Lot Essay
Sold with the recipient's original Certificates of Service and his Regular Army Reservist's Identity Book.
M.M. London Gazette 6.11.1936 'For gallant and distinguished serviced rendered in connection with the emergency operations in Palestine during the period 15 April to 14 September 1936'.
Sergeant James Thomas, M.M., was born in Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan in July1909 and enlisted in the Loyal Regiment at Pontypridd in February 1932. Posted to Palestine with the 1st Battalion in February 1936, he was cited for his bravery in an action near Jenin that Summer. Captain C.G.T. Dean takes up the story in The Loyal Regiment 1919-1953:
'On 13 July 1936, Lieutenant R.C. Elstone was leading a patrol of 'A' Company along the Jenin-Nablus road when they were held up by a road block, which was under fire from a party of about 15 Arabs in a stone sangar on a hill 250 yards away. He immediately led his Platoon up the hill at the double and withheld fire until they reached the top of the hill, when three Arabs were killed in the sangar and three others outside it. For this successful action he was awarded the M.C., while Corporal A. Tansey received the D.C.M. and Private J. Thomas the M.M.'
Following further overseas appointments in Shanghai and Singapore, Thomas joined the B.E.F. in France in September 1939 and was fortunate to be evacuated home on 30.5.1940. Afterwards engaged in the operations in North Africa, he was discharged with the rank of Sergeant in November 1943 as 'Permanently unfit for any form of military service'. Thomas died at Merthyr in November 1985.
M.M. London Gazette 6.11.1936 'For gallant and distinguished serviced rendered in connection with the emergency operations in Palestine during the period 15 April to 14 September 1936'.
Sergeant James Thomas, M.M., was born in Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan in July1909 and enlisted in the Loyal Regiment at Pontypridd in February 1932. Posted to Palestine with the 1st Battalion in February 1936, he was cited for his bravery in an action near Jenin that Summer. Captain C.G.T. Dean takes up the story in The Loyal Regiment 1919-1953:
'On 13 July 1936, Lieutenant R.C. Elstone was leading a patrol of 'A' Company along the Jenin-Nablus road when they were held up by a road block, which was under fire from a party of about 15 Arabs in a stone sangar on a hill 250 yards away. He immediately led his Platoon up the hill at the double and withheld fire until they reached the top of the hill, when three Arabs were killed in the sangar and three others outside it. For this successful action he was awarded the M.C., while Corporal A. Tansey received the D.C.M. and Private J. Thomas the M.M.'
Following further overseas appointments in Shanghai and Singapore, Thomas joined the B.E.F. in France in September 1939 and was fortunate to be evacuated home on 30.5.1940. Afterwards engaged in the operations in North Africa, he was discharged with the rank of Sergeant in November 1943 as 'Permanently unfit for any form of military service'. Thomas died at Merthyr in November 1985.