Military Medal Citation

[Guest Steve Small]

Hi,

can anyone help me please My Grandfather was a Pioneer Sergeant in the 6th Battalion Leicester Regiment, Service No 20996 Sergeant Arthur Cecil Small who was awarded the Military Medal. I have found the London Gazette Entry Issue 31338 dated the 13/05/1919, but would like to know what he was awarded it for as he never talked about it to my Father before my grandfather died?

Steve Small

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Steve,

Unfortunately, you will not find the citation for a Military Medal.

Your best bet is the local newspapers who very often printed the citations.

(Unless member Llew knows something !!)

Regards,

Graeme

[sotonmate]

Steve

You might be lucky with the War Diary,they sometimes note the award of Gallantry Medals.

From the date of LG it might be one of those awards made at war's end for consistently diligent service.

The War Diary is not digital as yet but worth a look. WO95/2164/1.Jul 1916 to Mar 1919. LG date usually at least 3 months after the event.

[Guest Steve Small]

Hi Graeme,

Thank you for this information I may have to wait to go up to Leicester when i see my parents and go to the local offices.

Steve

Hi,

I will look into the War Diary thank you for your advice.

Steve

[Adam Llewellyn]

Hello Steve and welcome to the forum,

Arthur enlisted in Leicester on the 24th February 1915, into the 4th (City Terrirorial) Battalion, and my assumption is that he served with the 2nd line unit, 2/4th Battalion. I know you have already said that he never talked about his service, but was there ever any mention of him serving in Ireland before going to France? The 2/4th Battalion went to Ireland in April 1916 and didn't get to France unit the end of February 1917. The Battalion were finally reduced to a Cadre strength in May 1918 and returned to England, and I believe this is when Arthur would have been transferred to the 6th Battalion. There is no mention of Arthur's MM in the battalion diary, and it could be as already pointed out by Sotonmate, that it was awarded for diligent service throughout his war time service.

I've got the 6th Battalion diary complete and would be more than happy to let you have transcribed entries from it, which will give you an idea on what he was involved in. Do you know where he was living at the time?

Regards.

Llew.

[Adam Llewellyn]

Forgot to mention that his original service number was 3986 and he was renumbered with his new 6 digit territorial number in early 1917 to 200996.

He was also discharged on the 9th October 1919 with a Silver War Badge, due to wounds.

Llew.