A rare Third Afghan War M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant M. Richards, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, attached Royal Engineers, late Royal Sussex Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (24025 Sjt. M. Richards, 1/Garr. Bedf. & Herts.); 1914 Star, with clasp (8338 Pte. M. Richards, 2/R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (8338 Pte. M. Richards, R. Suss. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (24025 Sgt. M. Richards, Bedf. & Herts.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (24025 Cpl. M. Richards, 1/G. Bn. Bedf. & Herts. R.), mounted as worn, minor contact wear and edge bruising, generally very fine and better (6) £1400-1600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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M.M. London Gazette 15 January 1920:

‘For bravery in the Field with the British forces in India.’

M.S.M. London Gazette 12 December 1920:

‘For valuable services in connection with the War’ (India).

Mark Richards, a native of Dover, first entered the French theatre of war on 12 August 1914, as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, and would have seen much action in the retreat from Mons - in a 48-hour period at the end of October, his Battalion suffered nearly 400 casualties during an attack on Bodmin Copse, near Polygon Wood, the German dead apparently lying in heaps after fierce hand-to-hand fighting.

Subsequently transferring to the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, he was embarked for India and witnessed active service in the Third Afghan War, being awarded the M.M. and M.S.M., the former while serving on attachment to the 3rd Wireless Signals Squadron, Royal Engineers; no trace of a mention in despatches has been found in the London Gazette.