United Kingdom. The Miniature Awards Of Major Harry May, Dso, Mc, Royal Field Artillery

Includes:

1. Miniature Group of Seven: Distinguished Service Order, George V (in silver with red, white and green enamels, measuring 19.5 mm (w) x 22.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring); Military Cross with Second Award Bar, George V (in silver, marked "SILVER" on the reverse, measuring 21 mm (w) x 24 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring); 1914 Star, 1 Clasp - 5th AUG. - 22nd NOV. 1914 (in bronze gilt, measuring 19.5 mm (w) x 21.5 mm (h)); British War Medal (in silver, measuring 18.5 mm in diameter); Victory Medal with MID Oak Leaf (in bronze gilt, measuring 18 mm in diameter); Russia, Imperial: St. George Cross, IV Class (in silver, measuring 18.4 mm (w) x 18.2 mm (h)); and Italy, Kingdom: Medal of Military Valour, II Class Silver Grade with Bronze Star Clasp, Type II (1887-1943) (in silver, measuring 17.7 (w) x 20 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension). Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, the DSO with repair evident in the white enamels on the arm at 3 o'clock on the obverse, residue on the reverse of the VM from cleaning, contact marks, frayed original ribbons, very fine.

2. Italy, KIngdom: Medal of Military Valour, II Class Silver Grade, Type II (1887-1943) (in silver, engraver marked "F.G" on the obverse, measuring 33.3 mm (w) x 37.7 mm (h) inclusive of its integral suspension, edge nicks, light contact, sunned and lightly soiled original ribbon, also very fine).

3. Accompanied by eight Original Documents: (i) two "The War of 1914-1918" Mentioned in Despatches Certificates (MIDs dated April 9, 1917 and November 7, 1917); (ii) Letter from Major-General E. Ironside, Commanding-in-Chief, General Headquarters, Allied Forces at Archangel (AKA Arkhangelsk) (confirming May's award of the Military Cross and his citation for it); (iii) Field Pass for Archangel (AKA Arkhangelsk) and Return (in English, French and Russian, dated August 11, 1919); (iv) Officer's Permission Pass to Proceed Outside the Bounds of Obozerskaya (in English and Russian, dated June 4, 1919); (v) Letter from the Foreign Decorations Section at London (confirming his award of the Russian Order of St. George, Gold Sword and Sash, dated January 8, 1920); (vi) Military Entry Permit (issued at London on April 17, 1945, numbered 119673, with four date stamps for August and September of 1946); (vii) Letter from the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem (addressed to Major H. May, dated September 30, 1946, confirming May's contract with the WOBRSOSt.J had terminated upon his return to England on September 27, 1946).

Footnote: Harry May was born in Beverley, Yorkshire on February 17, 1886. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1905 at the age of 19. After qualifying as a Riding Instructor at the Military Equestrian School, Weedon, he served with various regiments until posted to India in 1909. May was part of the British Expeditionary Force that entered the French theatre in 1914 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the field in 1915, credited with having participated at the battles of Mons, Passchendaele, Ypres and Messines.

He is documented as having been Mentioned in Despatches seven times, two of the despatches from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the original documents accompanying this group and stating: 1. MID of April 9, 1917, 2nd Lieutenant Harry May (Temporary Lieutenant) Royal Field Artillery [(Acting Captain), Royal Engineers], the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 30077 of Friday, May 18, 1917, on Friday, May 18, 1917, page 4871 and 2. MID of November 7, 1917, 2nd Lieutenant Harry May (Temporary Lieutenant) Royal Field Artillery, Howitzer, D.S.O., the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 30427 of Tuesday, December 11, 1917, on Friday, December 14, 1917, page 13070.

2nd Lieutenant (Temporary Lieutenant and Acting Captain) Harry May, Royal Field Artillery was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 30308 of Tuesday, September 25, 1917, on Wednesday, September 26, 1917, page 9968. Lieutenant (Acting Major) Harry May D.S.O., Royal Field Artillery, attached to the 2nd Special Company, Royal Engineers, was awarded the Military Cross, the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 31370 of Friday, May 30, 1919, on Tuesday, June 3, 1919, page 6831. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Upon the ceasing of hostilities in the First World War, he was re-routed to Russia as part of the North Russia Expeditionary Force in 1919, placed in command of a composite British-Australian unit working alongside Harcourt's Force. It was during this conflict that May was seriously wounded and evacuated to England.

However, before returning to England, Lieutenant (Acting Major) Harry (referred to as Henry in the accompanying letter) May, D.S.O., Royal Field Artillery was awarded the Second Award Bar to the Military Cross by Major-General E. Ironside, Commanding-in-Chief, General Headquarters, Allied Forces at Archangel, on August 6, 1919, for his "gallant conduct in the field", his citation stating: "At V.P.466 on the 22nd and 23rd July, this Officer who had just returned from patrol duty lasting 6 hours went forward to take over the front line there, at a critical time, with a party of 50 O.R. He consolidated position, observed for Russian Artillery and succeeded in holding up (the) enemy's advance until a counter-attack took place some 8 hours later. He then went forward with (the) counter-attack and assisted in retaking positions. During the whole time he was constantly in danger and working under the most trying circumstances but he performed his duty in a cheerful and willing manner. His splendid example had a steadying effect on all ranks. On the 24th, this officer commanded the party of 80 men that attacked and took enemy camp 2 versts E. of V.P.448 and severely defeated some 300 enemy. He set a magnificent example to his men and himself rushed a M.G. team killing the enemy gunner at his post. To his command and leadership undoubtedly the great success of this fine operation was due." The announcement and citation for the award appeared in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 31745 of Tuesday, January 20, 1920, on Wednesday, January 21, 1920, page 924.

For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal with MID Oak Leaf. During the inter-war period, he was attached to the British Embassy in Constantinople as King's Messenger. In 1939, he was commissioned in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve until discharged as Squadron Leader in 1944, when he joined the Red Cross Commission and served in Antwerp until September 27, 1946, when the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem terminated his contract upon his return to England. May was also a recipient of the Second Award Bar to the Military Cross, the Italian Medal of Military Valour, II Class Silver Grade, the Russian St. George Cross, IV Class, the Russian Order of St. George with sash and sword, and the French Red Cross Silver Medal (Médaille d'Argent). Harry May died in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 1965.