Beschreibung:

A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker Family Group: A most unusual Great War ‘French theatre’ 1917 M.C. group of eight awarded to Captain T. J. Sellis, Sherwood Foresters, late Sergeant, Worcestershire Regiment, who received a Danish award for his work during the Schlesvig-Holstein Plebiscite of 1920, and went on to serve with the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps during the Second War. He was Mentioned in Despatches for services in the field, March - June 1940, and as part of the unit’s evacuation from France during Operation Ariel Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse engraved ‘2nd Lieut. T. J. Sellis 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters 17th June 1918’; 1914 Star, with clasp (11699 Pte. T. J. Sellis. 2/Worc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. T. J. Sellis.); 1939-45 Star, reverse engraved ‘Captain T. J. Sellis, M.C. Pioneer Corps’; Defence and War Medals, 1939-45, M.I.D. Oak Leaf; Denmark, Christian X, Slesvig Medal 1920, silver, mounted for wear, lacquered, good very fine 1914 Star (9746 Pte. W. E. Sellis. 2/Worc: R.) good very fine (9) £1200-1600 Footnote Provenance: Flatow Collection, Spink, November 1998 (group only, single to Pte W. E. Sellis subsequently added). M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack by his battalion this officer led his platoon forward to a position some 300 yards in front of the main position, whence he was able to deal with the enemy’s snipers and machine guns with great effect, thus rendering much assistance to the troops behind him. He maintained his position for eighteen hours, in spite of heavy fire. On another occasion, when his men were under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire at short range, he moved about in the open from post to post with complete unconcern for his own safety, encouraging and directing the men, to whom he set an example of gallantry and composure.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 20 December 1940: ‘in recognition of distinguished services in connection with operations in the field, March - June 1940.’ Thomas Joseph Sellis was born at Wainscott, Rochester, Kent, the third of four sons, in May 1891. He was educated at the Board School at Wainscott, and attested for the Worcestershire Regiment in March 1909. Sellis served in the ranks of the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, at Ahmednagar and Jhansi in India until 1913. Having returned to the UK, the Battalion was serving at Aldershot with the outbreak of the Great War. Sellis served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in the French theatre of war from 14 August 1914. The Battalion served as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division, and were actively engaged in the Battle of Mons, the subsequent retreat, and the battles of the Marne and the Aisne. Sellis advanced to Sergeant, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) in April 1918. He advanced to Lieutenant in October 1919, having completed his posting to the School of Musketry, Hythe, earlier in the year. From 22 January 1920, with the 1st Battalion, Sellis served in the Plebiscite Area of Schlesvig-Holstein, the land bordering Denmark and Germany. At the peace treaty of 1864 between Denmark, Prussia and Austria, it was decided that if a plebiscite could prove that the northern half of Schlesvig had a clear Danish majority in her population, this part should be returned to Denmark. The Prussians, however, cancelled this decision and refused to take part in any talks. It was not until Germany had lost the Great War that the Plebiscite, supported by the British and French Governments, was held in 1920. During the voting period, Allied forces occupied the area; the 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters and the Chasseurs Alpin were the representative troops. The Sherwood Foresters were based at Flensburg, whilst the voting in the Northern and Southern Sectors