Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War 1917 ‘Battle of Arras’ M.M. and 1918 ‘Messines’ Second Award Bar group of three awarded to Private H. J. Cole, 2nd South African Infantry, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 5 May 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (8334 Pte. H. J. Cole. 2/S.A. Inf:); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. H. J. Cole. 2nd S.A.I.) the VM an official Replacement, minor edge bruising, very fine (3) £800-£1,200

One of only 18 Military Medals with a Second Award Bar awarded to a South African unit during the Great War.

M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917.
The recommendation, originally for a Distinguished Conduct Medal, states: ‘For conspicuous devotion to duty whilst employed as Company Runner during the operations between 9th and 12th April 1917. He showed great courage in the execution of his duties. On several occasions he carried messages between Company and Battalion Headquarters under heavy shell and machine gun fire. On the 12th April at the attack near Fampoux he dressed the wounds of his Company Commander and a sergeant under heavy fire and when the attack had been held up he assisted the Company Commander, who was severely wounded, to a place of safety.
In the Fampoux attack when the Company Commander was wounded, he wrote a message at the dictation of this officer and delivered it at Battalion Headquarters, where he was also able to supply further clear details of the situation.’

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 13 September 1918.
The recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During three days operations this man was linesman attached to Regimental Signals. His able co-operation with the N.C.O. i/c of establishing and maintaining communication, in spite of a depleted staff, was largely responsible for the efficiency of this department.
During heavy enemy counter attacks and under intense bombardments this man showed extraordinary courage and resource, repeatedly going out to find the break in the line and connecting up again, showing an utter disregard for danger. It was mainly on account of his splendid courage and determination that Signal communications were maintained throughout a very critical period.’

Harold Jamesson Cole was born in King Williamstown in 1895, and attested for the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force on 11 December 1915. He embarked at Cape Town on 20 March 1916, and served on the Western Front with ‘D’ Company, 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry. After seeing action at the Butte de Warlencourt, 16-20 October 1916, his next major offensive was at Arras in 1917, and it was here, during the period 9-12 April, that his bravery earned him a recommendation for the D.C.M.

Cole’s Company Commander, Captain H. E. Twinley, who was wounded at Arras (as described above in the Recommendation), wrote from hospital as follows: ‘No. 8334 Private Cole, H. J. - This soldier who was acting as my runner on the 12th April exhibited the utmost bravery on several occasions during the action on that date. It was this soldier who attended to my wound under tremendously heavy fire, and who subsequently placed me in a spot of comparative safety. Later he attended to the wounds of Sergeant Glasscock under similar circumstances, and in the height of the action carried out his duties with the utmost courage and efficiency.’

Subsequently awarded the Military Medal, Cole next took part in the offensive of Menin Road, at Ypres, 20-26 September 1917, and at St. Julien, Ypres, 12-20 October 1917. Due to injuries to his left foot and knee he was absent from his regiment from 11 December 1917, until rejoining his unit in the field on 6 April 1918. He was soon after back in action at Messines from 9-13 April 1918, and it was for his gallantry here, exactly a year after the deeds that had seen him awarded his Military Medal, that he performed the acts of gallantry that led to him being awarded the Second Award Bar to his M.M.

Cole died of wounds on 5 May 1918 at Ridge Wood, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

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