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  3811 Private Lawrence Hendley Suttie, MM

  By archie777 · Posted 5 minutes ago

  Military Medal (MM) (Geo.V) 3811 Pte L.H. Suttie 2/S.A.Inf.;  BWM Cpl L.H. Suttie 2nd S.A.I.; AVM (Bil.) Cpl L.H. Suttie 2nd S.A.I.;  1939-45 Star; Africa Star; DM; WM; ASM 144731 L.H. Suttie.    MM LONDON GAZETTE 14 JANUARY 1918 The MM citation is worded as follows:  3811 Private Lawrence Hendley Suttie, 2nd Regiment South African Infantry "For conspicuous bravery during the operations EAST of YPRES on the 20th and 21st September 1917. He showed magnificent courage and devotion to duty throughout the action and as a company runner safely delivered several important messages to Battn. Headquarters without loss of time, although on occasions a heavy enemy Artillery barrage had to be passed  through.   On returning to the front line he was on all occasions loaded with water, ammunition and stores according to the requirements of his company. This man was also employed in running along the front line under rifle and machine gun fire.   His conduct throughout was splendid. He was wounded in the execution of his duty on the evening of the 21st". Lawrence Hendley Suttie was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1896. He was educated at The Boy's Model School in the city.   On his discharge from the Army in 1919 he returned to Pietermaritzburg and took up a position with the local municipality. On the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Natal Carbineers, and refusing a commission, fought in the ranks during the Abyssinian campaign. He re-joined the municipal Water Department on his return and after rising to the senior position of City Engineer he retired in 1958.   Hereafter he joined the Natal Tanning Extract Company until his final retirement in 1965 just three years before his death in 1968.    Lawrence Suttie served with the 2nd S.A.I. in France and Flanders. He was wounded on three occasions, on 11 October 1916, on 12 April 1917 (Arras) and on 21 September 1917 (Ypres).    He was awarded his MM on 27 October 1917 and was presented with his medal ribbon on the parade held after the Memorial Service at Delville Wood on Sunday 17 February 1918.  On this occasion he following citation was read out at the presentation:  "For conspicuous gallantry near YPRES on 20th/21st September, 1917. As a Company runner he delivered important messages under heavy shell fire and carried water and ammunition to the front line. He was eventually wounded in the execution of his duty". He was commissioned after the end of hostilities on 21st December 1918. In a note dated 4 April 1986 Suttie's widow wrote as follows:    "He joined up in 1915 and went through Delville Wood without a scratch but later in the battle of Passchendale Ridge he was a dispatch runner and a sniper shot him right through the back. He said he lay quiet for a while till all seemed safe, he got up bleeding badly and all he remembered was falling into headquarters then waking up in hospital.   The D (doctor) told him he was the luckiest man alive (as) the bullet had just missed his spine. He had the two bullet marks all his life. But that wound never worried him.   In another battle he was wounded in the arm pit and through that he had to give up his cricket, because when he lifted his arm high it gave way and he would clasp his other arm and nothing could be done till it released itself otherwise he enjoyed life till he was 72.   He won the Military Medal for bravery at Passchendale Ridge and became a lieutenant. At the end of the War he was made Repatriation Officer to the SA troops with the result he only arrived back in South Africa in September 1919."  The History of the South African Forces in France by John Buchan (p 142-144) offers some insight into the nature of the fighting on 20th September 1917 at Ypres:   "Few struggles in the campaign were more desperate or carried out in a more gruesome battlefield. The mass of quagmires, splintered woods, ruined husks of "pill boxes", water filled shell holes, and foul creeks which made up the land on both sides of the Menin Road was a sight which, to the recollection of most men, must seem like a fevered nightmare.   It was the classic soil on which, during the First Battle of Ypres, the 1st and 2nd Division had stayed the German rush for the Channel. Then it had been a battered but recognizable and featured countryside; now the elements seem to have blended with each other to make of it a limbo outside mortal experience and almost beyond human imagining.  Only on some of the tortured hills of Verdun could a parallel be found. The battle of 20th September showed to what heights of endurance the British soldier can attain. It was an example, too, of how thought and patience may achieve success in spite of every disadvantage of weather, terrain, and enemy strength.   Delville Wood was still for the Brigade the most heroic episode in the War. But its advance on 20th September must without doubt be reckoned its most successful achievement up to that date in the campaign. It carried one of the strongest of the enemy's position, and assisted the brigades both on its right and left to take two forts which blocked their way The 2nd Regiment had 61 killed (including 3 officers), and 244 wounded and missing." 
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  Real eBay Items

