WW1 & 2 BRITISH ARMY 1914 STAR MILITARY MEDAL GROUP CPL GIFKINS ROYAL ENGINEERS

Description

Offered is a WW1 & 2, Military Medal “Old Contemptibles” group of 8 to Corporal Gifkins, Royal Engineers.

Military Medal (King George V), impressed named 16802 2.C^PL G.E. GIFKINS. 1/FD:SQ:R.E; 1914 Star with copy clasp 5^th AUG: 22^ND NOV 1914, impressed named 16802 SAP^R G.E.GIFKIN. R.E; War and Victory Medal with M.I.D, impressed named CPL. G.E.GIFKIN. R.E.; Defence Medal & War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued; Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (King George V, 2^nd issue fixed suspension) impressed named 852138 CPL. G.E.GIFKINS. M.M. R.E.; Special Constabulary Long Service (King George VI) with clasp LONG SERVICE 1945, impressed named SERGT GEORGE E GIFKEN (Note the spelling Gifken). The medals are mounted for display and comes with copies medal index card, medal rolls and London Gazette 1915 (M.I.D) and 1916 (M.M).

George was a pre war regular who survived the Great war only to serve again in the next one. Unfortunately his WW1 service records did not survive the blitz. It is known that he landed in France on the 15/8/1914 with the 1^st Field Squadron Royal Engineers. They were the Engineer component of the 1^st Cavalry Division. He was Mention in Despatches in 1915. London Gazette 18/6/1915. The Military Medal 1916. London Gazette 11/10/1916 and the numbers 33,000-35,000 are for the battle of the Somme. Mid July operations, High wood, Longueval, Delville Wood. Georges MM has a schedule number of 33,172.

The Division took part in most of the major actions where cavalry was used as a mounted mobile force, and also many others where the troops were dismounted and effectively served as infantry.

During the desperate actions of 1914 they were in action at the Battle of Mons (and smaller actions). The Battle of Le Cateau, (Rear guard affair of Etreux, affair of Nery and Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets). The Battle of the Marne. The Battle of the Aisne (and subsequent Actions on the Aisne Heights). The Battles of Ypres 1914 (“First Ypres”).