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We are one of Britain's foremost public auctioneers of Medals and
Militaria. Our six sales each year contain medal groups and individual
awards from early and Victorian campaigns, the Boer War and the
2 World Wars, as well as foreign medals and orders of merit.
Public auctions of medals and militaria, coins and banknotes are
held six times a year. The dates of our 2013 sales are as follows:
- 19th June 2013
- 21st August 2013
- 16th October 2013
- 11th December 2013
Our next general public auction of Medals will be held at the
Lord Leycester Hotel, Jury Street, Warwick CV34 4EJ, on Wednesday
19th June, starting at 12 noon. The online catalogue will
be available approximately 3 weeks before the sale. To view the
online catalogue, once it is uploaded, and place bids on items in
the sale click here.
To download a catalogue (without illustrations) click
here.
The sales take place at the Lord Leycester Hotel, Jury Street,
Warwick CV34 4EJ. The hotel has a small car park at the rear and
the nearest public car park is in New Street. The nearest railway
station is Warwick Town and the nearest major international airport
is Birmingham. For directions please visit our How
to Find Us page.
Public viewing for all of our auctions is held at our own premises,
the sales being too large to transport to the auction venue. Account
settlement and lot allocation takes place progressively at our premises
whilst the auction continues, so as soon as the section which interests
you has been knocked down, you can pay and collect your lots without
waiting for the end of the sale.
Public viewing for this sale is available at our offices on the
following dates:
- Friday 14th June from 9am – 4.30pm
- Monday 17th June from 9am – 4.30pm
- Tuesday 18th June from 9am – 4.30pm
- Wednesday 19th June from 8am onwards
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WW1 Distinguished Conduct medal and Military
Medal group to WO2 W S Dalby
The WW1 Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal group to
Warrant Officer Class 2 William S Dalby Leicestershire Regiment
will be offered in Warwick & Warwick's auction on Wednesday
19th June 2013 estimated £2800.

The 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was formed in September
1914 and with the 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions formed the 110th (Leicestershire)
Brigade, 37th Division in April 1915. William Dalby sailed with
the Brigade and landed in France on 29th July 1915.
The award of the DCM was announced in the London Gazette dated
22nd January 1916 while he was attached to 93rd Trench Mortar Battery:
"For conspicuous gallantry near Bienvillers on 27th November
1915. When a trench mortar was being fired, one of the bombs, owing
to a defective charge, fell near the gun position. Shouting to the
men near to run clear, regardless of all danger he reloaded the
50lb bomb, in which the fuse was still burning, and fired it clear
of our trenches."

The award of the MM was announced in the London Gazette dated 11th
February 1919. He was discharged on 27th February 1919. He was awarded
The Cadet Forces Medal for his long service with the Uppingham Public
School CCF in Rutland.

The full medal details are WW1 Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military
Medal, 1914-15 Star trio, WW2 Defence Medal and KGVI Cadet Forces
Medal with 2 bars to C.S.M. W.S. Dalby 7/Leic R. Sold with 37th
Division GOC's distinguished conduct card dated 29/11/15.
WW2 Pathfinder's DFC group to Flying Officer
J.E. Foley R.A.F.
The WW2 Distinguished Flying Cross group to Flying Officer James
Eli Foley R.A.F. was offered in our 17th April 2013 auction. It
was estimated at £2,400 and realised £3,680.

James Eli Foley attested on 25th March 1941 No 1237424 in the Royal
Air Force. At the time he was a wages clerk living in Conisborough
near Doncaster. His log book starts 25th April 1942 flying in PBY5s
in Pensacola, USA. He returned to the UK and was posted to 31 A.F.U.
at RAF Bobbington and continued his training flying in Ansons. He
completed the Advanced Navigation Course on 29th September 1942.
He continued his training with 30 OTU and 1662 Conversion Unit before
being posted to 460 Sqn at RAF Breighton. He flew on his Op with
460 Sqn flying Lancasters to Stettin on 19th April 1943 where the
plane was damaged by flak and completed 4 Ops with 460 Sqn.

