Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private W. J. Sandford, Tank Corps, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 25 August 1918, during an act of heroic self-sacrifice as he succeeded, at the cost of his own life, in rescuing four of his comrades from a burning tank, for which act of gallantry he was strongly commended

British War and Victory Medals (109780 Pte W. J. Sandford. Tank Corps); Memorial Plaque (William Joseph Sandford) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, extremely fine (3) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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William Joseph Sandford was born in Worcester and attested there initially for the Royal Army Service Corps, before transferring to the Tank Corps. He served with the 11th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 25 August 1918, whilst performing an heroic act of self-sacrifice in an attempt to rescue wounded comrades. An Appendix to the Battalion War Diary for 25 August 1918 states:

‘From:- Lieutenant F. A. Burton, No. 5 Section, “B” Company, 11th Tank Battalion.
To:- Officer Commanding, 11th Tank Battalion.
Sir, I have the honour to submit the following report in connection with the action at Boyelles on 23 August, 1918, in which I was wounded and taken prisoner.
Orders were received from Battalion Headquarters for “B” Company to leave Blairville Wood about 10:30 p.m. on 22 August, and proceed to the front line, distant about 6 kilometres. I was in command of Tank No. 9659. The first driver and the first gunner were taken to the line by car in order that they might rest before going into action. On arrival within 2km of the line the Company had to pass under enemy shrapnel fire and all ranks were ordered to remain in their tanks until the shelled area was passed.
The Company arrived in the vicinity of the “Jumping off” place about 6:15 a.m. when an enemy aeroplane was sighted and orders were received to shut down engines and camouflage tanks at once.
The action was to commence at 7:00 a.m. Owing to the time taken in camouflaging, greasing, filling up, etc., the reconnaissance of the battle area had to be limited to a rather hurried discussion over a map. There was no time for Tank commanders to examine the ground over which they had to travel. The first driver and first gunner arrived just as our barrage was opened. All tanks were immediately uncovered and started into action.
The Orders received by me were as follows:- Tank (9659) was to be the right hand tank of the section. On the crest of the hill about 1,000 yards distant was our front line, and on top of the next crest was the enemy front line (about 700 yards from ours). The tanks were to start after the infantry, overtake them, then cross the enemy front line and patrol it until the arrival of the infantry, after which all tanks would proceed as quickly as possible to the rallying point. The crew of the tank with the exception of the first driver and the first gunner, having been on the move all night, were more or less fatigued, and the tank was very hot. As the action proceeded the heat inside the tank became intense.
On crossing the enemy front line my first driver (Corporal Hammond) and first gunner (Lance-Corporal Watkins) were killed by A.P. bullets, and whilst they were being replaced the tank received a direct hit through the front which stopped the engine and set the tank on fire. I remember nothing more until I found myself lying in a shell hole alongside the tank, and discovered that I was wounded in the right leg. The tank was burning furiously and continuous explosions of the 6 pdr. and S.A. ammunition occurring
With me in the shell hole were three other survivors, Gunners Hurd, Goozee and Clark, all wounded. Gunner Clark informed me that he had been carried from the burning tank by Gunner W. Sandford, who, up to that time, was unwounded. This gallant action was performed under the heavy machine-gun fire which was being concentrated on the tank. On entering the tank again to see if he could effect further rescue Gunner Sandford was killed, presumably by the explosion of the ammunition in the tank. This statement is corroborated by the other survivors.
I strongly commend to your notice the gallant conduct of Gunner W. Sandford.’

There were many cases of gallantry that, for whatever reason, went un-rewarded during the Great War, and Sandford ultimately received no medallic recognition for this gallant act. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.

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