Tank Corps.

Awarded the Persian Medal Militaire in the London Gazette of May 1920.

Lievesley was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.

The Burnley Express of May 1921 reported : - DECORATED BY THE SHAH. BURNLEY SOLDIER'S GALLANTRY. His Majesty the Shah of Persia has conferred upon 7817366 Sergeant S. Lievesley the Persian Medal Militaire "For conspicuous gallantry under fire in the N.W., of Persia during October of 1920." The above announcement appeared in the Regimental Orders of the Tank Corps which is at present on service in Persia, and the gallant soldier to whom it refers and who has gained this rare distinction, is a Burnley man, whose wife resides at 40, Bivel Street. Sergeant Lieversley, although only 24 years of age, has probably seen more active service than any otherr young man in town. He was in the 1/5th East lancashire Regiment (Territorials) when war broke out in 1914, he accompanied the regiment to Egypt, and later took part in the Gallipoli campaign, in which he was wounded. Recovering, he was in some further fighting, and after the evacuation left with his comrades for the Western Front. Here he had the misfortune to be severely gassed, and for a time he was completely blind. He recovered, however, and subsequently, after being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, he signed on for a further four years. After the Armistice the sergeant was back in England for about three months, and during this time he married. Within a fortnight, however, he had to rejoin his regiment, and was drafted to persia with a detachment of the Tank Corps, and has been on service there ever since. Sergeant Lievesley is well known in Burnley, particularly among past and present members of the Territorials, and his friends will join with us in complimenting him upon the distinction he has gained. They will also be interested, too, to hear he is expected home in the summer. Formerley 1624 Private East Lancashire Regiment and 39662 Private Machine Gun Corps.