Foley was then posted to 156 Sqn on Lancasters at RAF Warboys.
His first Op was to Munster on 11th June 1943, also missions to
Peenemunde 17th August 1943, Berlin 23rd August 1943 many fighters
noted. His 22nd and last Op with 156 Sqn was to Hannover on 28th
September 1943.
In 1944 he spent time with 23 OTU, 21 OTU and 69 Sqn before joining
1655 MTU in August 1944. His first Pathfinder Op with 139 Pathfinder
Sqn flying the twin engined Mosquito with Flt Lt Henderson as his
pilot was to Mannheim on 27th August 1944. After 5 Ops with 139
Sqn, he and Henderson were posted to 608 Pathfinder Sqn. 23/9/44
and flew 50 Ops, 22 of which were to Berlin. During a raid to Duisburg
on 8th December 1944 his Mosquito was hit by flak and lost 1 engine
and was forced to land in Brussels.
The DFC was awarded as a Warrant Officer Navigator flying Mosquitos
with 608 Pathfinder Sqn and announced in the London Gazette dated
19th January 1945. He was commissioned on 22nd December 1944.

The full medal details are Distinguished Flying Cross (1945), 1939-1945,
Air Crew Europe (France and Germany bar) Stars and BWM. Sold with
Flying Log Book, Sight Log Book, Airman's Pay Book, Officer's Release
Book, DFC box of issue, photocopied photo in uniform and 3 copied
medal slips.
A remarkable record of a navigator who flew 57 Pathfinder Ops and
25 non-Pathfinder Ops.
1942 King’s Lynn Air Raid George Medal
group
The 1942 King's Lynn Air Raid George Medal group to Sergeant Francis
Faulkner, Royal Artillery, was offered in Warwick & Warwick's auction
on Wednesday 12th December 2012. Estimated £3,000, it made £4,255.

On the night of 12th June 1942 a lone German bomber crept in from
the North Sea and dropped its bomb load on the town of King’s
Lynn. A 17 year old on duty reported “I heard the drone of
an aircraft which I knew wasn’t British. Suddenly through
the break in the clouds there it was. I saw the Dornier’s
bomb doors open and out came the bombs. I grabbed a passing lady
cyclist off her bike and we landed up in the shelter of the railway
footbridge. The next thing was the sound of bombs exploding; it
was in a direct line – Wood Street, St John’s Terrace,
the Cattle Market and the Eagle Hotel. I will never forget the sight
of bodies in sacks being brought from the cellar to the waiting
ambulances for transportation to the temporary mortuary set up in
Tower Street.”
Another witness, former soldier Bert Dopson reported, “As
I ran to Norfolk Street from the Cattle Market, I could see clouds
of black dust and night sky at the other end of Paradise Lane where
I should have been able to see the hotel sign. Instead there was
a huge crater, headless and limbless bodies were scattered around
among the debris, moans and groans were coming from the chip shop
that had been flattened, they were sights no one should be allowed
to see.”

One of the bombs that hit the Eagle Hotel which was packed with
customers caused most of the casualties. Sergeant Francis Faulkner
was awarded the George Medal which was announced in the London Gazette
dated 3rd December 1942.
The award was for “Sgt Faulkner displayed outstanding meritorious
service and conspicuous devotion to duty during rescue work at King’s
Lynn during and after an air raid in June 1942. He worked his way
among dangerous debris and through his initiative and disregard
for personal safety, a number of persons were rescued after one
and a half hours. Subsequently, indifferent to the danger to which
he exposed himself and working in a confined space in air heavily
polluted by escaping gas, he displayed great courage and tenacity
in his efforts to effect further rescues from a cellar.”
In total 26 civilians, 14 RAF and 2 Army personnel were killed
in the raid, the worst death toll in King’s Lynn history.

The full medal details are WW2 King’s Lynn Air Raid George
Medal, 1939-1945, Africa (1st Army bar), Italy Stars, Defence Medal,
BWM and 1923 GSM Palestine 1945-48 clasp to 3443379 Sjt F. Faulkner
R.A. (3443379 Sgt Francis Faulkner R.A. on George Medal. With a
copy of the Palestine roll in which he was serving with 2 Field
Regt RA. 2 Field Regt were equipped with 25 pounders and served
with 1st Infantry Division throughout WW2 going to France 24/9/39,
evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940, to North Africa March 1943,
Anzio January 1944 and Palestine February 1945.
1982 Falklands War bombing of the Sir Galahad
Military Medal group to WO1 B T Neck 1st Bn Welsh Guards
The Falklands War bombing of the Sir Galahad Military Medal, Northern
Ireland MID group to WO1 Brian Thomas Neck 1st Battalion Welsh Guards
was offered on behalf of the recipient in Warwick & Warwick’s
auction on Wednesday 15th August 2012 estimated £40,000-£60,000.
It realised £46,000.

