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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 127

(x) The 'South Persia 1918' M.M. awarded to Lance Corporal P. Batson, 21st Lancers, attached South Persia Rifles

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1940 L.Cpl. P. Batson. 21/Lrs:), heavy polishing and contact wear overall, nearly very fine

M.M. London Gazette 10 September 1918.

Percy Batson entered the war at Hafiz on 5 September 1915 with the 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers, he would doubtless have taken part in the Regiment's famous V.C. winning action at Shabqadar. However he is unlikely to have remained there for long being attached to the South Persia Rifles. This unit was formed in response to the chaos which infected Persia in the wake of the outbreak of the Great War. The local tribes were restive at the best of times, especially with the Government becoming increasingly unpopular and worse they were being incited to revolt by German agents.

In order to combat this threat, the British persuaded the Persian Government to allow them to raise a force of 11,000 men with the goal of stabilising the situation around the vital oil fields. Commanded by Sir Percy Sykes the unit consisted of local Persians trained and commanded by British officers and N.C.O.s, they were supported by Indian troops and later by Dunsterforce and Norperforce in North Persia.

It appears that Batson- who is listed as attached to the formation on his M.M. medal card- was serving with them likely as a British N.C.O. training and leading part of the cavalry detachment. His service here further entitled him to a General Service Medal with a South Persia Clasp. Notably Batson is further entitled to an India General Service Medal with a clasp for Afghanistan 1919 where he is listed as attached to the 'Persian Gendarmerie'. This unit- set up by Swedish Officers in 1910- had been largely superseded by the South Persia Rifles however when the latter unit was disbanded it again became the primary tool for keeping order in the Persian hinterlands.

Batson was discharged in 1919 but re-joined almost at once on 26 July 1919, listing his address as Chiswick where he was working as a machinist. Joining the Royal Tank Corps he served until 7 December 1928 when he was finally discharged; sold together with copied research.

Further entitled to a 1914-15 trio, a G.S.M. with South Persia Clasp and I.G.S.M. with Afghanistan 1919 clasp.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240