The fine Great War Salonica Front 1917 Italian Al Valore Militare in Bronze with Award Certificate and Mention in Despatches Award Certificate grouping as awarded to Shoeing Smith / Farrier S. Fleming, Royal Field Artillery. Fleming was originally present at Gallipoli from 25th October 1915, before later seeing service in Salonica. It was for his services there when a Shoeing Smith / Farrier that Fleming was awarded a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services by Lieutenant General Milne is his despatch of 29th March 1917, as published in the London Gazette for 21st July 1917, before going on to be awarded an Al Valore Militare in Bronze by the Kingdom of Italy, as announced in the London Gazette for 31st August 1917, his medal and certificate being then issued to him in early 1918.
Italy - Kingdom of: Al Valore Militare in Bronze, unnamed as issued, with faded old ribbon, and affixed to the original large format award certificate, this how heavily damage and patched up for display purposes (since having been photographed), as issued in Numero d’Ordine 339, dated for 2nd February 1918, and inscribed to: ‘Fleming Sidney’ and ‘Maniscalco (Farrier) No.102188 130th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, esercito inglese (English Army), the certificate being issued through the Ministry of War at Rome, on 23rd March 1918. Albeit heavily damaged, this is a rare surviving document to a British recipient.
Mention in Despatches small form Oakleaf affixed to its original Award Certificate, this as issued by Lieutenant General G.F. Milne, C.B., D.S.O., to: ‘No.102188 Shoeing Smith S. Fleming, Royal Field Artillery, dated 29th March 1917, with facsimile signature of Winston Churchill as the Secretary of State for War.
Sidney Fleming saw service during the Great War as a Gunner (No.102188) with the Royal Field Artillery, and saw service out at Gallipoli from 25th October 1915, before later seeing service in Salonica. It was for his services there when a Shoeing Smith / Farrier that Fleming was awarded a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services by Lieutenant General Milne is his despatch of 29th March 1917, as published in the London Gazette for 21st July 1917, before going on to be awarded an Al Valore Militare in Bronze by the Kingdom of Italy, as announced in the London Gazette for 31st August 1917, his medal and certificate being then issued to him in early 1918
