Five: Sergeant R. Blakemore, Royal Signals

1914-15 Star (48321 Cpl., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (48321 Sjt., R.E.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (48321 A. Sjt., G.H.Q. Sig. Co. R.E.); Belgian Croix de Guerre, with related Walthamstow Education Committee School Attendance Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved, ‘R. Blakemore, 1904’, good very fine (6) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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Ralph Blakemore, who was from Walthamstow, London, originally entered the Egyptian theatre of war in early July 1915, and served in Gallipoli before arriving on the Western Front. Employed at G.H.Q. Signalling Section, R.E. in France, he was awarded the M.S.M. for ‘valuable services rendered in the Field’ in the New Year Honours of 1918, in addition to the Belgian Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 15 April 1918). Blakemore appears to have settled in Devon after the War.

Sold with a number of interesting original documents, among them the certificate for the Belgian Croix de Guerre, dated 23 June 1919, and two official ‘C’ Form signals announcing the German surrender and the Armistice, 11 November 1918, the latter stating:

‘Following received from G.H.Q. through 2nd Army, begins ‘Hostilities will cease at 1.00 on Nov. 11. Troops will stand fast on the line reached at that hour which will be reported by wire to G.H.Q. area. Defensive precautions will be maintained. There will be no intercourse of any description with the enemy until instructions follow’ Ends.’ Rare and interesting.