Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of seven awarded to Hon. Brigadier A. D. Bridge, Coldstream Guards

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. A. D. Bridge, C. Gds.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. A. D. Bridge); Victory Medal 1914-19, erased naming; Jubilee 1935; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (7) £600-800

M.C. London Gazette 6 April 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his platoon with fine skill and judgment, and when the advance was held up by an enemy strong point, he assisted with rifle grenades and a Lewis gun in outflanking the enemy post and in capturing forty prisoners with a machine-gun. He showed courage and set a fine example.’

Arthur Darley Bridge was born in Crawley, Sussex in January 1895 and was educated at Eton and the R.M.C. Sandhurst. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards in June 1915, he was embarked for France that August, and remained actively employed until invalided to England on account of sickness in February 1916.

Rejoining his unit at the front in July of the same year, he won his M.C. for the above cited deeds at Herzeele on 9 October 1917 but was again invalided home on account of sickness in the following month.

Post-war he was attached to the Egyptian Army 1920-22, in which period he was advanced to Captain, and served for a short period as an Assistant Provost Marshal. Having then been placed on the Retired List as a Major in November 1935, he was recalled in June 1940 and appointed a Major in the 12th (H.D.) Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment. Shortly afterwards, however, he was re-appointed to the Coldstream Guards and served as O.C. Defences at Woolwich Arsenal until November 1943; he was awarded a certificate for good services in the New Year Honours List.

Next employed as a Training Officer in the Home Guard in South-East, Bridge was demobilised in early 1946, when he was granted the rank of Hon. Brigadier; sold with copied research, including service record.