Sergeant James George Spindler and his Medals
On 23rd July 1918, my Maternal Grandfather, James George Spindler, was in the Battle of Sauvillers in France. He was driving one of the leading male tanks as Sergeant in the 9th Battalion Tank Corps. It was an important battle and the first time the French and English armies had directly fought together. In 1930, January, he and his regiment were awarded the French Medal Militaire and parchment, and given the privilege of wearing the badge of the 3rd French Division 'La Grenadiere'.
Map of the area.
This is my Grandfather with his Father, he must have been so proud of his son.
Before the First World War, James started out as a stonemason, like his Father before him, at Greyfriars in Ipswich. He returned to his job after the War, before taking over from his Father as Landlord at Uncle Tom's Cabin on Wherstead Road, Ipswich.
At the beginning of the semester, we were tasked with producing some work for a World War Commemoration event if we so wished. It was originally to be around April time, but has since been put back until later in the year. I felt that I wanted to produce something to pay homage to my Grandfather and chose print to do this:
The writing on the t-shirt back, is a copy of the letter sent to him outlining the battle, its importance and the award. I hope I have done him, the battle and the award justice.
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