TOPIC:

Hello David

Just the sort of stats my database on The Register will help with - I've 43 MM/QSA combos so far.

Regards
Meurig

Hi David,

Ah, a good stats question! As Muerig suggests, tailor-made for us who spend an inordinate amount of time on databases . I have wanted an NZMR/NZEF MM/QSA combo for a few years now, but with only 17 individual men receiving one, it's a bit of a holy grail.

Here's my numbers from the New Zealand perspective, bearing in mind the absolute numbers may change a little, the percentages will not vary by much:

NZEF served overseas (calculated so far): 97,512
Those with previous is Boer War (NZ Contingents only): 1138 (1.16%)
NZEF MM's: 2066
NZEF MM's with NZMR Boer War service: 18 (including 1 MM*)

Percentage of MM's to those who served: 2.12%
Percentage of MM's to those with NZMR Boer War service: 1.58%

So Boer War men are generally under-represented in terms of MM's awarded. I guess this is possibly to be expected given their age often meant they were not always in front-line roles, or didn't last too long before becoming ill etc.

There are a further six men (so far) who had previous non-NZMR Boer War service and who were awarded an MM, bringing the percentage up to 1.69%. This will almost certainly drop as more non-NZMR men in the NZEF come to light.

I'd love to say these numbers will translate to other forces, but it is well recorded that the NZEF suffered from a lack of medallic recognition during the first 2-3 years of the war, so probably doesn't reflect the ratios accurately in terms of the BEF/AIF/CEF etc.

Cheers
Phil

From the next DNW auction, Feb 2016


Picture courtesy of DNW

MM GV (2-5848 Sjt: J. Grady. 1/R.M. Fus:)
QSA (3) CC Tr Witt (5848 Pte. J. Grady, Munster Fus:)
KSA (2) (5848 Pte. J. Grady, Rl: Munster Fus:)
IGS 1908 (1) North West Frontier 1908 (5848 Pte. J. Grady 1st Rl. M. Fus.)
1914 Star, with copy slip-on clasp (5848 Pte. J. Grady. R. Muns: Fus:)
BWM & VM (5848 Sjt. J. Grady. R. Mun. Fus.)
Army LS&GC GV (2-5848 Sjt: J. Grady. R. Muns: Fus:)

Mounted as worn, contact marks, otherwise very fine or better £500-600

MM LG 19 November 1917: 2/5848 Sjt. J. Grady, R.M. Fus. (Limerick).

Picture courtesy of DNW

MM GV (MS-4947 Pte. E. Watts. RAS.C.) prefix to number officially corrected;
QSA (5) CC, RoK, Paard, Drie, DH (5603 Corpl. E. Watts. King’s Shropshire Lt: Infty:) re-engraved naming, fourth clasp a tailor’s copy;
KSA (2) (5603 Corpl: E. Watts. Shrops: L.I.);
1914 Star, with copy clasp (MS-4947 Pte. E. Watts. A.S.C.);
BWM and VM (MS-4947 Sjt. E. Watts. A.S.C.)

E. Watts served during the Great War with the Army Service Corps, and was awarded the Military Medal whilst attached to the Guards Division, Motor Transport Company.

Picture courtesy of DNW

MM GV (3506 A. Sjt: W. Litchfield. 1/R. Lanc. R.) unit partially officially corrected;
QSA (4) CC, OFS, SA01, SA02 (4535 Pte. W. Lichfield. K.O. Rl: Lanc: Regt.);
1914-15 Star (3506 L. Cpl. W. Lichfield. R. Lanc: R.);
BWM and VM (MID) (3506 Sjt. W. Lichfield. R. Lanc. R.)

Walter Lichfield was born at St Mary’s, South Shields, Northumberland in 1876. On the outbreak of the Great War he re-enlisted in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment at Altrincham, Cheshire, and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War in France from 15 December 1914. Appointed Acting Sergeant on 22 May 1916, he was killed in action on the Western Front on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on which date the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment was involved in attacking enemy positions between Beaumont Hamel and Serre. The battalion was attacking enemy positions that were well fortified and on high ground with good observation of the area. In the early stages of the attack heavy artillery fire caused serious casualties in the battalion, the presence of these guns had been previously unsuspected and combined with uncut wire and undamaged enemy dug-outs made the crossing of no-mans land more or less impossible. Nevertheless some of the battalion did succeed in reaching and crossing the German front line penetrating almost as far as Serre. Unfortunately these small groups were overwhelmed by enemy troops who came in from the left and right behind them. Casualties were very severe in the battalion, 22 officers and 387 other ranks being posted as either killed, wounded or missing. By the evening the British troops were back in their own trenches with no gains having been made. Lichfield has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Group to Sgt W Litchfield, killed on the first day of the Somme.


Picture courtesy of DNW

MM GV (3506 A. Sjt: W. Litchfield. 1/R. Lanc. R.) unit partially officially corrected;
QSA (4) CC OFS 01 02 (4535 Pte. W. Lichfield. K.O. Rl: Lanc: Regt.);
1914-15 Star (3506 L. Cpl. W. Lichfield. R. Lanc: R.);

MM London Gazette 28 July 1917.
MID London Gazette 1 January 1916.

Walter Lichfield was born at St Mary’s, South Shields, Northumberland in 1876. On the outbreak of the Great War he re-enlisted in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment at Altrincham, Cheshire, and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War in France from 15 December 1914. Appointed Acting Sergeant on 22 May 1916, he was killed in action on the Western Front on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on which date the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment was involved in attacking enemy positions between Beaumont Hamel and Serre. The battalion was attacking enemy positions that were well fortified and on high ground with good observation of the area. In the early stages of the attack heavy artillery fire caused serious casualties in the battalion, the presence of these guns had been previously unsuspected and combined with uncut wire and undamaged enemy dug-outs made the crossing of no-mans land more or less impossible. Nevertheless some of the battalion did succeed in reaching and crossing the German front line penetrating almost as far as Serre. Unfortunately these small groups were overwhelmed by enemy troops who came in from the left and right behind them. Casualties were very severe in the battalion, 22 officers and 387 other ranks being posted as either killed, wounded or missing. By the evening the British troops were back in their own trenches with no gains having been made. Lichfield has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.