Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare 'Crowned Head' Palestine M.M. group of six awarded to Private James Thomas, The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment

MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R., 2nd issue with crowned head (3854385 Pte., 1-Loyal R.); GENERAL SERVICE 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Pte., Loyal R.); 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, together with 2 Regular Army Certificates of Service (Army Form B.108) and Regular Army Reservists Identity Book, good very fine

M.M., London Gazette, 6 November, 1936. The following details were taken from the regimental history by Capt. C.G.T. Dean: 'On 13th July, 1936, Lieut. R.C. Elstone was leading a patrol of 'A' company along the Jenin-Nablus road when they were held up by a road block, which was under a fire from a party of about 15 Arabs in a stone sangar on a hill 250 yards away. He immediately led his platoon up the hill at the double, and withheld fire until they reached the top of the hill, when 3 Arabs were killed in the sangar and 3 others outside it. For this successful action he was awarded the M.C., while Cpl. A. Tansey received the D.C.M. and Pte. J. Thomas the M.M.'

The Loyal Regiment was one of the first to be engaged in the Arab Revolt of 1936 and bore the brunt of the early fighting. It probably received more awards for this campaign than any other battalion - 2 D.S.O., 3 M.C., 6 D.C.M. and 5 M.M. Approximately 50 M.M's of this type were issued.