Medal of Company Sergeant Major in Queen's Royal Regiment

[JGDavies]

Hi,

Can anyone confirm the medal ribbon is this WW1 soldier wearing? I hope he's Company Sergeant Major Valentine Frederick Davis born Caterham, Surrey, UK 1886, awarded the Military Medal and who I'm told rose "to the rank of major in the Queen's Royal Regiment".

If the medal ribbon is correct this is surely him, is which case can anyone see the citation? when he was awarded the medal? or anything else of his military record?

Thanks, Jonathan

[Rudolf H B]

Hi Jonathan,

have a look here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Medal,

so he is Valentine Frederick Davis MM.

Regards
Rudolf

[JGDavies]

The London Gazette 29 August 1918 announced that "G/2019 Cpl. V. Davies R. W. Surr. R. Upper Caterham" had been awarded the MM for bravery in the field.

The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment website referred me to the "The Surrey History Centre [which] will now be dealing with research enquiries" so I've enquired there.

In the meantime is there anywhere anyone can recommend I look for more information?

[jim1]

These are the war diaries for the Queens Regt. but you will have to go through a page at a time to see if there's a reference to Valentine Davis.
http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/war_diaries/war_diaries_home_new.shtml

[JGDavies]

I looked through the diaries three months before and one month after the award appeared in the London Gazette  - mention of other awards but not this one. Hardly any mention of other ranks by name.

[mmm45]

Williamson book on MM suggests awards for Spring offensive,egypt,italy and salonika appear in this Gazette sched numbers 177,000-184,999 (these are on the medal index card for MM)
So may have to go back to march,April time.

Ady

[JGDavies]

Found something:
1st Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, Diary for April 1918, Appendix VII:
 
Following a lengthy descriptions of enemy attacks and operations on the 15th April 1918 around the "METEREN - OUTTERSTEENE ridge " ... The following ... N.C.O's ... were brought to notice as having rendered distinguished and gallant service during operations ... 2019 Cpl V. Davis ... [those named are] "In receipt of cards from G.O.C. Division".

13 May 1918 ... Award of decorations for operations S. of METEREN on 12th/14th April received.

Extract of Battalion order No 107 ... The "Queen's" Regt Monday May 13th 1918
Decorations: the corps commander has awarded the Military Medal to the following N.C.O.s and men ... 2019 Cpl V. Davis ...

20th May 1918 ... The Brigade inspected by the Army Commander ... The brigade was formed up in a hollow square at 11:30 a.m. Military Medals were presented to men of the battalion for distinguished conduct in the operations S. of METEREN on 12th/14th April. After distributing the ribbons Gen PLUMER gave a speech ...


Thanks for the advice, this is something. Do you think this is all that's likely to be out there to be found?

[mmm45]

MM awards frequently made the mans hometown local paper.
Looks like with no ciation surviving you have the info that he displayed bravery in the field (and it might not have been a single act ) on the ridge.

Ady

[jim1]

Thanks for the advice, this is something. Do you think this is all that's likely to be out there to be found?

If you refer to the diary 12th. April 1918 you will see a complete account of the battle that took place around the village.
Although only officers are named you will get a good idea of what he was going through.

jim