Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Sergeant J. Syer, Royal Marine Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (Ply. -343. -S-. Pte. J. Syer, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Ply. 343 -S- Sgt. J. Syer. R.M.L.I.); Defence Medal; Italy, Kingdom, War Merit Cross, V.E.III.R., bronze, mounted as worn, very fine and better and a rare Italian award to the RMLI (5) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Great War Awards.

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Italian War Cross London Gazette 20 May 1919.

John Syer was born on 2 October, 1893 and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Portsmouth Division, on a Short Service Enlistment, at Manchester on 22 September 1914. He was promoted Corporal on 16 August 1916, and posted for duty with the Italian Embassy later the same month. He later served in France and was promoted Sergeant on 14 August 1917. He left Le Havre on 9 April 1919 and was demobilised on 10 May 1919. His service record notes the award of the ‘Croce di Guerra’ by the King of Italy in May 1919.