A rare 1st Day Battle of Arras, 9 April 1917, Military Medal, GVR, awarded to Serjeant T.H. Gardner, 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry who saw service in France and who was awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 9th July 1917 which covers both the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge.
Military Medal, GVR, (7628 SJT: T.H. GARDINER. 3/S.A. INF.)
Condition: mounted for display.
T.H. Gardiner was born in Northampton in 1881 and served 2 years in the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. He later enlisted into the South African Constabulary at Heidelberg, Transvaal on 28th November 1901 and he was then discharged in Ermelo on 30th June 1916.
Finally he saw service as a Serjeant (No. 7628) with the 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry who saw service in France and who was awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 9th July 1917 which covers both the Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge during April and May 1917.
The recommendation for the award of the Military Medal reads:
‘At Arras on 9th April 1917, displayed great coolness and initiative under fire and by his example, inspiring confidence in his men after their officer had been wounded, took command of a platoon, re-organised them and carried out portion of consolidation at Blue Line.’
Gardner would later be commissioned and would be wounded during the successful attack on the Potsdam Redoubt between 19-22nd September 1917. Attached to B Company, 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry he would be wounded in the attack on ‘Bitworks’ in the Centre Sector. The Battalion casualties were high in this attack with 6 officers and 40 other ranks killed in action and 8 officers and 202 men were wounded with one of these men later dying of wounds. 24 other ranks were missing in action.