  By Stogieman · Posted 21 minutes ago

  Nice bar from Germany, 483-Euro. 
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  Henry James Sherman, MM

  By archie777 · Posted 27 minutes ago

  Military Medal (MM) (Geo.V) 423 Pte H.J. Sherman 1/S.A. Inf :Bn; BWM; AVM (Bil.) 9L/CPL H.J. Sherman. 1ST S.A.I.; S.A.W.S. Medal unnamed as issued.   MM LONDON GAZETTE 19 JANUARY 1917 Henry James Sherman was born at Port Elizabeth in 1896. He was educated at Marist Brothers College and then worked as a salesman for Mosenthal & Co., wholesaler merchants.   Attested at Potchefstroom 16 August 1915 for service in “B” Company of the 1st South African Infantry Battalion of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force.   Served in Eqypt 12 January 1916 – 12 April 1916. He was present on 26 February 1916 at the Battle of Agagiya 14 miles south east of Sidi Barrani. South African losses numbered 1 officer and 13 other ranks killed, and 5 officers and 98 other ranks wounded.   The 1st and 3rd South African Infantry  battalions were both granted the Battle Honours of "Agagiya" and of "Egypt 1916".   Suffered a gunshot wound in the left shoulder 17 July 1916 on the 4th day of the Battle of Delville Wood.    His regiment lost 26 men killed and missing on that day. The 1st South African Infantry Battalion casualties over the seven days of the battle numbered 583, comprising 192 killed, died of wounds or missing, 363 wounded and 26 prisoners of war.   Sherman spent the next two months in hospitals in France and England. Served in France again 20 September 1916 – 3 November 1916.    During this period the South Africans suffered casualties of approximately 1 150, including 45 officers of whom 16 were killed. At this time the major action of the 1st S.A.I. was its attack on the Butte de Warlencourt on 18 October 1916.    Quote from Shermans' letter home dated 11 November 1916.   “The night I got my present was the 18 October 1916, while I was guiding a party of Scottish in for working purposes. We got half way down the communication trench and the Gerries started strafing it, causing a wild dash for cover.   Before I knew where I was, someone from behind sent me flat on my face, and just as I was about to get up, the trench was blown up by a high explosive, sending me flat again.   They pulled me out but I was finished. I got into an old German dug-out more dead than alive, but not too bad to struggle back after showing them their work.   I carried on the best I could the next day, after telling what had happened; a sprained leg (left, slight) and both hips, which have now become natural. The worst was the blow on the kidneys, which I am still suffering from." Earlier in the same letter Sherman describes his experiences as a chief runner. He closes with the words:   “I then made my way back to headquarters again with my report which was lengthy, and I must say the Colonel was pleased to a certain extent."   His M.M. award must have been for good work as a runner.   Awarded the MM in the LG 19 January 1917. No official recommendation could be traced, but this Regimental Testimonial of Gallantry dated 15 January 1918 tells the story of his gallantry in the attack on the Butte de Warlencourt.    He was in hospital in France, Ireland and at Richmond Park from 20 October 1916 suffering from rheumatism and diarrhea.   For the following eight months he served in England at the Cavalry Command Depot, Eastbourne and with the 1st Reserve Battalion.   Returned to France 13 July 1917 and joined ”B” Company 1st S.A. Infantry. Back to England on 21 September 1917 and attached to the Discharge Depot. He reverted to the ranks voluntarily on 10 October 1917. Promoted Lance Corporal 30 October 1918, Corporal 28 January 1919, Lance Sergeant 24 June 1919 and Sergeant 29 September 1919.   Posted to South Africa 21 November 1919 and discharged at Cape Town on 14 January 1920. He was mentioned in a War Office Communiqué dated 28 August 1919.   Sherman was the first choice in the selection of a group of six ex-servicemen from Port Elizabeth and Walmer to attend the official Unveiling Ceremony of the South Africa National War Memorial at Delville Wood held on 10 October 1926.    During World War II Sherman served as a Special Constable in the Walmer Civilian Protection Services 25.8.1941 – 31.8.1945.   He was an extremely enthusiastic supporter of the annual reunion parades and dinners of members of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade. Sherman died at Port Elizabeth in 1971.
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  T /Capt. (A./Maj.) Edward Gordelier Ridley, MC + Bar

