47 MILITARY MEDALS

 

Please note that the Military Medal Citations were destroyed during the Second World War Blitz, therefore finding out about them can be difficult.

 

Private 2975, later Corporal 200077, finally 2nd Lieutenant William G ABRAHAMS

William enlisted into the Territorials around 1913 and was embodied for oversees service in August 1914. He landed with them on Gallipoli on the 10^th August 1915 and served with them through the Gallipoli, Egypt and early Palestine campaigns, winning his Military Medal in the process. In 1917, Corporal William Abrahams was recommended for a commission, which was achieved on New Year’s Day of 1918.

 

As a Corporal, William Abrahams won his MM, which was gazetted on the 17^th July 1917 under issue 31088. Although unconfirmed, this was probably for bravery shown during the 2^nd Battle at Gaza in April 1917. William later went on to become an Officer and survived the entire war.

 

Pte 3221, later 200152 Frederick ANDREWS

 

The London Gazette edition 30340 on 18 October 1917 shows him:
”200152 Pte F Andrews (Olney)”

Frederick also gets a mention in the Battalion War Diary:

'16 Mar 1918 Heavy Rain in the early morning. Major C.R.James, Capt.F.B.Hobbs & Lieut.W.A.Shaw [awarded the] MC. R.S.M.Milton MC, [awarded the] DCM. C.S.M.Chandler Sgts Sapsford, Sharpe, Cpl.Ball [awarded the] D.C.M. Sgt.Marlow, Ptes Halfpenny, Andrews [awarded the] M.M [and] proceeding to YAZUR for presentation of decorations by the Duke of Connaught'

Private 5782, later 201137 J Baldwin

Private Baldwin enlisted into the 5^th Battalion late 1915 and arrived with them in the second half of 1916.  He was the first man to win the newly introduced Military Medal, which was issued on gazette 29819 of the 10^th November 1916.

 

Pte 14587, later 201122 William Arthur BEESLEY

William was born in Bushey in Hertfordshire and lived in and enlisted from Watford in September 1914. He originally served in the 1st Battalion of the Bedfords in France during 1915 until he was wounded and returned to England to recover. After recovering, he was one of 500 men to be shipped to the 5th Battalion, joining them in February 1916.

 

William won his MM during the 2nd raids against Umbrella Hill on 27th July 1917 and is mentioned in the London Gazette issue 30340 on 18 October 1917:
”201122 Pte W A Beesley (Watford)”

 

He is also mentioned in the Battalion War Diary:

“2 Aug 1917 Routine work in camp. Working parties from 0700-1100 to 1/5 Suffolk R FLINT REDOUBT & A Batt 270th Bde RFA. At 1645 Military Medals were distributed by G.O.C. 54th Division to Pte BEESLEY, W.A., Pte REEVES, H., Pte PRATT, W. Award of Military Medal notified in the case of Sergt.CLIFFORD, E.G, Cpl. CHARGER, Pte.WORROW, D.A.J. all of whom were absent) for gallantry in connexion with 2nd raid on UMBRELLA HILL “

 

Unfortunately, William did not survive the war and was killed in action on during a bayonet charge led by Captain Yarde, MC and Bar (see above) against Turkish positions on Yafa Hill on 22 December 1917. The Battalion War Dairy 22 Dec 1917 records:

'Hackney Mound and Yafa Hill 0010 B Coy assaulted YAFA HILL without Artillery Support, the bayonet being the only weapon used. The enemy put up a stiff fight but was soon overcome and the whole garrison bolted. Our men having received orders not to advance beyond a certain point did not pursue. Consolidation of the Post was immediately begun. C Coy acted as carrying party and brought up R.E. material, S.A.A. &c they remained as Working Party withdrawing at dawn 0030 YAFA SUBSECTION till then occupied by 1/10th London Regt was taken over by D & A Coy. By dawn the consolidation of YAFA HILL was sufficiently advanced to render it tenable during day. No shelling was taking place but heavy enemy M.G. fire was experienced. Our casualties were 4 O'Ranks Killed, 1 Officer & 9 O'Ranks wounded.'

 

Also killed on the 22^nd was Corporal J Lawrence 37096, who was awarded the MM along with William for the raids in July 1917.

 

William's CWGC entry reads:

 

Private, later Corporal 21746 James BOYD

Corporal Boyd of Belfasts MM was listed in gazette 31430, dated 21-11-1918. He was awarded the medal for bravery shown at the Battle of Sharon between the 19^th and 20^th September 1918, in the final phase of the war.

 

Private 4857, later 200698 Arthur BRIGHTMAN

Arthur was from Luton and enlisted into the 5^th Battalion in September 1914. He landed on Gallipoli with the Battalion on the 10^th August 1915 and survived the entire war until he was disembodied on the 16^th June 1919.

 

Private Brightman’s MM was listed in the London Gazette 30622, dated 9^th April 1918. Although unconfirmed, it appears it was awarded for bravery shown during the 3^rd Battle at Gaza, or very soon afterwards.

 

 

Pte 5294, later 200902 Ernest John BROWN

Ernest Brown of Biggleswade enlisted sometime in 1915 and was not with the Battalion during their service on Gallipoli as he arrived at Mudros off Gallipoli on the 2^nd December 1915 just as they left for Egypt. His MM was gazetted 11-2-1918, which suggests it was won at the 3^rd Battle at Gaza in November 1917 although details on Ernest have proved elusive so far. He survived the war and was demobilised on the 3^rd April 1919.

 

 

Pte 2765, later 200040 William BUNYAN

William was from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, served in the Territorials from 1912, with the 5th Battalion throughout their trials in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine and survived until being demobbed in 1919.

