Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. and Bar awarded to Acting Corporal Arthur William Brown, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment
Military Medal, G.V.R. (266053 Pte-L. Cpl., 6/Notts. & Derby. R.) Note: the Second Award Bar is lacking, edge bruising, contact marks, fine £300-400

M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1918.
Citation (Ref. British Gallantry Awards, The Sherwood Foresters, compiled by A. Housley) - ‘For very great gallantry in the attack on Bellenglise and Lehaucourt on 29th September 1918: for very good work when called upon to act as runner to Lieut. Col. A. Hacking of the 1/5th Sherwood Foresters’.

M.M. Bar London Gazette 14 May 1919.
Citation (same ref.) - ‘For conspicuous gallantry and initiative near Ramicourt on 3.10.1918. During an attack, the whole of the section of which he was in charge became casualties except himself. Seeing the advance being delayed by a MG. strong post, this NCO salvaged a Lewis Gun and engaged the strong point. His initiative and promptness considerably assisted the attack. Throughout the day this private soldier displayed great bravery and set a fine example.’

The 1/6th Battalion Notts. & Derby. Regiment was mobilized on 4th August 1914 in the Victoria Hall, Saltergate, Chesterfield. They formed part of 139th Sherwood Forrester Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.

Private Arthur William joined he Army in Nottingham and went to France on 18 August 1915 to join the 1/6th Battalion who had been in France since 25 February 1915. The 46th Division then took part in the fierce Battle of Loos in October 1915 and in particular in the assault on the Hollenzollern Redoubt where the Division suffered 3,700 casualties.

The next major battle for the 1/6th Notts and Derby was on 1 July 1916 in the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme. The Battalion moved out from Foncquevillers and at 0745 hrs “Went over the Top” in a bayonet charge on Gommecourt. The attack was held up by fierce machine gun and rifle fire but then a second attack was arranged for 12.15hrs. The Official History of the War states that out of a Battalion strength of 536, 409 became casualties. Captain John Leslie Green R.A.M.C. who was attached to the 1/5th Notts and Derby earned the Victoria Cross for rescuing the mortally wounded Captain F.B. Robinson who came from Chesterfield. Among the seriously wounded was Private Arthur William Brown who was sent back to England to recover. On 24 November 1916 he had a Medical Examination in Maidstone and was eventually found fit to return to duty on 26 January 1917.

The 1/6 Notts and Derby then took part in the final decisive battle of the war, the crossing of the St Quentin Canal. The Battalion crossed the Canal under heavy fire and using scaling ladders to climb the banks, managed to form a bridgehead. The 46th Division captured 4,200 prisoners.

During this period Arthur William Brown, then an Acting Lance-Corporal twice earned the Military Medal. He was discharged on 2 March 1919, and in addition to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, was awarded the Silver War Badge. With copied m.i.c. and other research.

Note: the Second Award Bar to the Military Medal is not included in the lot.