The exceptional and regimentally unique Great War Western Front and Italian theatre M.C. and Two Bar group of seven awarded to Captain, late Regimental Sergeant-Major, Thomas Bluck, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was also awarded the Medaille Militaire and the Cross of St George, and was the only Warrant Officer recipient of the M.C. to win a Second Bar to his decoration

Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second and Third Award Bars; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6119 Corpl: T. Bluck. Rl: Welsh Fus:) note regimental number; 1914 Star, with clasp (6118 Sjt. T. Bluck. 1/R.W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. T. Bluck.); Russian Cross of St George, 4th Class, numbered ‘127 237’; French Medaille Militaire, silver, gilt and enamels, enamel mostly lacking on the last, light contact marks but generally very fine or better (7) £6000-8000

1102 M.C.’s awarded to Warrant Officers in the Great War, five of whom gained a 1st Bar, and Thomas Bluck of the R.W.F. was unique among ex-W.O.’s in winning a 2nd Bar, as well as being the only M.C. and 2 Bars to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

M.C. London Gazette 4 November 1915:

‘6118 Regimental Sergeant-Major Thomas Bluck, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
For conspicuous gallantry and good work, notably during operations near Hulluch on 25th and 26th September, 1915. On the 25th he kept up the ammunition supply of his battalion, establishing depots in the German lines as they were captured. On the night of 25th-26th he rallied considerable numbers of men who were falling back before a hostile counter-attack, issued ammunition to them, and sent them back. He also organised parties to collect wounded men, and was himself wounded while trying to collect these parties to resist another counter-attack.’

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 16 August 1917:

‘2nd Lt. (A./Capt.) Thomas Bluck, M.C., R. Welsh Fus.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of two companies. He led them, with great courage and skill, in two attacks, and maintained the ground gained for two days, under heavy fire and bombing.’

2nd Bar to M.C. London Gazette 2 December 1918:

‘Lt. (A./Capt.) Thomas Black, M.C., 1st Bn. Welsh Fus. (ITALY)
For conspicuous gallantry and leadership when commanding a company in a raid. He inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, turning them out of their position, and, by the skilful handling of his various parties, succeeded in bringing in over 100 prisoners and considerable booty.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 November 1915 and 1 January 1916.

Cross of the Order of St George, 4th Class London Gazette 25 August 1915: ‘For gallantry and distinguished service in the Field.’

Medaille Militaire London Gazette 9 April 1920: ‘Regimental Sergeant-Major (now commissioned) Thomas Bluck, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Wrexham).’

Thomas Bluck was born in Birmingham on 25 June 1881. He enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 25 September 1899 (No. 6118), and served with the regiment in South Africa, 1899-1902, being promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 June 1900, and to Corporal on 14 August 1902. Receiving further promotion to Sergeant on 1 July 1904 and to Colour-Sergeant on 16 October 1913, he embarked for France on 6 October 1914, as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was wounded by a gun shot to his thigh on 3 November 1914, and, after a short spell in hospital, returned to his battalion on 24 November, being promoted to Acting Company Sergeant-Major the same day. A letter from the front stated:

‘The Sergeant Major, two Staff sergeants have been wounded, three Colour Sergeants are prisoners in Germany, and two Colour Sergeants, Craven and Sullivan were missing. Sergeant Bluck was the last sergeant to get wounded, he was one of the last two left and did splendid work, being practically in command of a double company for days. If the commissioned officer or Adjutant had been there he would probably have got the V.C., which he deserves. He has two slight wounds, but refused to go to hospital, and, of course, to England...’

He was wounded by a gun shot to his forearm on 25 September 1915, and promoted to Regimental Sergeant-Major on 24 November 1915. It was for his services whilst Regimental Sergeant-Major that he was afterwards awarded the Medaille Militaire, having already been awarded the Russian Cross of St George as a Sergeant. Bluck was appointed to a commission as Second Lieutenant on 2 February 1916, ‘for service in the field’, and stayed with his original battalion, 1/R.W.F., seeing action on the Somme and at Passchendaele, before moving to Italy. Appointed Acting Captain whilst commanding a company from 4 March to 20 October, 1917, he was promoted to Lieutenant on 13 August 1917, and appointed Acting Captain once again from 8 January 1918 to 24 January 1919. He retired from the Army retaining the rank of Captain on 21 May 1919.

He was invested with his M.C. on 17 May 1916, and with both the First and Second Bars to the M.C. on 9 November 1918.

After the war he served briefly in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, form February 1921 until its disbandment in January 1922, being promoted to Section Leader in July 1921. Captain Bluck spent the rest of his days in Small Heath, Birmingham, and died there towards the end of 1967.