A FIRST WORLD WAR MILITARY CROSS GROUP OF SIX TO THE ROYAL F...

Hammer

£750

A FIRST WORLD WAR MILITARY CROSS GROUP OF SIX TO THE ROYAL FUSILIERS. A Great War group of six comprising George V Military Cross, unnamed as issued, 1914-15 Star named to 10780 Sjt F. Howard R. Fus. War Medal and Victory Medal to 2 Lieut F. Howard, Second World War Defence and War Medals unnamed as issued. Frank Howard was born in 1888 enlisting as a Band Boy in the Royal Fusiliers. He entered the War in France on the 19th January 1915 and was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant on the 9th April 1917, he served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Wounded on the 20th Jan 1917 during an attack from the south of the Arras-Cambrai road, advancing at 0700 hours the battalion came under heavy shell fire but continued to move forward until they had covered about a mile progressing over a defensive system at Tilloy known as 'The Harp'. The Battalion lost 225 Officers and Men on that day. Howard was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty 'He led his company in the attack until severely wounded. He refused to be moved back and although only able to crawl he remained in command. When forced to withdraw he organised and made determined efforts to resume the offensive, shortly afterwards becoming unconscious.' His brother was killed in the same action. He suffered with the wound for years to come due to shrapnel embedded in his body and left the Army in 1919. He reenlisted in the Royal Fusiliers 10th (City of London) Battalion (69th Searchlight Regiment)(Territorial) as an Administrative Officer. Mounted for display with copied history.

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Good condition.