An Excellent "Battle Citation" MILITARY CROSS
& 1914-15 Trio.
To:
Lt (T./ Captain) John Walker Clapham.
5th Bn West Riding Regt, att: 8th & 4th M.G.C.

John Clapham was from a privileged Yorkshire family background in Huddersfield where his grandfather John Lee Walker was a textile mill owner at Woodhouse Mills, Huddersfield and latterly with a dye works in Halifax. The company was set up in 1892 and wound up in 2015.
He entered France with 5th Bn on 14th April 1915 after a short voyage from Folkestone to Boulogne.


[CITATION]
LONDON GAZETTE 17/9/1917.
"FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY DURING THE CAPTURE OF AN ENEMY POSITION. HE KEPT HIS GUNS IN ACTION IN SPITE OF CASUALTIES, UNDER HEAVY SHELL FIRE, PERFORMING HIS DUTIES WITH ABILITY AND GREAT DETERMINATION, AND AFFORDING VALUABLE ASSISTANCE TO OUR ADVANCE BY HIS UNTIRING EFFORTS"

TWICE COURT MARSHALLED.
Lt Clapham was clearly an unusually spirited officer in that he seems to have fallen into more than his own share or trouble. He faced a GCM in October 1918 accused of drunkeness & drinking out of hours in the sergeants mess. He was found not guilty of the drunkenness but guilty of the second charge. In 1919 he is again seen in a spot of bother before a GCM by being accused of being A.W.O.L. ( found guilty ) and of escaping from lawful custody (found not guilty) .....

He was in trouble again, this time with the civil authorities, when in 1939 he was fined £25 for dangerous driving, with a second fine of £5 some time later for assaulting a police officer !

The medals, which are in superb EF+ condition on original ribbons, are housed in an original 1920's period metal & glazed prop frame with buff velvet lining and leather back. The frame is surmounted with the badges of the West Riding Regiment & M.G.C.


An excellent group for the keen collector of Yorkshire regiments. Lt Clapham's officer's file has survived and is available at the national archive so much further research is possible for this lovely item.

SOLD with part-exchanges welcome.