A Great War M.C. “Spring Offensive” 1918 group of five awarded to Captain H. N. Chart, Leicestershire Regiment, late Army Cyclist Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., A. Cyc. Corps); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); French Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, this last chipped in places but otherwise generally extremely fine (5) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Leicester Regiment and Yeomanry formed by the late Trevor Harris.

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M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in command of a company during an enemy attack. He showed great coolness and ability and led a successful counter-attack, which checked the enemy’s advance for some time.’

Henry Nye Chart, who was born in September 1893, was originally commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Army Cyclist Corps in August 1914, and went to France in that capacity in late July 1915. Sometime thereafter, however, he transferred to the 6th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment and was subsequently present in bitter fighting on the Somme, being wounded in the gallant attack on Bazentin-le-Petit Wood on 14 July 1916. Evacuated home from Rouen three days later, he eventually rejoined his unit in February 1917 and remained on active service until the Armistice, his M.C. very probably reflecting gallantry during the German “Spring Offensive”. His Legion of Honour appears to be one of those which were never officially gazetted.