Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘battle of the Ancre’ M.M. awarded to Petty Officer R. Laidlaw, Hawke Battalion Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Military Medal, G.V.R. (TZ-1337 P.O., Hawke Bn. R.N.V.R.) some edge bruising, nearly very fine £600-700

M.M. London Gazette 19 February 1917.

Robert Laidlaw was born on 6 May 1889. A Coal Miner from Birtley, Durham, he enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 10 November 1914. Posted to the Hawke Battalion, he served in Malta, Gallipoli and Egypt. Posted to France in May 1916, he was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in the operations north of Ancre in 13/14 November 1916, receiving shell wounds to his face and right wrist on 13 November, for which he was treated at the No.2 Canadian Hospital at Le Treport. Returning to duty the next month, he was wounded through gas poisoning on 6 August 1917 and was admitted to the hospital at Rouen and thence invalided to England. Laidlaw was discharged to shore on 7 January 1919. Sold with original R.N.V.R. Service Certificate and copied service papers and war diary extracts.