A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Captain F. J. Way, Army Service Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (6747 S:S:Major F. Way, A.S.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (1st. Cl: S.S.Major. F. Way. A.S.C.); 1914 Star (Hon: Lieut: & Q.M. F. Way. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Capt. F. Way.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (6747 1st. Cl: S. Serjt: Maj: F. Way. A.S.C.) contact marks to the Boer War awards and L.S. & G.C., these very fine, the four Great War awards nearly extremely fine (7) £1200-1600

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Francis Joseph Way was born at Wimbledon, Surrey, on 2 May 1868, and attested for the Commissariat and Transport Corps on 11 March 1886, having previously served for 3 months in the Medical Staff Corps. Promoted Corporal on 1 September 1889, he was advanced to Company Sergeant Major on 14 January 1898, and served with the Army Service Corps in South Africa during the Boer War from 6 October 1899 until 14 September 1902. Advanced to 1st Staff Sergeant Major on 7 July 1906, he was awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal before being commissioned Lieutenant and Quarter Master on 29 January 1910.
On the outbreak of the Great War he was posted to 1st Base Motor Transport Depot, Army Service Corps, and served with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front from 12 August 1914. Mentioned in Field Marshal Sir John French’s Despatch (London Gazette 1 January 1916), and awarded the Military Cross, he was promoted Captain on 1 July 1917, before returning home, suffering from the effects of War Service, and dying in hospital at Aldershot on 25 October 1918. He is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire.

Sold together with two Army Service Corps cap badges and A.S.C. unit insignia; two postcard photographs of the recipient; and a large file of copied research.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards see Lot 1367.

For the medals to the recipient’s son, Alfred George Way, see Lot 18.