The Great War Military Medal to fatal casualty Corporal Ernest Middleton

The Great War Military Medal to fatal casualty Corporal Ernest Middleton, Manchester Regiment; M.M., George V (12145 PTE E. MIDDLETON. 19 / MANCH:R.), good very fine.

M.M. Gazette: 16/11/16.

Recipient entered France 8th November 1915. The Gazette in which his M.M. appears is that in which many awards for the Battle of the Somme are recorded, and it's schedule number precedes those for men who are known to have been decorated for acts on the first day of the battle. Medal rolls confirms that he served with the 19th and the 2/9th Battalions of his Regiment. The former was disbanded on the 6th February 1918 at which time it appears that he was posted to the 2/9th, though the majority of his battalion went to the 16th and 17th. After 13 days his new unit was absorbed by the 1/9th and together they became the 9th Battalion. His medal index card is endorsed 'Death Assumed 21-31/3/18', and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records him as having died on the 21st, and being commemorated at the Poiziers Memorial. The unit diary for the 9th Battalion indicates a heavy gas bombardment on that day.

Ref: Williamson.