Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Mesopotamia’ M.S.M. to Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major W. H. Blackmore, Royal Engineers

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (WR/552013 C.S.Mjr-A.S.Mjr., R.E.) nearly extremely fine £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Meritorious Service Medals.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 3 March 1919. ‘WR/552013 Coy. S.M. (A./S.M.) W. H. Blackmore (Exmouth)’. ‘... in recognition of valuable service rendered with the British Forces in Mesopotamia’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 27 August 1918 (Mesopotamia). ‘Blackmore, W. R.552013, C.S.M. (A./R.S.M.) W.H. [Inland Water Transport]’.

William Henry Blackmore of Exmouth, Devonshire, enlisted in the Royal Engineers at London in 1915 as Sapper 88602. He was posted to the 205th Field Company R.E. with the 35th Division which sailed to France in January 1916. Blackmore arrived with his unit at Chateau de Nieppe on 31 January 1916 and went into the line on 9 February. The 205th Field Company took an active part in the actions at Albert (1-13 July 1916), Bazentin (14-17 July 1916) and Passchendaele (26 October - 10 November 1917). At some stage Blackmore may well have been severely wounded and returned to England. Unable to return to duty in France, he was issued a War Reserve number (WR/552013) and assigned to the Inland Water Transport, R.E. in Mesopotamia upon regaining his health.

The Inland Water Transport steamers, manned by Royal Engineers, took the main burden of supply in the Mesopotamian campaign, using a motley array of craft drawn from wherever they could be found. In Mesopotamia he attained the rank of Company Serjeant-Major (Acting Regimental Serjeant-Major). Blackmore died, probably of disease, on 31 August 1918, aged 44 years and was buried in the Basra War Cemetery. He was the husband of Jessie Agnes Blackmore of 126 Victoria Road, Exmouth, Devonshire. Sold with copied research.