Lot 59
1914‑15 Trio, Meritorious Service, Group of 4 awarded to Mechanist Staff Sergeant Harry Blake Symonds
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A 1914‑15 Trio, Meritorious Service, Group of 4 awarded to Mechanist Staff Sergeant Harry Blake Symonds Army Service Corps late Army Ordnance Corps, comprising 1914-15 Star, (8053 Pte. H. B. Symonds. A.O.C.), 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (8053 S-Sjt. H.B. Symonds. A.O.C.), Meritorious Service Medal, GVR, (M2 113305 M.S. Sjt H.B. Symonds. A.S.C.), lightly toned, very fine (4).
MSM, Extract from the London Gazette, 14th of June 1918
‘His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the undermentioned Warrant Officers, Non‑commissioned Officers and Men, in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in France during the present war:-
M2/113305 M.S./Sjt. H.B. Symonds, A.S.C. (Cheddar)’
Harry Blake Symonds was born in Singapore in 1884. On enlistment he gave his trade as Fitter, joining the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on the 7th of September 1914 and stating that he had been previously rejected for Military Service owing to ‘defective teeth’. He proceeded to France as a Private on the 12th of December 1914, serving with the Expeditionary Force. He transferred to the Army Service Corps on the on the 19th of May 1915 and was posted to 2 Heavy Repair Shop as a Fitter. He was promoted Acting Corporal on the 6th of May 1915, Acting Sergeant 20th of October 1915, Acting Mechanist Staff Sergeant. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for Valuable Services rendered with the Forces in France in the London Gazette of the 14th of June 1918. Harry returned from France on the 4th of October 1918 and was discharged to Class Z Reserve on the 17th of May 1919.
Sold with Copy Service Papers, Copy London Gazette entry, Copy Medal Index Card, Copy genealogical information.
