Original British WWI 1914 Mon Star Medal Named to Pte. E. Grant 2nd Grenadier Guards with Photo Original Items

Original Items: One of a Kind Set. This is a nice set from early in WWI. It consists of a “named” MONS STAR medal and comes together with a period photograph of the Grenadier Guardsman in question. The back of the medal is stamped with the soldiers information:

13748
PTE. E. GRANT.
2ND.G.G.

Private E. Grant was a soldier in the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards Regiment, which was one of the first units to reach and fight in France. The included photograph, 3 1/2″ X 5 1/4″ shows Private Grant standing carrying a swagger stick which Privates (Other Ranks) were only issued with when going on leave. The requirement for Other Ranks to be issued Officer’s Swagger sticks when going on leave in the First World War was adopted because the War Office were receiving multiple complaints of Privates standing on Rail Road Station Platforms with nothing in their hands. The result was that many were seen to “scratching their crotches” or “picking their noses”. The Swagger Stick gave them something else to do with their hands.

In addition to the Medal with its ribbon and the photograph comes the silk medal ribbon bar, to be worn when it was inappropriate for the complete medal with ribbon to be worn.

A nice set from Britain’s WWI Grenadier Guards, ready to frame and display!

More on the Grenadier Guards Regiment:

The Grenadier Guards (GREN GDS) is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It can trace its lineage back to 1656 when Lord Wentworth’s Regiment was raised in Bruges to protect the exiled Charles II. In 1665, this regiment was combined with John Russell’s Regiment of Guards to form the current regiment, known as the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards. Since then, the regiment has filled both a ceremonial and protective role as well as an operational one. In 1900, the regiment provided a cadre of personnel to form the Irish Guards; while later, in 1915 it also provided the basis of the Welsh Guards upon their formation.

At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the regiment consisted of three battalions. With the commencement of hostilities, the regiment raised a service battalion, the 4th Battalion, and a reserve battalion, known as the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, which was used to carry out ceremonial duties in London and Windsor during the war. The 2nd Battalion of the regiment was sent to France in August,[12] and the 1st Battalion followed to Belgium in October. They took part in the early stages of the fighting during the period known as “Race to the Sea”, during which time they were involved significantly at the First Battle of Ypres.