Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant G. F. J. Jarvis, Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, attached 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, late Honourable Artillery Company, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 28 September 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Lieut. G. F. J. Jarvis Reserve Cavalry, Attd. 9th. West Yorks Regt. Sept. 28th. 1918.’; 1914-15 Star (43 Cpl. G. F. J. Jarvis. H.A.C. (Art.)); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. F. J. Jarvis.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (43 S.S. Cpl.G. F. J. Jarvis. H.A.C.) last mounted on H.A.C. riband, good very fine and better (5) £1,600-£2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

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M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

The original recommendation states: ‘This Officer has been transport officer of the 9th Battalion since February to September 1918, and the transport of the Battalion has never been in so efficient a state. He makes a point of going personally with ammunition or rations when the road is rendered dangerous by shelling or machine-gun fire, and on many occasions has by his energy and total disregard of personal danger ensured the safe delivery of whatever was being carried, and set a fine example to his men.’

George Frederick Jervaulx Jarvis was born in Stoke Newington, London, on 18 June 1884, and joined the Honourable Artillery Company on 2 December 1901. Advanced Farrier-Sergeant, he served with the Honourable Artillery Company during the Great War in Egypt from 8 April 1915, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 5th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry on 28 November 1916. He saw further service on the Western Front on attachment to the 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment

In late September 1918, the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment was stationed near Artois en Vis in northern France and was preparing an attack. On 27 September, the Battalion moved forward, ‘but progress was slow because of an enemy machine gun nest that was holding up the crossing of the canal. The attack was delayed, but moved forward later in the day. The Battalion HQ reached its objective by 8 p.m. that evening. In the early morning of 28 September the Transport Officer Lieutenant G. F. J. Jarvis returning from delivering rations (which was accomplished under extreme difficulties) was severely wounded by a bomb dropped from enemy aircraft, he later died from his wounds. 2 mules, 1 horse and 2 drivers were also hit by this bomb and died and 2 Other ranks were also wounded.’ (the Battalion War Diary refers).

Admitted to No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, reportedly with wounds to his right arm and a fracture of his right thigh, Jarvis died later that day and was buried the following day in Duisans British Military Cemetery, with the Canadian chaplain W. Fisher presiding.

Sold with copied research.