Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Army Meritorious Service Medal for Gallantry awarded to Corporal, later Sergeant, J. W. Ricketts, 30th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps, in recognition of a lifesaving exploit in France on 12 September 1916

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (T3-028055 Cpl. J. W. Ricketts. 30/D.T. A.S.C.) good very fine and rare £180-£220

435 awards of the M.S.M. were made for gallantry between 1916 and 1928, a period when changes to the warrant allowed for its use other than to recognise particularly long and exemplary service. Corporal Ricketts’ name was included in the first batch of gallantry awards published; he was also the first of 22 members of his Corps to be so recognised.

M.S.M. London Gazette 12 March 1917. ‘... for gallantry in the performance of military duty.’

The original recommendation form survives within the recipient’s service papers, the text repeated on the reverse of his M.S.M. card:
‘On 12 September, 1916, an alarm was raised that a man was drowning in the La Bassee canal, Corporal Ricketts ran to the canal bank 60 yards distant removed his coat and dived in and with great difficulty rescued the man, who had already sunk twice and could not swim. Deed performed “in the Field” France.’

James W. Ricketts was born at Lichfield, Staffordshire in 1887, and grew up at Worcester. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman in 1903 and served until 1907, when he was dismissed the service for striking an officer. At the outbreak of the Great War he was working as a drayman, and in November 1914 volunteered for horse transport duties with the Army Service Corps. He served in France with 30th Divisional Train from 4 September 1915 until the end of the war, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his lifesaving gallantry in 1916. Latterly he returned to Worcester, where he died in 1961.