  By archie777 · Posted 50 minutes ago

  Military Cross (MC) (Geo.V) and bar A/Maj. Edward Gordelier Ridley 74th Siege Bty.; 1914-15 Star Sjt. E.G. Ridley V.K.2.; WM; AVM (Bil.) MID oak leaf Major E.G. Ridley   MC LONDON GAZETTE 1 FEBRUARY 1919 “South African Force. T./Capt. (A./Maj.) Edward Cordelier Ridley, 74th Siege Bty., South African Hvy. Arty. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in keeping his battery inaction during the operations east of Arras between 26th August and 2nd September, 1918.   On three occasions when the battery was moving into new positions it came under very heavy shell fire, suffering numerous casualties. He was tireless in his efforts to select good positions for guns and observation posts.” BAR MC LONDON GAZETTE 1 JANUARY 1919 “*T /Capt. (A./Maj.) Edward Gordelier Ridley, M.C., 74th S. By., R.G,A. (S.A.H A.).” ADDED NOTE - In the cases marked by an asterisk * the announcements of awards of the Military Cross have not yet been published in the London Gazette, these awards will be published in due course.   The London Gazette, 11 January, 1916. Oversea Contingents: South Africa, Artillery. The undermentioned Temporary Second Lieutenant to be temporary Lieutenant: - Dated 1st January, 1916. Edward Gordelier Ridley.   Edward Gordelier Ridley was born 13 April 1884. He first enlisted with the Royal Marine Artillery on 18 January 1902.
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  THE BATTLE OF MARRIÈRES WOOD 24 MARCH 1918

  By archie777 · Posted 1 hour ago

  Military Medal (MM) (Geo.V) 13533 PTE A.J. Manzie.2/S.A. Inf.; 1914-15 Star PTE A.J. Manzie. 1st Infantry; WM; AVM (Bil.) PTE A.J. Manzie. 2/S.A. Inf; ASM ACF145182 A.J. Manzie; Coronation Medal 1937 (Geo.VI) engraved: A.J. Manzie MM LONDON GAZETTE 20 AUGUST 1919 Private Andrew John Manzie 2nd Battalion, The South African Infantry, was born in Kimberley in 1896. After serving in German S.W.A. with the Durban Light Infantry he then served with the10th S.A.I. in G.E.A.   Discharged temporarily medically unfit at Roberts Heights on 26.2.1917 he re-attested with the 2nd S.A.I. on 9.3.1917 and served in France from 27.7.1917.    He was seriously wounded during the fighting at Marrières Wood on 24.3.1918. He was sent to Richmond Hospital in England as his injury was severe, his leg being amputated at the knee. He did not recover well from the surgery and this meant that he remained in the UK.   Andrew was cared for at the South African Military Hospital in Richmond, which was where he participated in the embroidery of the St Paul’s Cathedral World War I Altar Frontal.   In 1919 stump healed, fitted with artificial limb and embarked for South Africa. Discharged medically unfit 3.1.1920. Manzie served as S/Sgt with 19th Batt. N.V.B. 26.7.19; transferred to 3rd Bn. Railway and Harbour Bde. 4.1.1943. Discharged 31.12.1946. Occupation: Clerk Station Master, Durban.