A Rare
“BOURLON WOOD”MILITARY CROSS (GV)” 1914 Star & Bar Trio (Twice M.I.D.)
& World War II Group of Eight.

To:
724 Cpl, 1/28 London Regt (ARTISTS RIFLES),
late Major, Alan Percival Skevington, West Yorks Regt
& 99th Machine Gun Company

Having voluntarily relinquished his commission in 1939, he served as a Bombardier in Africa with The Royal Artillery
& later with 8th (Reserve) Anti Aircraft Battery in U.K. during WW2.

To France 26th October 1914

GASSED & WOUNDED in APRIL 1918.

[MILITARY CROSS] & The WW1 Medals
CITATION, London Gazette 18.2.1918.
(*Defended his position at BOURLON WOOD for EIGHT DAYS by repelling 10 successive enemy waves of attack by 2 full German divisions without sustaining a break in the line)

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He performed most efficient and gallant service in the handling of his machine guns, and assisted materially in repelling an enemy attack. His guns were subjected to intense shell fire, and four of them were put out of action, but he held his position for eight days, setting his men a splendid example of determination and resource”.





[THE MEDALS]
Military Cross (unnamed as issued)
1914 Star & Bar (724 Cpl, A.P. SKEVINGTON 1/28 Lond. R)
War Medal (Major A.P. SKEVINGTON)
Victory Medal (An Original Unnamed Blank)-Rare
Mentioned in Despatches. 15.6.16 (and again)
1939-45 Star
Africa Star
Defence Medal
War Medal

All medals “Mint” with the Military Cross in its Original Case.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Alan Percival Skevington was born in Kaikoura, Marlbro, New Zealand on 28th September 1887 the son of Joseph Augustus & Jane Gillies Skevington. He was the husband of Dorothy Emily F.G. Skevington (Nee Harding) of “Arden” Woodford Green, Essex.

His officers’ service book records him as joining the London Regt (Reserve) on 17th July 1909 at age 22.

The 1911 census then declares him as being a Clerk to a chartered accountant and one of a household of six which included a servant, Florence May Cornwall (17) of Suffolk. His father Joseph (60) is shown as being of “Private Means” and his was clearly a wealthy family.

Having been a pre-war reservist and having worked as an accountant at Cox & Co Accountants in Charing Cross, London, he was clearly called up at the start of the Great War with a landing in France with 1/28th London’s on 26th October 1914. He served with this unit until his commission and transfer to The West Yorks Regt.

He obtained an early promotion and was commissioned 2/Lt on 3rd March 1915 into the West Yorks Regt, with promotion to Lt on 28th September 1915, att: 99th M.G.C. 18th September 1916, Captain 24th October 1916, Act/Major 5th March 1918. He was wounded by a shell fragment and gassed in April 1918 and was admitted to No.6 Stationary Hospital B.E.F. at Frevent.

[WORLD WAR TWO] and the WW2 MEDALS
Served in Africa with The Royal Artillery and later with R.A. 8th (Reserve) Anti Aircraft Battery in U.K.

Having been employed inter-war as a clerk on an Horticultural Estate, he again volunteered for military service and reverted to the ranks at age 52 by relinquishing his commission at his own request on 24th November 1939. He then served in Africa and the U.K. as 1544122 W/BDR Royal Artillery, as an Anti-Aircraft Bombardier in 8th Reserve A.A. (We think stationed at Grimsby & Hull.)

He died in Service 28th July 1944 aged 57 and is buried at Cleethorpes, Lincs. His home address was at Newbourn, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

((**We are now in possession of a copy of Mr Skevington’s death certificate which confirms that he died of a heart attack in Cleethorpes.))

The group comes with the Original WW2 medal box and packets of issue and with the official Condolence Slip, hand named to:

W/BDR A.P. SKEVINGTON.

Sent to his wife:
Mrs D.E.F.G.SHEVINGTON, 5 WINDSOR ROAD, STOKE MANDEVILLE, AYLESBURY, BUCKS.

The group also retains the original Officer’s Record of Service Book (Army 439) containing service details & dates.







Also included are:
(1)
An interesting and neatly written two sided pencil letter to his mother of 9pm on 6th January 1918 giving domestic news from the trenches and announcing the fact that he and a fellow officer “WALL” had been awarded the M.C. and also detailing that Eight Military Medals and One MM Bar had been won by his men for the action at Bourlon Wood on 30th November 1917.

T/Lt Wall’s own M.C. citation which we record here below helps to confirm just what a massive enemy attack was being carried out at Bourlon Wood.

[T/Lt Roland Leslie Wall, M.G. Corps.
(London Gazette 22nd July 1918)]
“For conspicuous gallantry had devotion to duty. He was in charge of four machine guns during a heavy enemy attack. He fired one of the guns himself when some of his men were casualties, and, though wounded, remained with his men, encouraging them by his example of cheerfulness and disregard of danger”

One of the official histories records:

“A Battery of eight medium machine guns from the 99th which were ranged on the attacking force, poured 70,000 rounds into the massed ranks of assaulting Germans”
(2)
Original letter from General R.O. Kellet to Skevington sending congratulations to br and his men on their “splendid & gallant behaviour” in repelling 10 successive enemy waves of attack at Bourlon Wood by 2 full German divisions without a break in the line and inflicting SERIOUS losses on the enemy. (*with three original typed distribution copies).



(3)
The Original Telegram of 21st April 1918 confirming wounding & gassing with his admission to No.6 Stationary Hospital B.E.F.























An important, superb and original early group with an excellent battle citation. A rare award to an early volunteer and Old Contemptible soldier who fought the entire Great War, rose from the ranks to the position of Major and who was MID Twice, wounded and fought in both world wars.

All medals “Mint” with the Military Cross in its Original Case.

SOLD