Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An ‘underage’ Great War pair awarded to Private J. Green, Royal West Surrey Regiment, who was somewhat economical with the truth regarding his age at enlistment and immediately struggled to cope with the appalling conditions found on the Western Front in the lead up to the Battle of the Somme

British War and Victory Medals (G-6804 Pte. J. Green. The Queen’s R.) patches of staining to VM, nearly very fine (2) £70-£90

James Green was born around 1898 at Chobham, the son of Harry Green and brother of Albert Green of Highland’s Cottage, Ripley, Surrey. A farm labourer, his Army Service Record notes that he attested for the Royal West Surrey Regiment on 15 November 1915, giving his address as ‘Proos Farm, Send’ and his declared age as 19 years and 1 month. His medical notes further confirm that he was illiterate: ‘Can’t read or write but can count dots.’

Sent to Guildford for training, Green served in France from 3 May 1916 and soon began to struggle with the appalling conditions on the Western Front. On 3 June 1916 he suffered a self-inflicted (accidental) gunshot wound to the left hand which was relayed by the C.O. of the 19th Battalion to higher military authorities two weeks later. Admitted to hospital at Boischope with a shattered left hand, Green was soon placed under arrest awaiting trial. Tried by F.G.C.M., his Army Record makes the statement of case:

‘G.S.W. left hand (accidental) self inflicted... was cleaning his rifle when it went off and shot him in the hand. 3rd and 4th metatarsals broken. The hand is almost useless, no grip, complains of useless hand.’

Found guilty of neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline for careless wounding, Green was sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1. Returned to his unit, it wasn’t long before he was admitted to No. 30 General Hospital at Calais on 14 July 1916 with a gunshot wound suffered in the field. A note accompanying his Record states: ‘G.S.W. l-foot, 4th toe shot off.’

Rejoining his Battalion, the young man was wounded again on 7 June 1917 (G.S.W. shoulder) and again on 31 July 1917 when he received a shrapnel wound to the right leg. He was discharged just 5 days before the Armistice, no longer physically fit for war service - on account of the first wound to his hand. Returned home to Surrey, Green was later married at the Parish Church, Send, on 17 February 1919. Interestingly, the details in the marriage register correspond with many of those in his Army Service Record, with his brother Albert serving as witness (his father being deceased). With the groom’s profession described as ‘labourer’, the marriage to 19 year-old Miss Unity White was further signed with a mark (’x’) and his declaration of age as 21 years.