Military Cross no citation - LG 3rd June 1919 p6940 - in the Kings birthday Honours list

[Keith_history_buff]

Hello, 

This came up earlier

 

  

1 hour ago, JefR said:

Just another thought.

Fred Allan was awarded the Mlitary Cross - London Gazette 3rd June 1919 p6940 - in the Kings birthday Honours list and there is no citation.  Is it possible that the award was granted in recognition of his volunteering for service in Russia?
@JefR

 

 

 

 

I seem to recall that the postwar birthday honours were awarded for general merit over a given time period, as opposed to a specific act of bravery in the field. Would the learned members of this forum be able to comment on this officer of the British Army being awarded a MC, please?  

Thanks
Keith

[kenf48]

The 3rd June edition is often referred to as the ‘Peace Gazette’ and is mentioned on the LLT

 

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/how-to-research-a-soldier/records-of-gallantry-and-bravery-awards/the-british-gallantry-and-bravery-awards-of-the-great-war/

 

Whilst it’s true no citations were published and therefore the New Year and King’s Birthday Honours were an opportunity to reward consistent good service and leadership, they were not what are sometimes described as ’ immediate awards’, it did not necessarily exclude single acts which had not previously been recognised.  The Peace Gazette is generally considered to include ‘mopping up’ awards.

 

In the example posted above he would not have been awarded the medal for ‘volunteering’ even if he did but could have been awarded it fo bravery in the field.  Although a handful of British troops landed in Russia in March 1919, they wer not in action until May an the campaign had hardly started by the publications date, so not very likely the award was for service in Russia.  No doubt there is a later edition identifying the ‘Russian award’ but we’d need a medal collector  to tell us.

 

[Keith_history_buff]

Thanks Ken, as per the other thread, this man had a contemporary who was awarded the Military Medal Military Cross for bravery in the field in Russia, and his citation was published in the London Gazette. I have reproduced that further down in that other thread.

EDIT: red font

Edited 25 March , 2021 by Keith_history_buff

[kenf48]

Yes, I saw that. I noticed on the Meal Rolls he received ‘emblems’ so there is a mention in dispatches somewhere.  His Battalion was not mentioned in the original thread.  The war diary might give a clue.

[Ivor Anderson]

Peter Warington's register of the MC states that T/Capt. Frederick Leonard Allan got his MC in Italy while attached to the 10th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers.

The 10th Bn. were in Italy from November 1917: https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6784

The lead in to the birthday awards in the LG states that they were for Italy:

Edited 25 March , 2021 by Ivor Anderson

[Keith_history_buff]

@JefR, here is the answer to your question as to the circumstances around the MC to Frederick Leonard Allan.

A big thank you to Ivor.