A superb German Spring Offensive Prisoner of War’s Third Battle of Ypres Waterend House Military Medal, GVR, awarded to Acting Corporal J.A. Gaston, 2nd Battalion, South African Infantry who saw service on the Western Front and who was awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 14th January 1918 for his bravery on 20/21st September 1917, when single handedly advancing against a German strong point at Waterend House, East of Ypres, resulting in the capture of 50 German prisoners. He later along with others cleared the pill box destroying a machine gun and a large number of rifles. He would later be taken Prisoner of War at Rancourt on 24th March during the German Spring Offensive.
Military Medal, GVR, (11342 A. CPL. J.A. GASTON. 2/S.A. INF:) court-mounted for wear.
Condition: court-mounted for wear, Nearly Extremely Fine
J.A. Gaston was born in Portsmouth during 1877 and saw service with B Squadron, Envlim’s Horse in German South West Africa before that Regiment was disbaned on 28th May 1915. He would join 9th Battalion, South Afirican infantry on 17th July 1916 seeing service in German East Africa before being discharged temporarily unfit for war service on 21st December 1916.
He would re-enlist again on 6th February 1917 and saw service as an Acting Corporal (No. 11342) with the 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry on the Western Front from 20th May 1917 He would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 14th January 1918 which covers award for Ypres in September and October 1917.
The recommendation for the award of the Military Medal states:
‘East of Ypres on 20/21st September 1917 this N.C.O. advanced single-handed against an enemy strong point at Waterend House and captured some 50 prisoners and brought them back to our lines. He afterwards returned with three men and cleared the Pill Box, destroying a machine gun and a large number of rifles.’
He would later be taken Prisoner of War at Rancourt on 24th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive
