United States. A Medal Pair to James M. Connolly, Company K, 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, KIA
World War I Victory Medal, 3 Clasps - DEFENSIVE SECTOR, YPRES-LYS, SOMME OFFENSIVE (in bronze, 36.2 mm, original ribbon, scattered gilt wear); and France: War Cross (Croix de Guerre) 1914-1918 (in bronze, "1914-1918" reverse, 37.3 mm (w) x 46 mm (h) inclusive of its ball suspension, bronze palm on its original ribbon, pinback hanger, along with 36 mm (w) x 9.5 mm (h) ribbon bar with pinback). Near extremely fine. Accompanied by two Certificates: Confirmation of Death While in the Service of the United States Army Certificate (inscribed "Army of the United States of America / To all who shall see these presents, greeting: / This is to certify that JAMES M. CONNOLLY Private 1st Class, Company K, 106th Infantry died with honor in the service of his country on the twenty-seventh say of September, 1918. Given at Washington, D.C., office of the Adjutant General of the Army, this fourteenth day of April, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen.", signed by Adjutant General W.H. Carter at the lower right, printed in black ink on a faded white paper stock, personalized inscriptions in typewritten text, 250 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), sunned); and United States Army American Expeditionary Forces Memorial Certificate (inscribed "UNITED STATES ARMY / IN MEMORY OF Private James M. Connolly Co K. 106th Infantry who was killed in battle September 27th 1918. He bravely laid down his life for the cause of his country. His name will ever remain fresh in the hearts of his friends and comrades. The record of his honorable service will be preserved in the archives of the American Expeditionary Forces.", signed by Commander-in-chief John Joseph Pershing at the lower right, printed in black ink on a faded white paper stock, personalized inscriptions in handwritten black ink, 358 mm (w) x 270 mm (h), sunned, lightly soiled, edge wear)); three Photographs (first photo is black and white, faded to a slight sepia-toned look, vignetted, illustrating Connol
Footnote: James M. Connolly was born on July 1, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York. He enlisted for First World War service as a Private (1208558) on July 16, 1917, at the age of 24. The 27th Infantry Division was organized in November 1917 into a typical infantry "square division" of the United States Army National Guard. It had two infantry brigades (each with two infantry regiments), along with an artillery brigade, a machine-gun brigade, and a headquarters detachment. During the re-organization, the 23rd New York was converted into the 106th Infantry Regiment under the command of Colonel Franklin W. Ward, and assigned to the 53rd Infantry Brigade (now the 53rd Troop Command) alongside the 105th Infantry Regiment. When the regiment arrived in France, it had an operational strength of 3,003 officers and enlisted men, and moved into the front lines on June 25, 1918. The regiment relieved elements of the British 6th Division along the East Poperinghe Line in Belgium, where it remained with the other elements of the 27th Division. On August 31, 1918, the Ypres-Lys Offensive began, and the 106th Regiment was engaged in the reconnaissance efforts prior to the main battle. Alongside the 53rd Brigade and the rest of the 27th Division, the 106th attacked the German position in the Second Somme Offensive from September 24 to October 21, 1918. This offensive proved to be the decisive action which broke the Hindenburg Line. The desperate fighting is clearly demonstrated by the actions of Lieutenant Colonel Kincaid, the Judge Advocate of the Division Staff. From September 25th to 28th, Lieutenant Colonel Kincaid took command of a leaderless battalion of the 106th Infantry and managed to hold off an enemy counterattack by organizing every man in the battalion including runners, cooks, signalmen, etc. in the defense, even personally manning a Lewis Gun during the action. He was awarded the British Distinguished Service Order. Private First Class James M. Connolly, Company K, 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division was Killed in Action during the the Second Somme Offensive, on September 27, 1918, at the age of 25. He is buried in Somme American Cemetery in Bony, Departement de l'Aisne, Picardie, France, Plot B, Row 10, Grave 10. Three and a half weeks after his death, on October 21, 1918, the entire division was relieved from front line duty, followed by their return to the United States on March 19, 1919. The regiment was mustered out, and was recast as the 186th Field Artillery Regiment. By the end of its combat action in the First World War, the 106th Infantry Regiment suffered 1,955 casualties including 1,496 wounded, 376 killed, and 83 who later died of their wounds.