World War Medals

The superb Great War Battle of Arras 24th April 1917 Trench Raid Bangalore Torpedo Detachment mans Military Medal group awarded to Sapper S. Kemp, Royal Engineers, who as a member of the 519th London Field Company Bangalore Torpedo detachment which accompanied a trench raid made on 24th April 1917, and showed an utter disregard for his personal safety, when he went forward under a heavy fire to relight a Bangalore torpedo which had failed to explode, and which was needed to be blown for the third belt of barbed wire to be breached in order to allow the trench raiders to access the enemy trenches. This they duly did, all as a result of Kemps gallantry in having gone forward to relight the fuse over a distance of 15 yards under hot fire and close range. Group of 4: Military Medal, GVR bust; 556195 SAPR S. ; British War Medal and Victory Medal; 2826 SPR. Mounted swing style as worn. Condition: Good Very Fine. Together with the recipients tunic medal ribbon bar for the same. Rare Military Medalists League enamelled lapel badge. GVIR wire bullion sleeve patch. And two facsimile recommendations for his award of the Military Medal. Sidney James Kemp came from northwest London and saw service during the Great War as a Sapper No. 556195 with the Royal Engineers, and as a member of the 519th London Field Company was present out on the Western Front when he won the Military Medal for bravery in the field in the London Gazette for 12th December 1917, the award having been earned on 24th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras, and originally recorded in the 60th Divisional Engineers Routine Orders of 14th September 1917, it being for his work when with a detachment of men operating the Bangalore torpedo during a trench raid. The original recommendation reads as follows: No. 556195 Sapper Sidney James Kemp, 519 (London) Field Company. This man formed one of the RE party which took part in a trench raid on the 24th April 1917, and accompanied the centre infantry detachment in charge of the Bangalore torpedoes. When this detachment advanced, it was found that the third belt of wire had not been cut. This man accordingly came up with a Bangalore torpedo party and assisted in laying the torpedo against the enemys wire under a hot fire at close range. At the first attempt it failed to explode and consequently this man who had gone back some 15 yards again came forward and lighted the fuse thereby causing the torpedo to explode and destroy the wire, thus enabling the detachment to enter the enemys trenches. This man showed an utter disregard for his personal safety, and acted with great courage and determination. Kemp, who became a member of the Military Medallists League, appears to gone on to see service during the Second World War in Civil Defence work. The item “Excellent WW1 Trench Raid Military Medal Group, Mounted as Worn” is in sale since Monday, October 14, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War I (1914-1918)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “hamptonside” and is located in Melbourne. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Conflict: World War I (1914-1918)
• Type: Medals & Ribbons
• Featured Refinements: Military Medal