 

William won his MM during aggressive night patrols around Umbrella Hill and Fischer Hill, in front of Gaza on the morning of 4th October 1918. 60 Bedfords were wounded during the fierce skirmishes, including William. The London Gazette edition 30340 on 18 October 1917 shows William, and he also gets a mention in the Battalion War Diary:

"9 Oct 1917. Private EDGAR ELSE and Private WILLIAM BUNYAN awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field dated night 3/4th."

 

The Diary for the 3rd says:

"3 Oct 1917 The day passed without incident 1735 Patrols of 3 officers, 3 lewis guns & 46 O.Rs left our line near the SUBKET POST & returned about 0300." and the 4th records "4 Oct 1917 Heavy enemy firing was encountered & Lieut ECB WODEHOUSE was fatally wounded & 60 ORs were hit, more or less seriously. It is thought that some loss was inflicted on the enemy as they were prevented from coming to close quarters by our rifle & lewis gun fire. The day passed without incident, a few shells being fired at our lines without doing any damage. 1800 3 patrols of 3 officers & 6 O.Rs in one case & 9 O.Rs & a lewis gun in the other left our line at SUBKET POST. The first patrol's object was to advance into FISHER'S Wood & draw the TURKS to follow them back on to a line held by the second patrol. The Third was to lie up & try to ambush patrols of TURKS who might come along. The first patrol under the command of 2nd Lieut.DENNIS found the TURKS & succeeded in drawing them towards the 2nd patrol commanded by 2nd Lieut GURNEY. Here the TURKS discovered the trap & withdrew, followed by a heavy fire from our Lewis gun & rifles. The right, or 3rd patrol, commanded by 2 Lieut MANDER did not encounter any enemy. The three patrols were all in by 0450."

 

Williams brother was Pte 2352 and also served in 5^th Battalion for a time. He was a bricklayers labourer before the war and lived in Mill Road Leighton Buzzard. In November 1916 he earned an MM (gazetted Feb 1917) and not to be outdone by his brother, in June 1918 George was gazetted a Bar to his MM (a second MM)!

 

 

201131 Sergeant Frederick BURGESS

Frederick Burgess of Harpenden was a Regular soldier in the 2nd Battalion when war broke our in 1914 and served as Pte 9841 until wounded and returned to England late in 1914. He returned to France as Sergeant 52661, again in the Bedfords and was wounded again in 1915. After recovering he transferred to the 5th Bedfords in 1916 he worked his way up from Cpl through Acting Sgt back to Sgt in the 5th Battalion, earning his MM during the raids against Umbrella Hill in July 1917.

 

He was gazetted his MM on 18 October 1917, under issue 30340. Late in the war, he was transferred to the London Regiment in Flanders as Sgt 623133, and stayed there until the end of the war.

Pte 4341, later 200548 Herbert John CHAMBERLAIN

Herbert was from Luton and enlisted in August 1914 into the 5th Battalion, where he served in Gallipoli and Palestine until being demobbed in 1919. He earned his MM during the raids against Umbrella Hill in July 1917, and was gazetted under issue 30340 on 18 October 1917.

 

201450 Sgt J J CHANDLER

Sergeant Chandler was from Kennington Park and served as a regular soldier in the 1^st Battalion before the war broke out in 1914. He landed in France with the 1^st on the 16^th August 1914 and fought in the opening engagements of the war until a wound or illness took him back to England to recover. After convalescence, he was posted to the 3^rd/5^th Battalion and sent to Palestine to serve in the 1^st/5^th Bedfords. Between 1914 and 1920, his professionalism took him through the ranks from Lance Corporal 8038 in the Regulars through to Company Sergeant Major 201450 in the 5th Battalion, eventually becoming a Warrant Officer Class II 44105 in the 5th Bedfords.

He earned his MM  for gallantry during the 1st raids against Umbrella Hill on 20th July 1917 and was gazetted under issue 30340 on 18 October 1917.

Sergeant Chandler survived the First War and served his country between wars as Company Sergeant Major 6100, and continued into the Second World War as CSM 5942654 in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment.

 

 

Pte 6807, later Acting Lance-Sgt 201151 Robert Richard CHARGE, MM and BAR

Robert Charge was born in Southall, lived in Paddington, enlisted from Colchester and served as Private 6807 in the 1st Battalion in 1914, working his way up to Acting Lance Sergeant before being wounded in 1915 and returned to England to recover. Once fit again, he was sent ot the 5th Battalion in Egypt along with 500 other former 1st and 2nd Battalion men.

 

Robert was wounded and earned a bar for his MM for his actions during the Umbrella Hill raids in July 1917. He was listed in the London Gazette 18 October 1917:
"201151 Cpl (A/L-Sgt) R R Charge MM (Paddington) - Bar to MM gazetted 18-10-1917."

The Battalion War Diary records:

“2 Aug 1917 Routine work in camp. Working parties from 0700-1100 to 1/5 Suffolk R FLINT REDOUBT & A Batt 270th Bde RFA. At 1645 Military Medals were distributed by G.O.C. 54th Division to Pte BEESLEY, W.A., Pte REEVES, H., Pte PRATT, W. Award of Military Medal notified in the case of Sergt.CLIFFORD, E.G, Cpl. CHARGE, Pte.WORROW, D.A.J. all of whom were absent) for gallantry in connexion with 2nd raid on UMBRELLA HILL “

 

Unfortunately he died of wounds on 17 November 1917, two weeks after the fortified city of Gaza had fallen to the British and Commonwealth troops earlier that month. He was probably wounded during the actions between 2^nd and 7th November 1917, and died afterwards of his wounds, as the War Diary has no mention of activity after the 2^nd.

 

Robert's CWGC entry reads: