The rare Great War Gallipoli operations C.G.M. group of seven awarded to Colour-Sergeant C....

The rare Great War Gallipoli operations C.G.M. group of seven awarded to Colour-Sergeant C. J. ‘Charlie’ Braddock, Royal Marine Light Infantry, a well-known boxer who was decorated for facing-off a far superior force of Turks at Achi Baba in May 1915 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (Ch.B.2013. Pte. C. J. Braddock, R.M.L.I. Chat. Bn. R.N. Divn.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Ch.14298 Sergt. C. J. Braddock R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Ch.14298 Pte. C. J. Braddock. R.M.L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Ch.14298 C. J. Braddock. Sergt. R.M.L.I.) heavily polished and worn, otherwise fine or better (7) £12,000-£16,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1998. C.G.M. London Gazette 2 July 1915: ‘Behaved with distinguished gallantry on May 1st during operations south of Achi Baba. When the enemy in greatly superior numbers attacked an outpost of 30 men he volunteered in company with Lieutenant Cheetham and one other man to counter-attack the enemy on a flank in the open under heavy fire, thus assisting to save the outpost line.’ Charles James Braddock was born in London on 11 March 1887, and entered the Royal Marine Light Infantry at the recruiting depot in Deal in March 1904. Posted to the Chatham Division, he started to make a name for himself as a talented boxer in the period leading up to the Great War, winning numerous bouts by knockout. And that fledgling career in the ring – which eventually extended until 1923 - led to him purchasing his discharge in May 1914, when he was enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve. Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities, he joined the R.M. Brigade in the Royal Naval Division and served in the Dunkirk and Antwerp operations in September-October 1914. But it was for his subsequent deeds in Gallipoli that he was awarded the C.G.M., following the award of a certificate by the G.O.C. of the Royal Naval Division ‘for courageous and gallant conduct in the Field’ on 1 May 1915. On that occasion, when the Royal Marines bore the brunt of Kemal’s third attack on 29 April to 1 May 1915, the Chatham and Portsmouth Battalions suffered 337 casualties. The History of the Royal Marines in the War of 1914-1919 takes up the story: ‘On 1 May, the Turks attacked again at 4 a.m., but this was broken by fire. Another attack was made at 4 p.m., along the front of Quinn’s Post and Lone Pine trenches. The Turkish attack came across Johnston’s Jolly and 1000 Turks attacked Chatham R.M.L.I., who opened rifle and machine-gun fire, which broke the Turkish attack when about 200 yards off, and by 6 p.m., the enemy had retired. Lieutenant J. Cheetham was awarded the D.S.C. for his courage and initiative in the defence of this position. Private (acting Sergeant) C. J. Braddock (Chatham), the well-known heavy-weight boxer, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, for volunteering, in company with Lieutenant Cheetham and one other man to counter-attack the enemy on a flank in the open under heavy fire, thus assisting to clear the line.’ Braddock was advanced to Corporal in October 1915 and saw further action in France, being specially promoted to Sergeant ‘for good services in the Field’ in February 1917. He returned to the U.K. six months later and remained employed on depot duties for the remainder of the war, in which period he no doubt continued to hone his boxing skills. Having then served as a Barrack Police Sergeant and been awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1920, he was discharged in June 1922. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, he was appointed a Colour-Sergeant in April 1940 and served as an orderly at Deal. Sold with the recipient’s original parchment Certificate of Service, together with a Certificate for Wounds and Hurts for fractures received in a gymnasium accident in December 1917.