A Great War 1917 'Battle of Arras' M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. S....

A Great War 1917 ‘Battle of Arras’ M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Johnson, Durham Light Infantry, late 5th (City of London) Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), London Regiment, later Royal Indian Army Service Corps Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved ‘Arras Capt. R. S. Johnson Durham Light Infantry April 1917’; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (46 Pte. R. S. Johnson. 5/Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. S. Johnson.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, North West Frontier 1930-31, with unofficial retaining rods between clasps (Lieut. (A. Capt.) R. S. Johnson. 1/150/Infy.) the last partially officially corrected, mounted for wear, generally very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2001. M.C. London Gazette 18 July 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When in command of a small party during the advance, although wounded in the ankle, he took command of men of several battalions, and frustrated all the enemy efforts to cut the party off. He showed a fine example throughout.’ Reginald Sidney Johnson was born on 26 June 1892 and attested for the 5th Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), London Regiment, on 7 August 1914, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 November 1914. Transferring to the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps in April 1915, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry on 11 July 1915. Posted to the 3/5th Battalion, he was promoted temporary Captain in June 1916, and served with the 6th Battalion on the Western Front from November 1916. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Arras on 14 April 1917, being awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry that day, on which date he was also wounded in action. Recovering from his wounds, he saw further service on the Western Front from September 1917 to March 1918, before transferring to the Indian Army. Johnson arrived in India on 1 June 1918, and was posted to the Depot of the 1/4th Rajputs. He served with the 1/150th Infantry from 22 September 1918 to 15 April 1921, seeing active service during the Third Afghan War and subsequent operations in Waziristan, and was confirmed in the rank of Captain on 8 April 1920, before transferring to the Indian Army Service Corps on 12 May 1923. He served on the North West Frontier on detached duty form 25 February to 12 August 1930, and saw further service during the Second World War in both the U.K. and in India, being advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 10 September 1943. He finally retired on 14 September 1945. Sold with copied research.