A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the South Wales Borderers

A Great War ‘Western Front’ 1917 M.C. group of three awarded to Lieutenant H. R. Hill, 12th Battalion, South Wales Borderers

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. R. Hill.) mounted as worn, good very fine (3) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the South Wales Borderers.

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M.C. London Gazette 17 September 1917.

Harold Reginald Hill was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on 6 May 1915, and served with the 12th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, being awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on 4 July 1917:
‘On July 4th Second Lieutenant H. R. Hill and E. Edwards and 32 men raided Barrack Trench and Barrack Support. The “Bangalore torpedo” having failed to explode, Second Lieutenant Hill himself cut a gap in the wire and led his men through. Finding the front trench lightly held he pushed on to the second, which was more stoutly defended, forced a way in, and eventually extricated his party after a sharp fight with only two casualties, a heavy loss having been inflicted on the enemy.’ (The History of the South Wales Borderers, by Captain C. T. Atkinson refers).

Hill was promoted Honorary Lieutenant on 15 November 1918.