.C.); Memorial Scroll (Rfn. Charles Keyworth, M.M. King’s Royal Rifle Corps) generally good very fine £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Kenneth Petrie Collection.

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M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917.
The 20th (Light) Division Citation states: ‘On 4th April 1917, for attending to the wounded under extremely heavy fire at Metz en Couture.’

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 12 November 1917.
The 20th (Light) Division Citation states: ‘On night 19/20 September 1917, in organising a rescue party on his own initiative and working 3 hours under the heaviest shell fire extricating wounded from a building that had been hit by a shell near Langemarck.’

Charles Keyworth was born in Darlington, County Durham. He served during the Great War with the 10th (Service) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the French theatre of war from 14 November 1915 (his number appears as R/14056 in documentation).

Keyworth distinguished himself during the attack and capture of Metz-en-Couture, Pas de Calais, by the 10th and 11th Battalions of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. His Battalion suffered casualties of 6 officers killed, 2 wounded, and 22 other ranks killed with 128 wounded and 20 missing. Keyworth distinguished himself for a second time during the Third Battle of Ypres, 19/20 September 1917.

Private Keyworth was killed in action on the Western Front, 20 November 1917. On the latter date the Battalion were engaged in the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, and Private Keyworth is buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, Nord, France.

Sold with the following related documents and items: 2 Divisional Citation Cards; Rifle Record Office enclosure for Memorial Scroll; 3 Photographs, including a portrait photograph of recipient in uniform; and other photographic images.