A Strichen Loon's 'Bravery in the Field' & Great War casualty medal group of 4: Private James Alexander Bruce, M.M., 1st Battalion 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), 51st Highland Division A Strichen Loon's 'Bravery in the Field' & Great War casualty medal group of 4: Private James Alexander Bruce, M.M., 1st Battalion 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), 51st Highland Division A Strichen Loon's 'Bravery in the Field' & Great War casualty medal group of 4: Private James Alexander Bruce, M.M., 1st Battalion 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), 51st Highland Division A Strichen Loon's 'Bravery in the Field' & Great War casualty medal group of 4: Private James Alexander Bruce, M.M., 1st Battalion 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), 51st Highland Division

A Strichen Loon's 'Bravery in the Field' & Great War casualty medal group of 4: Private James Alexander Bruce, M.M., 1st Battalion 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), 51st Highland Division

- Military Medal. GV 1st type (240822 Pte. J. A. Bruce. 1/5 Gord: Hdrs-T.F.)
- 1914-15 Star (2866 Pte. J. A. Bruce, Gord. Highrs.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (2866 Pte. J. A. Bruce, Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (2866 Pte. J. A. Bruce, Gordons.)

Military Medal: Award confirmed as published in the London Gazette issue of 13 March 1918, an award for 'France'. The entry for the recipient shows his place of residence as 'Strichen'. The preamble to the list of awardees state:

Quote,

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men :—

Unquote.

Wounded-in-Action: Private James Alexander Bruce confirmed 'Wounded-in-Action' in France, circa May-June 1917, reference the long list of casualties published in the Aberdeen Press and Journal newspaper issue of, 18 June 1917

Medals Verification: The Great War & Long Service Medals all verified as issued per the respective medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders and recipients 'Other Ranks' service papers, as under:

a). Military Medal: Ref Supplement to the London Gazette issue of 13 March 1918 (shows place of residence Strichen)

b). 1914-15 Star: Ref WO 329/2800 (entered theatre of war 'France' 21 August 1915, disembodied 29 March 1919)

c). British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/1661 (shows service with 5/Gordon & later regimental number '240822')

d). Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1661 (shows service with 5/Gordon & later regimental number '240822')

The medals all retaining decent long lengths of original era silk watered 'moire' ribands

James Alexander Booth, second son of William Bruce (a Foreman Wayman with the Great Northern Railway) and Jane Bruce (nee Catto), was a native of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1896. The 1901 National Census for Scotland, records James living at home with his parents and 3 x siblings, this latter comprising elder brother William Bruce (9) - who was later 'Killed-in-Action' in France, on, 5 September 1916, as No. 416 Private William Bruce, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders) and 2 x sisters, viz; Edith Bruce (10) & Lilly A. Bruce (2). In 1901, the Bruce family resided at Jubilee Cottage, Strichen, Aberdeenshire. Following his distinguished record of service in the Great War during which in which James had served throughout served with his local Territorial Force infantry battalion, 1st 1st Battalion 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), under higher formation, 51st Highland Division, and had been both decorated for bravery and 'Wounded-in-Action', he took his discharge from the British Army on 29 March 1919. Shortly after return to civilian life in the North East of Scotland, James, like his father before him, took-up employment as a 'Railwayman', employed as a 'Porter' with the Great North of Scotland Railway, where he was stationed at Maud Junction / Keith Junction, Aberdeenshire (Trade Union Membership Registers of the National Union of Railwaymen refer). James married Ruth Noble, at Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on, 22 October 1920. James Alexander Bruce is recorded to have died at, Newington, Edinburgh, Scotland, on, 18 March 1989

Sold together with some hard-copy photocopied research

Condition: Silver medals toned About EF

Code: 22637