Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Beaumont Hamel’ D.C.M. awarded to Lieutenant & Quarter-Master A. J. Banks, Royal Marine Light Infantry, formerly Sergeant-Major of the Anson Battalion, Royal Naval division

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (PLY-4594 C. Sjt: A. J. Banks. Anson Bn: R.M.L.I.) initials officially corrected; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. J. Banks. R.M.) the Victory medal with later machine engraved naming; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.V.II.R. (PLY. 4594 A. J. Banks, Sergt. R.M.L.I.) contact marks, otherwise very fine (4) £800-£1,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 26 January 1917: ‘Colr. Sjt. (A./S./M.) A. J. Banks, R.M.L.I.

‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led a bombing party with great courage and determination. He was severely wounded.’

Albert John Banks was born at Stoke, Devon, on 5 March 1875. He enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Plymouth on 30 April 1889, as a Bugler, aged 14, an errand boy by trade. He became a Private in December 1896 and was promoted to Corporal in October 1891, and to Sergeant in August 1906. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1910 and in August 1914 was promoted to Colour Sergeant, serving with the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marine Battalion at Antwerp, and gaining entitlement to the 1914 Star and Clasp. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant-Major of the Anson Battalion R.M.L.I. in June 1916, serving with the 63rd R.N. Division in France, and winning the D.C.M. at Beaumont Hamel during the battle of the Somme. He was severely wounded on this occasion but the ‘Wounds and Hurts’ section of his service papers is largely missing so the actual date remains unknown. He was promoted to Temporary Quarter-Master and Hon. Lieutenant on 7 May 1918. His death was reported in the Globe & Laurel as having occurred in the period October 1942 to January 1943, but no actual date is given.