Brian Thomas Neck was born on 2nd October 1947. He enlisted in
the Welsh Guards in Cardiff on 25th April 1966 and completed tours
in Northern Ireland from 21st May 1971 to 26th July 1971, 14th November
1973 to 7th March 1974 and 20th October 1979 to 28th February 1980.
CSgt Neck was Mentioned in Dispatches for his efforts during the
last tour when the battalion was based at Bessbrook Mill in South
Armagh and it was announced in the London Gazette dated 21st October
1980.

The award of the Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette
dated 8th October 1982 “On 8th June 1982, The Royal Fleet
Auxiliary Landing Ship SIR GALAHAD, had begun landing operations
at Fitzroy Settlement on the Island of East Falkland. Embarked,
preparing to land, was 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. With only minimal
warning, the ship was attacked and severely damaged by bombs from
several aircraft. Intense fire and smoke spread rapidly from the
devastated deck areas. In the fire, confusion, and exploding ammunition
many casualties were incurred. Disregarding the conditions and ignoring
the order to abandon ship, Warrant Officer Neck immediately began
to organise the evacuation of soldiers from among the wreckage,
many times, disregarding his own safety, he rushed back through
the smoke filled areas, flames and continuing explosions to assist
the hurt and injured. His courageous example, encouragement and
assistance to his colleagues undoubtedly saved many lives.”

WO2 Neck’s Company Commander, Major Bremner’s recollection
of the bombing and after was:
“I looked up through the open hatch of the tank deck just
in time to see a cylindrical object fly through the air. There was
a loud metallic clang. I had no idea what it was, but something
made me shout ‘Take cover!’ My CSM took up the cry.
A split second later there was a deafening explosion towards the
stern of the ship, and immediately a second. A blinding, intensely
hot flash roared through the tank deck. I was incredibly lucky;
the CSM and I were beside a great pile of bergens which were just
about to be lifted off when the bomb fell. We dived over to one
side whilst the CQMS went to the other. He was a burns victim; the
CSM and I got away with it. The lights went out and breathing became
difficult. Miraculously, after what seemed like only a few seconds,
they came back on. The thick, black, acrid smoke that now filled
the tank deck dulled their effect but there was enough light to
see with and I became aware of the full and sudden horror of what
had happened. The sound was the first thing: the sound of horribly
mutilated and frightened, disorientated men – a noise from
a different world. Then the sights – unbelievable. The first
thing I saw was a man running through a wall of flame from the far
stern of the ship. He was on fire from head to foot, in excruciating
pain and was begging his fellow Guardsmen to shoot him and put him
out of his misery. Somehow he was smothered and the fire extinguished;
morphine was torn off a dog-tag string and applied to give blessed,
if only temporary relief. Then I saw a group of men standing stock-still.
All with dark, burnt, curling hair, heads swollen like footballs,
piercing but far-away eyes, bright red scorched faces, and all holding
their hands in the air as if in surrender. All had been burned in
the initial flash.
Then the 81mm mortar bombs, 66mm rounds, small arms ammunition
and grenades in the tank deck started to cook off. Evacuation was
now the priority. There was no panic. The CSM, Neck, bawled instructions
and instinctively they were obeyed. He was doing everything as he
did in barracks, making everything appear normal; he organized everything
in a typical Footguards way. We found a way up and out of the tank
deck; a queue was formed and men filed out. One man got half-way
up a companionway when the CSM called him back, against the flow
of traffic: ‘Did you fill in your ADAT Form?’ Yes Sir,
he cried. Good. Now you see the bloody point of it. Go on, get a
move on, you’re holding everyone up.’ It was a brilliant
move that relieved the tension.
It is almost unfair to single out CSM Neck and Corporal Loveridge.
They were all astonishing: how loyal they were, how good they were,
how professional they were, how brave they were.

