Great War "gas" operations on the Western Front Military Medal group awarded to Serjeant J. Cutt, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, later ‘H’ Special Company, Royal Engineers who saw service on the Western Front from 18th January 1915 with the Gordon Highlanders being recognised for his gallantry on 20th July 1915 by the commanding officer of the Third Division. He would subsequently transfer to the Royal Engineers, and served with ‘H’ Special Company, Royal Engineers, one of the companies tasked with the dispersal of gas via cylinders, and would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 9th July 1917 most likely for gallantry at Arras where gas was unsuccessfully used and caused casualties amongst the advancing British troops due to an unexpected change in wind direction.
Group of 4: Military Medal, GVR, (112227 SJT. J. CUTT. ‘H’ SPEC:COY. R.E.) 1914-1915 Star; (8336 PTE. J. CUTT. GORD. HIGHRS.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (S-8336 SJT. J. CUTT. GORD. HIGHRS.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Along with Divisional Gallantry Card from the Third Division British Expeditionary Force to ‘No 3/8336 Lce Cpl J. Cutt, 1st Gordon H’drs.’ For his distinguishing himself in the field on 20th July 1915.
John Cutt saw service initially as a Private (No. 8336) later Serjeant with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on the Western Front from 18th January 1915. He would distinguish himself in the field on 20th July 1915 receiving a Divisional Gallantry card from the Commander of the Third Division, British Expeditionary Force.
Subsequently transferring to the Royal Engineers, he would serve with ‘H’ Special Company, Royal Engineers as a Serjeant (No. 112227) being decorated with the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 9th July 1917 which covers award for Arras and Vimy Ridge
‘H’ Special Company, Royal Engineers was involved in the use of Gas as a weapon during the Great War, ‘H’ Company being one of those units which dispersed the gas via cylinders. The British would use gas at the Battle of Arras as part of the final barrage, in an attempt to break through the German lines, however a sudden change of wind direction lead to the Gas being blown back towards their own lines and resulted in numerous casualties amongst their own troops
