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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 161

Pair: Captain M. Saphir, 4th Regiment, South African Infantry, who was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Passchendaele but killed in action during the German Spring Offensive

British War and bi-lingual Victory Medals (2/Lieut. M. Saphir.), good very fine

[M.C.] London Gazette 23 November 1917:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On reaching his objective he found a strong point consisting of several "pillboxes" on his left, and clear of his objective. He promptly attacked and captured the position with his platoon, silencing the machine guns, which were inflicting considerable casualties. In order to attack the position his platoon had to cross a difficult and swampy piece of ground in the face of the enemy fire. His initiative and skilful leading saved many lives.'

Max Saphir was born at Odessa, Russia in 1883, to a South African mother. He moved to 2 St. Andrew Street, Durban, Natal, and worked for the South African Railways Company as a clerk. On 16 August 1915 he enlisted into the 4th Regiment, South African Infantry, arriving in England on 26 September. On 29 December that year he embarked S.S. Orinna at Devonport, arriving in Alexandria on 13 January 1916. He then served on the Western Front, arriving at Marseilles on 16 November. Shortly afterwards he earned a Commission in 'A' Company, 4th Regiment, South African Infantry. His Military Cross, likely earned at the Battle of Passchendaele, was gazetted on 23 November 1917, his citation appearing six months later.

On 22 March 1918, Saphir was killed in action amid desperate fighting in Gauche Wood, at the eastern extremity of the British line. The German 'Spring Offensive' had begun. In just sixteen days, from 21 March, the Germans pushed the British back 42 kilometres, back over the old Somme battlefields of July 1916. In Gauche Wood, the South African Brigade attempted to delay the German advance and was reduced to a strength of just 500 men. Saphir is commemorated on Panel 95 of the Pozières Memorial; sold with Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate and service papers.


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Sold for
£400