A Great War Somme operations M.M. group of three awarded to Acting Sergeant F. Beal, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, who was twice wounded

Military Medal, G.V.R. (126664 Pte. F. Beal, 3/Div. M.G.C. Can. M.G.S.); British War and Victory Medals (126664 A. Sjt. F. Beal, C.M.G. Bde.), nearly extremely fine (3) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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M.M. London Gazette 14 December 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when on a machine-gun crew during the actions on 26 September 1916, in positions to the north-west of Courcelette, in that when a high explosive shell blew up the gun and emplacement, he, though severely wounded in the head, went out with 10869 Lance-Corporal W. Manning into the open under heavy shellfire and recovered the gun. Finding the gun out of action, he attached himself to a crew of the 1st Canadian Division’s M.G. Companies and refused to go out until the action was over. When this crew was relieved he assisted them in carrying out their gun equipment before he reported to the dressing station. He showed to the men he was an example of the highest bravery and steadfastness throughout.’

Frank Beal was born in Woolwich, England, on 16 December 1897. A Farmer by occupation, he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Clinton, Saskatchewan, in September 1915.

Embarked for England, he first went out to France as a member of the 8th Brigade Machine Gun Corps in the 3rd Canadian Division in July 1916 and, as cited above, was severely wounded on the occasion of winning his M.M. on the Somme that September. Evacuated to England for treatment, he rejoined to active duty in late 1917, as a member the 9th Machine Gun Company, C.M.G.C., and was wounded for a second time by a gas shell on 4 September 1918.

Discharged back in Toronto, Canada, in May 1919. Beal died in October 1976; sold with copied service papers.