Hammer

£1,900

WW1 11th Bn Essex Regiment Military Cross, French Croix de Guerre Group of Four Medals.

Awarded to Captain Reginald Field Groves MC for gallantry in May 1918. Comprising:Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal, “CAPT”, French Croix de Guerre. Group mounted for display with a quantity of research.

Military Cross London Gazette 16th September 1918.French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 6th November 1918.“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This Officer having been directed to take command of front line troops in an advance, led his men forward with great gallantry under heavy fire, until he reached the final objective, which he reorganised and held all day under most difficult circumstances. He organised and led bombing attacks under hostile rife and machine gun fire at close range, finally putting an enemy machine gun out of action and extending our line. He set a very fine example of courage and devotion to duty to the men under his command.”Captain Reginald Field Groves MC enlisted into the ranks of the Coldstream Guards and with the rank of Private landed in France on the 1st December 1916. Selected for a commission this was granted in December 1917 into the Essex Regiment. Returning to France the action resulting in the award of the Military Cross is believed to have taken place on the 27th May 1918, when he was given command of a fighting patrol. After winning the Military Cross he was appointed to the Staff with the acting rank of Major and served in Berlin with the Army of Occupation. He resigned his commission with the Honorary rank of Major on the 7th December 1920.