With a 3 page hand written personal account of the action by the
recipient. “As CSM of No 3 Company 1st Bn Welsh Guards, we
had arrived at Fitzroy Creek in the early hours of 8th June. It
was a beautiful day and it was hoped we would be getting off very
soon, but due to a number of reasons, ie the large tank deck door
was not working, we were still on board at 1700 which means we were
at that location all day and only about 20 miles from Port Stanley.
At about 1600 it was decided to get people off. This was being done
at the time of the attack. We had decided to get everyone off in
small boats. To enable us to do this, all the bergens and heavy
equipment would be loaded into large nets and taken up to the deck.
I was with a number of people loading the nets. I had just given
the signal to the crane operator on deck to take the load up through
the open hatch of the tank deck, when for no reason, I could see
he climbed off the crane. Next thing, there was a large deafening
explosion towards the stern of the ship and almost immediately,
a blinding intensely hot flash roared through the tank deck. Myself
and two others including my Company Commander, dived behind a pile
of bergens which was about to be sent through the open hatch. A
number of other people who were on the other side of the bergens
were caught in the blast while myself and others were fine.
The tank deck was now filling up with smoke, the lights had gone
out and soldiers were screaming and trying to get out. The only
way out was along the length of the tank deck to two small doors.
The tank deck itself was full of vehicles and equipment due to be
taken off, so it was difficult to get people out, as you only had
a small space to work because of all the equipment. After the initial
attack, I started to get people who were not injured to go down
the tank deck to the doors and up on to the deck, those who had
injuries and were in shock to follow me. A number of people had
lost limbs and were badly burned, there was no time to treat them,
just to get them out onto the deck. The fire was now setting off
the ammo and there were loud explosions at the area of the ship
where the bomb came in. Having made my way to the doors leading
up to the deck, I could see no movement. I put torches on the open
doors, waited a number of minutes and made my way to the deck. When
a number of helicopters had taken those seriously injured off, while
those who could walk climbed down the scramble nets on the side
of the ship into small boats. It was about 200 metres to the shore,
where soldiers who had witnessed the attack helped to get the injured
up from the shore to treatment. Myself going down the nets slipped
and dislocated my shoulder (old rugby injury), it was put in on
shore.
The horrors of that day, the sound and smell will live with me
forever. We lost 39 Welsh Guards and 79 wounded. Sir Galahad was
towed about 12 miles and they sank her. We attended a service on
Sir Tristam her sister ship that was also injured that day. We stayed
at San Carlos until the battle was won. We had to be regrouped before
we could proceed to Port Stanley to meet up with the battalion for
a number of weeks before we came home on 29th July.
Of all the images of the Falklands War, the one that always brings
it home is the explosion and the fireball through the open hatch
at Sir Galahad, and to think I was directly below it.”
The full medal details are Military Medal, 1962 GSM Northern Ireland
clasp with MID oakleaf, 1982 South Atlantic Medal with rosette and
QEII Regular Army bar LSGC to 23929678 WO1 B T Neck WG. Sold with
Regular Army Certificate of Service (Red book), original MID Certificate,
colour photo in ceremonial uniform wearing medals, black and white
photo in uniform, Buckingham Palace telegram congratulating him
on MID, letter of congratulations for MID from Col Gaussen, WO1
rank badge, newspaper on the bombing of the Sir Galahad, 2007 25th
Anniversary SAMA Publication and Service booklet for Consecration
of the Welsh National Monument, photocopies from a book detailing
Major Bremner’s account of the bombing in which WO2 Neck is
mentioned.
Sold on behalf of the recipient, never before on the market.
SAS group to WO2 P Thompson the youngest
SAS trooper
The Special Air Service group to WO2 Peter Thompson B Squadron
S.A.S. was offered on behalf of the recipient in Warwick & Warwick’s
auction on Wednesday 15th August 2012 estimated £10,000. It
failed to sell and enquiries are invited.

Peter Thompson served as a boy soldier with the Royal Artillery
and is thought to be the youngest ever SAS soldier completing the
arduous SAS selection course aged just 18 years and 1 month. He
joined B Sqn in Malaya on 9th August 1955. With a copy of a newspaper
article about Chieftain the Bear who has recently been adopted as
the emblem of B Sqn SAS. Thompson found the bear cub on operations
in 1958 in Malaya and adopted the bear who lived with him and 9
Troop until it died of pneumonia over a year later.

