{"product_id":"5th-cameron-highlanders-mm-1918-military-medal-ww1-resaurie-culloden-inverness","title":"5th Cameron Highlanders MM 1918 Military Medal WW1, Resaurie Culloden Inverness","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Medals – Private William Bell MM, 5\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Cameron Highlanders, late 4\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Bn. – Military Medal Oct 1918\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMilitary Medal – \u003cb\u003e200618 PTE. W. BELL. 5\/CAM’N HIGHRS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003e200618 PTE. W. BELL. CAMERONS.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWilliam Bell MM\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born in \u003cb\u003e1898 at Inverness\u003c\/b\u003e, and grew up in the rural district around \u003cb\u003eResaurie, near Culloden\u003c\/b\u003e, Inverness-shire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn the \u003cb\u003e1901 Census\u003c\/b\u003e he appears aged \u003cb\u003e3\u003c\/b\u003e, living at the \u003cb\u003efarm house at Resaurie\u003c\/b\u003e with his grandparents \u003cb\u003eJohn Anderson (62) and Ann Anderson (60)\u003c\/b\u003e along with several other members of the Anderson family. Also in the household was his younger sister \u003cb\u003eAnn A. Bell\u003c\/b\u003e, indicating that the children were being brought up within their grandparents’ household in the Culloden district.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eUpon reaching military age during the First World War, Bell enlisted in \u003cb\u003eApril 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, shortly after turning \u003cb\u003e18 years old\u003c\/b\u003e, joining the \u003cb\u003e4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders\u003c\/b\u003e with the regimental number \u003cb\u003e3123\u003c\/b\u003e. The 4th Camerons were a \u003cb\u003eTerritorial Force battalion\u003c\/b\u003e, heavily recruited from Inverness and the surrounding Highland districts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing the later reorganisation and disbandment of the 4th Battalion, Bell was transferred to the \u003cb\u003e5th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders\u003c\/b\u003e, receiving the new service number \u003cb\u003e200618\u003c\/b\u003e. The battalion served on the \u003cb\u003eWestern Front\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eBell landed in France on 20 June 1917\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDuring \u003cb\u003e1918\u003c\/b\u003e, the 5th Camerons took part in the final Allied offensives which steadily drove the German Army back across Flanders. The battalion was heavily engaged during the fighting around \u003cb\u003ePasschendaele Ridge\u003c\/b\u003e and in the subsequent advance across Belgium. On \u003cb\u003e28 September 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, the Camerons participated in the successful assault which finally secured the Passchendaele Ridge after the terrible fighting of the previous year. Over the following weeks the battalion continued the advance eastwards, engaging in repeated actions and patrol clashes with the retreating enemy while pushing forward towards the \u003cb\u003eRiver Lys and the Scheldt\u003c\/b\u003e, covering a remarkable advance of \u003cb\u003eover twenty-six miles of former German-held ground\u003c\/b\u003e during the final phase of the campaign.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFor his conduct during these operations, \u003cb\u003ePrivate William Bell was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field\u003c\/b\u003e. His award was published in the \u003cb\u003eLondon Gazette (Issue 31338) on 13 May 1919\u003c\/b\u003e, which lists:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e“200618 Pte. Bell, W., 5th Bn. (Culloden).”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe Military Medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks for \u003cb\u003eacts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire\u003c\/b\u003e, marking Bell as one of the decorated soldiers of the Cameron Highlanders during the final victorious months of the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54435455500634,"sku":null,"price":400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260224_152243.png?v=1784207382","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/5th-cameron-highlanders-mm-1918-military-medal-ww1-resaurie-culloden-inverness","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}