{"product_id":"gordon-highlanders-ww1-british-victory-medal-from-coatbridge-later-airdrie","title":"Gordon Highlanders - WW1 British Victory Medal - From Coatbridge, Later Airdrie","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War British Victory Medal - Private Francis McLeary, Gordon Highlanders\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal - \u003cb\u003eS-10187 PTE. F. MC LEARY. GORDONS.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrancis McLeary,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e of Burnside Place, Coatbridge (later living in Airdrie), enlisted into the \u003cb\u003eGordon Highlanders\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e25 May 1915\u003c\/b\u003e. After completing his training, he was posted overseas and first served with the \u003cb\u003e10th Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e, before being transferred to the \u003cb\u003e2nd Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e, with which he spent the greater part of his time on the Western Front.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe 2nd Gordons were heavily engaged throughout the war, taking part in many of the major actions in France and Flanders between 1915 and 1918. Life on the front line meant long periods in the trenches, regular movement under difficult conditions, and constant exposure to the hardships of active service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn 1917 McLeary suffered a painful \u003cb\u003einflammation of the connective tissue of the leg\u003c\/b\u003e, requiring hospitalisation and later convalescence, but he returned to duty and continued to serve until the final year of the war. His illness ultimately led to his discharge on \u003cb\u003e20 December 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, and he later received the Silver War Badge in recognition of being released due to sickness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrancis McLeary died in \u003cb\u003e1924\u003c\/b\u003e, only a few years after the war, one of many whose health never fully recovered from the strain of service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eA wartime Gordon Highlander whose medal reflects several demanding years on the Western Front with two battalions of this distinguished regiment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"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-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52858205471066,"sku":null,"price":23.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251126_133345.png?v=1764173905","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/gordon-highlanders-ww1-british-victory-medal-from-coatbridge-later-airdrie","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}