A CLASSIC & IMPORTANT
MILITARY MEDAL & 2nd AWARD BAR
&
1914-15 Trio
To:
2204. Pte J.MAY. 1/5th GORDONS
"THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS"
For
THE BATTLE of THE SOMME (HIGH WOOD)
&
1st Day of THE BATTLE of BEAUMONT HAMEL.
James Stephen May was born in 1886 and lived at, 6 King Edward Street. Fraserburgh. He was the son of Mr W May (fishcurer)
Before enlistment James was formerly a Post Office Clerk at Fraserburgh Post Office.
James lost his right leg after being seriously wounded at Pilckem Ridge on the 1st Day of Battle of Passchendaele (3rd Ypres)
ENTERED FRANCE
2nd May 1915.
MILITARY MEDAL,
First award. Won 26th July 1916,
(Somme, at High Wood)
London Gazzete. 16th September 1916.
******
2nd AWARD, BAR TO MILITARY MEDAL
"For gallantry while acting as a dispatch runner"
Won on 13th November 1916.
(First Day, Battle of *Battle of Beaumont Hamel)
(London Gazzete. 22nd January 1917)
*This attack action was launched in the early morning hours of darkness from 05:45am and in thick fog. Almost all of the runners were killed or wounded while trying to deliver reports to HQ back from the front line, so James was incredibly lucky to survive this action at all.
James' brother,2095. L/Cpl Robert May,also a member of the 1/5th Gordon's was killed in action on 31st July 1916 and is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial
James May was then seriously wounded 31st July 1917 at Battle of Pilckem Ridge (1st Day of Battle of Passchendaele) (3rd Ypres) where he sustained a serious gunshot wound to right leg which was then amputated.
The group comes with his two original regimental GALLANTRY AWARD notification cards and a large N.A. copies research file including all relevant copies of the War Diaries covering the awards periods, copy MIC.
Interestingly, his first gallantry card gives his service number as 2205 and his MIC has also been ammended from 2205 to reflect his correct number of 2204.
All his medals show 2204.
He was discharged from service as unfit on 22nd January 1918.
THIS RARE & MAGNIFICENT GROUP TOTALLY ILLUSTRATES & AMPLIFIES THE BRUTAL STRUGGLES AND VICIOUS HAND TO HAND COMBAT EXPERIENCED BY OUR MEN IN THE VERY WORST ACTIONS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GREAT WAR.
THE INCLUDED WAR DIARIES ARE A "SOBERING" READ !
AWARDED TO A MAN IN ONE OF THE MOST COLLECTED 'SCOTS' UNITS OF THE BRITISH ARMY.
AS SUCH IT IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE FINEST GROUPS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AND FIT FOR INCLUSION IN THE VERY BEST OF COLLECTIONS. 
All medals are practically Mint and are swing mounted as worn.
If you are a serious collector or investor in fine medals...
..........This is for you !
Quality part-exchanges are always welcome.
Contact us today 01342-870926
£3250(SOLD)