The full medal details are 1923 GSM (QEII) Malaya clasp, 1962 GSM
5 clasps Borneo, Malay Peninsula, South Arabia, Northern Ireland,
Dhofar, QEII Regular Army bar LSGC and Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
to 22785949 WO2 P Thompson RA (Tpr S.A.S. on 1923 GSM, Cpl SAS on
1962 GSM). The LSGC is named as RA because it was awarded in the
early 1970s when the official line was the SAS were not in Northern
Ireland and they had to serve under the guise of their original
regiments. Sold with 20 copied photos from service in Malaya and
Borneo, some annotated on the rear. Superb multi campaign group
to the youngest SAS soldier.
Sold on behalf of the recipient, never before on the market.
Exceptional WWI CMG, DSO, MC, Order of St
Stanislas group to Colonel E.G. Hamilton Connaught Rangers
The World War I group to Colonel Ernest Graham Hamilton, Connaught
Rangers, was offered in Warwick & Warwick’s auction on
Wednesday 15th August 2012. It failed to sell and enquiries are
invited.

Ernest Graham Hamilton was born on 20th January 1883. He was commissioned
in the Connaught Rangers on 22nd October 1902 and served in India
1902-06 being promoted Lieutenant on 26th October 1905. He served
on attachment with the West Africa Frontier Force 1906-07 and then
in India again from 1908.
He was promoted to Captain on 28th January 1911. He arrived in
France with the 2nd Battalion on 13th August 1914 and took part
in the retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Aisne, the Marne
and Ypres. He distinguished himself in 1914 being Mentioned in Dispatches
on 14th January 1915 and the award of the Military Cross was announced
in the London Gazette dated 16th February 1915.
He was appointed Staff Capt of the Sirhind Brigade on 10th February
1915 with whom he saw fighting at Neuve Chapelle and Festubert.
He was appointed Brigade Major on 27th September 1915 and Mentioned
in Dispatches for the second time on 30th November 1915. He was
promoted Temporary Major on 10th May 1916.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette
dated 24th June 1916:
“For conspicuous gallantry during an enemy counter-attack.
He rallied men of different regiments at a critical time and under
heavy rifle fire. His efforts were successful in stopping the enemy.”
He was promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel on 22nd August 1916 and
Mentioned in Dispatches for the third time on 24th August 1916.
He was appointed GSO 2nd Grade 8th Infantry Brigade I.E.F. “D”
on the 18th November 1916. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for the
fourth time on 10th April 1917. He was awarded The Order of St Stanislas
announced in the London Gazette dated 15th May 1917.
He was appointed GSO 2nd Grade E.E.F. on 5th June 1918 and was
Mentioned in Dispatches for the fifth time on 5th March 1919.
After the war he served as GSO 2nd Grade Upper Silesia Force 7th
September 1921, promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 14th July 1924, appointed
Instructor Senior Officers School 1924-26, promoted Colonel 2nd
October 1929 and appointed 148th Brigade Commander. He retired in
1933 after 31 years distinguished service.

In World War 2 he was recalled in June 1940 to the General Staff
Aldershot Command. Manager Administration Royal Ordnance Factory
Chorley 1942-44, commanded 12th East Lancashire Bn Home Guard and
finally No 24 Sector N.W. District, he died on 10th April 1950 while
living in Basingbourne.
The full medal details are WWI The Most Distinguished Order of
St Michael and St George C.M.G. Companion’s Neck Badge, Distinguished
Service Order, Military Cross, 1914 Star trio and date clasp with
MID oakleaf, WWII Defence Medal BWM and Russian Order of St Stanislas
third class with swords to Colonel E.G. Hamilton Conn Rang (Capt
on star, Lt Col on BWM & Victory, remainder un-named as issued)
swing mounted as worn (less CMG) in Spink case, CMG in Garrard case
of issue.
Sold with original photo in uniform post WWI with ribbons, commission
warrant dated 17/10/1902, DSO and CMG bestowal documents and statutes,
5 MID certificates, Home Guard certificate of service, officers
blue service record book, pre-printed letter on disbandment of Connaught
Rangers, copy of photo seated with Lord and Lady Allenby and 6 others
all named, copies of various London Gazette entries, MIC, Supplement
to Irish Life dated 28/7/16, farewell card from ROF Chorley, Who
was Who 1950/1. An outstanding group to a very gallant officer with
excellent supporting documentation.
Sold on behalf of the family, never before on the market.
WWII HMS Hood casualty group to RM Musician
S.B. Groves
The HMS Hood casualty group to Royal Marine Musician Stedman Bishop
Groves was offered in Warwick & Warwick’s auction on Wednesday
18th April 2012. Estimated at £350, it realised £1,121.

