Bar to D.C.M.

[theodore]

The following is an extract from the obituary for Col. Sgt. 4310 Ernest Welch, 2nd Btn. Worcesters.

During the 1914-18 War he went out as Sergeant in charge of a Machine Gun Section, and he could use this weapon with deadly effect. He did brilliant work with these teams at the Battle of Festubert 1915, when he was awarded the D.C.M., and again at Loos, when all had retired, he kept his teams in action for many hours, and saved a very ugly situation; for this he received a bar to the D.C.M.

I have the D.C.M. award (13.08.1915 Edinburgh Gazette) but have been unable to find any details for the award of a bar to this decoration. It could be an error in the obituary or it could be trouble with the search engine (have had trouble finding details for awards in the past on the London Gazette).

If any member could clear this query up it would be most appreciated.

Regards

Peter

[ATNOMIS]

Worcestershire Regiment Table: W From Geoffs Great War. No mention of bar.

Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) No Bar.

[theodore]

Thanks Atnomis for your reply.

I have done a little more research and I think the obituary must be in error regards the award of a bar to his D.C.M.

Regards

Peter

[sutton-in-craven]

I have done a little more research and I think the obituary must be in error regards the award of a bar to his D.C.M. Regards Peter

I wouldn't be so sure that the bar to his DCM is an error mentioned in his orbituary. I have searched for his bar myself in the LG but couldn't find it.........that's not to say it's not there!!!

The LG is notoriously difficult to navigate. Finding an entry and not finding an entry can be the difference between adding a 'comma' of 'full stop' here and there, or even the surname can be misspelt.

It just seems strange that the orbituary was so specific in saying "and again at Loos, when all had retired, he kept his teams in action for many hours, and saved a very ugly situation; for this he received a bar to the D.C.M."

My guess is that he was awarded the bar, it's just a case of finding it hidden in the 'jungle' called the London Gazette. Good luck, Andrew

[barrieduncan]

There only appears to be two medal cards for this chap; one for his trio and the other for his original DCM - neither card mention a bar to the DCM.

[auchonvillerssomme]

He isn't in 'Recipients of of the DCM' as a bar.

[theodore]

Thanks to all for postings. Still searching but no luck to date.

Regards

Peter

[jdoyle]

he has a pension record on Ancestry. Mention of DCM but no bar. Enlisted 1895 with campaign medals from South Africa. Mention of specialist training with the Vickers.

[sutton-in-craven]

It just seems strange that the orbituary was so specific in saying "and again at Loos, when all had retired, he kept his teams in action for many hours, and saved a very ugly situation; for this he received a bar to the D.C.M."

My guess is that he was awarded the bar, it's just a case of finding it hidden in the 'jungle' called the London Gazette. Good luck, Andrew

Hmm, well it now looks like he was not entitled to the bar, based on the above comments. Perhaps he was recommended for the bar by his Commanding Officer based on his actions outlined at Loos, but it was never officially granted.

A medal-collecting mate of mine has a WW1 Australian widow's ribbon awarded to a young lad who was Killed in Action whilst engaged in some incredible heroic action and was posthumously recommended for a Victoria Cross. This was down-graded to a Mentions in Dispatches!!!!! (maybe because he was only 18 or 19, it was late in the war - 1918 and he was already dead.......who knows)