A German Spring Offensive Military Medal group and Fourth Army Gallant Conduct Certificate awarded to Gunner J.C. Townsend, ‘Z’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery who having originally enlisted on 28th September 1900 served until 28th September 1908. He was remobilised upon the outbreak of war and served on the Western Front with ‘Z’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery from 5th November 1914 being awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 6th August 1918 for an act of gallantry that took place in the early days of the German Spring Offensive.
Group of 4: Military Medal, GVR Fm:Bust; (12235 GNR. J.C. TOWNSEND. ‘Z’ BY: R.H.A.) 1914 Star; (12235 GNR. J.C. TOWNSEND. R.H.A.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (12235 GNR J.C. TOWNSEND. R.A.) Court-mounted for display.
Condition: Court-mounted for display, Good Very Fine
Along with Fourth Army Gallant Conduct Certificate, issued to ‘No.12235 Gunner J.C. Townsend, Royal Horse Artillery, congratulating him on the award of the Military Medal dated 30th May 1918 with facsimile signature of General Rawlinson.
Photocopied images of Townsend in military uniform and in later life in civilian clothes.
John Camilias Townsend was born on 4th April 1883 at Roadside Terrace Llantarnam which was in the sub district of St. Woollos, Newport, Monmouth and was educated at boarding school in West Grinstead, Sussex, enlisted into the Royal Horse Artillery on 28th September 1900 and joined at Woolwich on 1st October 1900., transferring to reserve on expiration of his period of army service on 28th September 1908. He was remobilised at Woolwich and posted to ‘P’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery on 5th August 1914 and then posted to Z Battery, Royal Horse Artillery seeing service on the Western Front from 5th November 1914.
Townsend would be awarded the Military Medal for service in France on 6th August 1918 which would have been for an act of gallantry between 21st March and mid-April 1918 as part of the German Spring Offensive.
He was discharged on 17th February 1919 and re-enlisted into 5th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery on 18th February 1919, and was posted to 7th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery on 14th July 1919. He was discharged on 5th June 1922 his services being no longer required on reduction of the establishment.
John Townsend on 9th June 1928 at the Servite Church, Kensington and would pass away on 25th April 1960 being buried in Gunnersbury Cemetery