Stedman Bishop Groves was born on 4th October 1919 in Chatham,
the son of Stedman and Florence Groves. The family later lived in
Newbold-on-Avon in Warwickshire. He must have enlisted as a boy,
as the lot comes with a photo album with the date of 1937 recorded.
At the time he appears to have being serving on HMS Hood with the
First Battle Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
The photo album with hand painted picture of Hood on outside cover
contains 105 photos of HMS Hood, the band, other ships, crew, ports,
foreign ships including German pocket battleship Deutschland in
Gibraltar and German funeral parade of casualties of Spanish Civil
War.

HMS Hood in company with the new battleship HMS Prince of Wales
engaged the German battleship Bismark and heavy cruiser Prince Eugen
in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. RMB/X 505 Musician Stedman
Bishop Groves was killed in action at his action station oat the
15” Transmitting Station on 24th May 1941 when H.M.S. Hood
was sunk by the German battleship Bismark with only 3 members of
the crew surviving when a ship’s magazine exploded when struck
by a 15 inch shell from the Bismark. With no known grave he is commemorated
on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.


The full medal details are father’s WWI 1914-15 star trio,
KGV Admiral’s uniform Royal Navy LSGC and KGVI FID DEF Special
Constabulary Long Service Medal to CH16762 S.G. Groves Cr Sgt R.M.
and son’s WWII 1939-1945, Atlantic, Africa stars and BWM un-named
as issued, swing mounted as worn by recipient’s mother. With
silver football medal engraved R.M. Capital Ships F.T. 1938 Stedman
Groves. Also with 2 photo albums belonging to his father containing
119 photos/postcards of ships, RMs ashore, Shanghai and area, few
family, tourist etc. Also with 9ct gold photo locket with Royal
Engineers cap badge on front (seems an odd choice for a naval family)
containing photos of the son in uniform and his sister who died
aged 6. Sold on behalf of the family, never before on the market.
WWI DCM & Bar, MM & Bar group to
Pte Highmore A.S.C.
Alfred Ernest Highmore enlisted at Grove Park in the Army Service
Corps on 23rd March 1915. He was aged 35, trade listed as Motor
Driver and he was living in Paddington. His military training was
obviously short as he embarked on the S.S. Viper on 30th April 1915
and disembarked the following day in Rouen. On the 15th May he was
posted to 1st/2nd (Highland) Field Ambulance with whom he was to
display such distinguished service as an ambulance driver.
His first gallantry award was the Military Medal announced in the
London Gazette dated 28th September 1917. This is likely to be an
award for the early battles of Third Ypres.
The Bar to the Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette
dated 23rd February 1918. The Bar to the MM is listed on his service
papers “For gallantry in the Field between Nov 20th and 24th
1917 by IV Corps Commander” this is a Battle of Cambrai award
where 51st Division was heavily involved.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was in the London Gazette dated
3rd September 1918:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. For 24 hours
he worked the regimental aid-post and the front line, over roads
under heavy fire, evacuating many severely wounded men. Was subsequently
captured with a medical officer, but both escaped.” The DCM
is listed on his papers “For gallantry 9th-15th April 1918”
and is a German Spring Offensive award.
The Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal was in the London Gazette
dated 10th January 1920: “During the operations N.E. of Cambrai
he displayed marked gallantry throughout the period extending from
12th to 28th October 1918. On the 12th he took his car into Iwuy,
and although the village was being heavily shelled, brought away
three loads of wounded. Throughout he carried out his duties in
an exemplary manner.”
He was discharged on 5th April 1919 aged 39 or 40. With research
that there is thought to be only 15 other awards of DCM & Bar
and MM & Bar, of these one also received the VC and another
received a second bar to the DCM, therefore thought to be only 14
recipients with this combination, unique to Corps and extremely
rare.
The full medal details are WWI Distinguished Conduct Medal and
Bar, Military Medal and Bar and 1914-15 star trio to M2-053918 Pte
A.E. Highmore A.S.C. (M.M. M.T.A.S.C. on DCM, M.T.A.S.C. on MM).
The group was offered in our February 15th 2012 auction, together
with 10 copied pages of service record, copies of MIC, LG, etc.
Estimated at £7,000, it realised £14,950.
WWI DSO & MC group to Capt W.J. Lloyd
Lancashire Fusiliers
The 1918 Hindenburg Line Distinguished Service Order and Military
Cross group to Captain William Joseph Lloyd Lancashire Fusiliers,
attached to 5th Battalion West Riding Regiment, was offered in our
auction on Wednesday 15th February 2012.
Estimated £2700, it realised £4,530.

