E145
Group of two medals awarded to Private Frank Flood, 6th Scottish Rifles: British War and Victory Medals, both
impressed on rims, "2823 PTE. F. FLOOD. SCO. RIF." Medal Roll confirms Flood as having been issued the 1914-15
Star as well. Collector has glued stiffener on underside of ribbons for display, II
$65
British WWI Medal Group: Scottish Rifles (Cameronians)
E146
Serving with the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, Vaudrey Adolph Albrecht received a 2nd Lieutenant's
commission on June 8, 1912. In mid-August 1914, he disembarked at Le Havre and was wounded a few days later
during the retreat from Mons at Le Cateau. In early January 1915, he rejoined his regiment in Belgium and was
wounded a second time in May of that year. While back in England, he was granted Aviator Certificate no. 1703 on
September 7, 1915, after testing in a Marice Farman Biplane at the Military School in Birmingham. From August
1915
through May 23, 1916 , he served with 5 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron, 5 Reserve Squadron. Albrecht was
mentioned in the dispatches on three separate occasions. He was gazetted for the Military Cross on January 14, 1916,
and for the Order of the British Empire on January 3, 1919. His six-place medal bar is plated and beautifully
court-mounted with a red cotton back. Albrecht's Order of the British Empire is nicely hallmarked on the reverse of
the lower arm, though the plated surface does exhibit some deep purple tarnish. The MC is unmarked. The 1914 Star
with Clasp is impressed on the reverse, "Lieut. V.A. ALBRECHT. / MANCH: R." The War Medal and Victory Medals
(
latter with unplated palm) are impressed, "MAJOR V.A. ALBRECHT. R.A.F." His India General Service Medal is
mounted with one clasp, AFGHANISTAN N.W.F. / 1919 and impressed, "CAPT. V.A. ALBRECHT. MANCH. R." II
$1850
British WWI Medal Group: Vaudrey Adolph Albrect, OBE, MC, Manchester Regiment and RAF
E147
Living in Liverpool, Cyril Cuthbert Jennings was called up for duty on April 5, 1915. When he was demobilized nearly
four years later, his military career would see him awarded the Military Cross before becoming a prisoner of war. This
spectacular group of material chronicles his military service. When he joined, he was appointed a temporary
second-lieutenancy in Britain's "New Army" and assigned to the 14th Service Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. On
June 4, 1916, the entire battalion, landed in France and were sent to the Loos sector where they remained until the end
of October 1916, when they moved into the Somme area. Assigned to the 20 Brigade, 40th Division, the Battalion
was withdrawn for rest and returned to the line several times over the next 18 months when, on the morning of April
9, 1918,
a bombardment of Noveau Monde commenced and orders were issued for the Battalion to move to its
position in the Brigade's defensive position. The Battle of Lys was well under way. The Portuguese army line had
collapsed and the 40th Division had been sent forward to fill the gap. By the end of day, the 40th Division (to the
north of the Portuguese) collapsed under the German attack and fell back. the The Battalion's log describes the ensuing
activity, "All coys have moved off to their forward positions which were as follows: 3 coys in front line in depth from
LEVANTIE EAST POST (exclusive) to CHARRED POST (exclusive) with 1 coy in support. From this time onwards
nothing further has been heard of the 3 coys who went forward to occupy the front line. Enemy has pressed back
support coy and are in line of railway and from this time onwards enemy commenced to press on Battalion HQ.
Intensity of fire gradually increases. 3pm. Situation at this time was the enemy was pressing round our front and
flanks. After a consultation with the OC 2nd RSF, decision is made to withdraw under mutual fire support and machine
gun fire.14th HLI commence retirement across the River Lys." But, when the final report was made for the day, Lt.
Jennings was listed as missing. A telegram pasted in his scrapbook had been sent to his family home in Cardiff on April
29, 1918,
and explains, "Cyril Jennings Highland Infantry Prisoner Well Wiring Camp When Known=Prisoners S
Kensington." He remained a prisoner in the Officer's POW Camp in Pforzheim, Germany until he was repatriated on
December 10, 1918. It was while he was a POW, that all of England learned of his heroics when he was listed in the
September 16, 1918, London Gazette as being awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty." The notice shared the situation leading to the prestigious award, "[the company had] sustained heavy attacks on
two successive days during which both officers of the company were killed." It concludes explaining how Jennings
carried on command for 24 hours, several times leading bombing parties to clear the enemy out of trenches. Following
his return to England after being paroled, Jennings relocated to Canada in 1919. This group of material spans Jennings'
military service. The centerpiece of the collection are his three unmounted medals. His Military Cross is suspended
from the original ribbon and pinback bar. The reverse is engraved, "T. / C.C. JENNINGS / 14TH HIGHLAND /
LIGHT INFANTRY / MARCH 1918." It was only after he had settled into his Canadian home when he finally made
application for his Victory and War Medals in 1921. His Medal Roll card indicates they were sent one year later. The
Victory Medal and War Medal are both impressed, "LT. C.C. JENNINGS." The ribbons are all faded from long
exposure. Accompanying the medals is an appropriate ribbon bar and a court-mounted miniature group.
Complementing this is his officer's quality cap badge, a single collar insignia, and two brass "HLI" shoulder titles. A
locket made from two officer's buttons contains a small photo of Jennings. In addition, his identification tags are
included on the original cord. Making this medal group shine as a superior piece of history are the supporting
documents that accompanies it. For example, Jennings' prisoner of war identification card with his photo and signature
is included, as is his diary that begins on the day of his capture. The entry for April 9 reads, "Captured; Parleying with
enemy. Henderson, Cusle & Self. Taken to Fournies. Stayed there the night. Well-treated." The diary continues for at
least 25 pages with last entry beginning on December 3, 1918--a few days before he was repatriated. Also included in
the group is a cardboard box address to Jennings while a prisoner of war. This contains the case for his Military Cross,
a small box of uniform buttons, and another small box of officer's rank insignia. An old velvet-covered board
accompanies the group on which the outlines of the three medals are clearly visible (explaining why the ribbons are so
faded!). Finally, Jennings' scrapbook lends an incredible sense of history to this group, containing pages of
photographs of himself, comrades, picture postcards, battle maps, orders, and letters received as a POW. Together,
there are months of research possibilities in all of this material. We have only scratched the surface and find it hard to
offer the material for sale! If you have ever wanted a well-documented gallantry group, it will be difficult to surpass the
depth and extensiveness of this material, representing the combat and prisoner of war experiences of Lieutenant Cyril
C. Jennings. II
$6650
British WWI Military Cross and Prisoner of War Medal Group: Highland Light Infantry
E148
Uncommon unit-specific medal has a 26mm-diameter silver planchet with white and blue enamel obverse and raised
inscription on the reverse: "325 / SIEGE BATTERY / R.G.A. / FRANCE / 1917-18". Silver hallmarks near bottom of
reverse. Suspended from a dark blue ribbon with a Royal Artillery pinback mount. The 325 Siege Battery was a - gun
battery of 6-in Howitzers that was later upgraded to 6 guns when in 1917. 325 was part of 1st HAG (Heavy Artillery
Group) on arrival to the Western Front, joining 66 HAG in December 1917. Fascinating and attractive medal, II
$125
WWI British 325 Siege Battery Medal
