Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant R. G. Hill, Royal Army Medical Corps, late Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action while serving as M.O. to the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards at Houthulst Forest in October 1917

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in its case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. G. Hill. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. G. Hill), together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Reginald Gordon Hill), extremely fine (5) £1000-1200

M.C. London Gazette 9 January 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack he continually attended to wounded under a heavy barrage and, on the objective being gained, he quickly formed a dressing station, where he was indefatigable in his attention to the wounded of his own and another battalion, although under continuous fire for two days. By his cheerfulness and splendid devotion to duty he set a fine example to all ranks.’

Reginald Gordon Hill was educated at Whitgift Grammar School and London University, where he qualified in medicine. Having then completed his training as a House Physician at Bart’s and the Great Northern Hospital, he served as a surgeon to the Red Cross Hospital attached to the Ottoman forces in Tripoli during the Italo-Turkish War 1911-12.

By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was in Brisbane, Australia, from whence he returned home to be commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery in March 1915. He was embarked for France as a Lieutenant in the 2nd East Anglian Brigade, R.F.A. and, later still, for Egypt, where he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.

Injured in a flying accident, he subsequently transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps and returned to active service in France. He won his M.C. for conspicuous bravery during an attack on Pilkem Ridge on 31 July 1917 but, as cited above, was killed in action at Houthulst Forest on 10 October 1917, while serving as M.O. to the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards.

Sold with the recipient’s original commission warrants for the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, dated 27 March 1915, and Lieutenant, R.A.M.C., dated 12 April 1917.