William Joseph Lloyd enlisted in the Duke of Lancaster’s
Own Yeomanry as a trooper, service number 3433 and arrived in France
on 28th August 1915 with this unit. He was commissioned in the 7th
Lancashire Fusiliers on the 26th March 1918 and subsequently attached
to the 5th Battalion West Riding Regiment.
The DSO and MC were both announced in the London Gazette dated
1st February 1919.
The DSO was awarded “For great personal bravery and gallant
leadership against .... (Havrincourt) and the Hindenburg Line between
September 12th and 15th 1918, particularly on the 13th, when he
was placed in charge of a bombing attack on the Hindenburg Line.
The attack was held up by a close range machine gun fire which enfiladed
a gap in the trench where the latter crosses a sunk road. Six of
his men and another officer were killed in attempting to cross and
there was momentary disorganisation. He at once rallied the attacking
party and continued the advance, himself crossing and re-crossing
the gap, several times and taking the greatest personal risks in
order to encourage his men. He then led the attack up the trench,
overcame the enemy resistance, capturing the objective, over twenty
prisoners and a machine gun. In spite of the fact that a pocket
of the enemy were in the rear and he was heavily counter-attacked,
he held on to his position throughout the day thus enabling other
attacks to succeed and the battalion objective to be gained. The
very fine example of personal bravery exhibited by this officer,
combined with good leadership, was largely responsible for the success
of operations.”
The extended MC citation “For dashing leadership and great
bravery during the operations resulting in the capture of the Crossings
of Canal ...... (D’Escault). He forced the Crossings, and
his great dash and fearless example quickly got his company across,
he personally superintending the Crossing under heavy machine gun
and shell fire. During the evening of the 28th September he led
his Company in an attack on the German trenches, which were held
by greatly superior numbers of the enemy. Here he was surrounded
and cut off, with nine men from his Company. He at once ordered
a charge, drove in thirty of the enemy as prisoners. At the same
time an enemy counter-attack was launched on the left flank of the
battalion, but his promptitude in organizing the available reserves
and the gallant leading of this officer saved a dangerous situation
and beat off the attack.”
He was Mentioned in Field Marshall Haig’s dispatches in the
London Gazette dated 16th March 1919.

He was promoted Acting Captain from commanding a Company on 10th
November 1918. He was later granted temporary Captain for service
with King’s African Rifles on the 4th February 1925.
The full medal details are Distinguished Service Order, Military
Cross and 1914-15 star trio with MID oakleaf to Capt W.J. Lloyd
(3433 Pte D. of Lanc O. Yeo on star, 2nd Lt W.J. Lloyd Hindenburg
Line 13th Sept 1918 on edge of 3 arms of DSO, 2nd Lt W.J. Lloyd
D.S.O. Marcoing 27 Sept 1918 on MC) court mounted as worn with J.R.
Gaunt label to reverse, with matching set of court mounted miniatures.
Also with ribbon bar, cap badges for West Yorks, West Riding and
Tanganyika Territory, original typed extended citations for DSO
and MC. With framed DSO bestowal document, MID certificate, photos
in Yeomanry uniform (marked Maxim Gun Section on reverse), Lanc
Fus uniform as Capt with ribbons, 3 photos in tropical whites with
medals. Also with a typed letter of congratulation from The Cunard
Steam Ship Co, copies of MIC, LG entries.
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