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Remembered Today:

Distinguished Conduct Medal Citations


Nick Thornicroft

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Mullins - this was the man with no citation (L.G. 30/1/20)

Steve - the Sherwood Foresters are in alphabetical order, & their battalions are not always shown. It would take me a while to type them all out. Here's one to start with:

71043 Sgt. J.H.J. Burgess, 9th N & D (Newark) (L.G. 3/9/1919) "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. On 19th August, together with two officers, he went on a daylight patrol which entered the enemy's line & stayed there for four hours, gaining much valuable information. On the 21st August he volunteered to take part in a similar patrol, & again succeeded, not only in entering the enemy's line, but in exploring a portion of his tunnelling system. His utter disregard of danger is a fine example to those under him"

Nick

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Another three Sherwood Foresters:

12770 A/Sgt. F. Ede, 9th N & D (L.G. 15/3/1916) "For conspicuous gallantry at Suvla (Gallipoli Peninsula), on 28th November, 1915. He was with a covering party to men wiring when he saw two Turkish snipers close in front. He charged them at once, bayonetted one, & brought the other as a prisoner. The latter was fully armed & had his magazine charged"

12821 L/Cpl. S. Hurt, 9th N & D (L.G. 11/3/1916) "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty at Suvla Bay on 10th August, 1915, when fetching & attending to wounded men under fire"

5128 Cpl. F. Nash, 9th N & D (Tottenham) (L.G. 10/1/1920) "For conspicuous gallantry & good work on the 4th November, 1918. When the advance of his company was being held up by three enemy machine guns firing from a bridge on the Aunelle River, he collected his section of three men & rushed the bridge, killing four, wounding five & capturing ten of the enemy, together with three machine-guns. The bridge was afterwards found to be mined"

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A couple more:

9031 A/C.S.M. D. Pickford, 9 N & D (L.G. 21/6/1916) "For consistent good work & devotion to duty"

9645 C.S.M. J. Whitworth, 9th N & D (L.G. 11/3/1916) "For conspicuous gallantry & ability at Suvla Bay between 7th & 10th August, 1915. After all officers of his company had been wounded, he took command & led with great skill & courage"

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Wow. I don't know what to say, only many thanks.

David Pickford died on wounds 23 October 1916 - Somme

F Ede was killed on 26 September 1916 - Somme

Seth Hurt won an MM whilst with 16th Bn and was killed 3 October 1918 whilst with 1/8th Bn

Nash was one of a number of men to be awarded medals - This was the Bns last action on 4 /11/1918. They had taken Sebourg and then without artillery support moved on to the surounding hills. Over 40 men died within a few minutes and the two companies had many wounded.

Steve m

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Ah, that may be the man. Alfreton is only a few miles away and a lot of chaps from the neighbouring village named their home address as Alfreton.

This gives me some sort of lead - which is a major step forward - so thank you very much for taking the trouble to look it up for me.

I

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Ah, that may be the man. Alfreton is only a few miles away and a lot of chaps from the neighbouring village named their home address as Alfreton.

This gives me some sort of lead - which is a major step forward - so thank you very much for taking the trouble to look it up for me.

I noticed your thread with regards to 18659 (not 185659) SGT T LEE. NOTTS AND DERBYS, he served with the 1st Battalion and to add to your records he gained his DCM for gallantry at Westhoek Ridge on the 31.July 1917. I have his L.G. Date as 22.10.1917. I also have a picture of him in a group photo, he lived local to me in Alfreton, hope this helps your research. BRONNO.

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  • 2 weeks later...

In response to a PM:

15922 Sgt. C. Davies (Leebotwood) "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. He showed great courage & resource in commanding his platoon when his officer became a casualty. His men were continually subjected to heavy shell fire, but he kept up their spirits by his good example, & on two occasions when men were buried he dug them out in full view of the enemy & under heavy rifle & machine-gun fire" (L.G. 4/3/18)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Dear Nick,

I have four Royal Field Artillery men, if you would be good enough to have a look.

Charles Idiolls 15025, Thomas Mulcahy 67563, Jeremiah Mullahy 41209 & Albert Priestley 66216.

Many thanks

Sandcroft

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Nick,

If you would be kind enough, I have 11 16th Manchesters men awarded DCM's:

17/8361 Alton, A Pte

64421 Brookes, L Pte

40903 Doddemead, C Pte

47213 Etchells, W LCpl

26519 Gilbert, J CSM

7111 Gowan, H Sgt

43008 Leech, R Sgt

7191 Pennington, T.E. Sgt

277049 Potter, H.W. Sgt

43046 Potter, W.J.

12453 Salter, F. LCpl

Citations would be fantastic!

Cheers,

Dave

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Sandcroft

I can only find Priestly in the R.F.A.:

"66216 Acting Bombardier A. Priestly, 104th Bty., R.F.A. L.G. 3 June 1915. For conspicuous gallantry and ability at Neuve Chapelle from 9th to 12th March, 1915, in managing his communications with great skill. He was killed on this duty"

Dave - I'll have a look for you over the next few days.

Nick

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64421 Pte. L. Brookes 16th Bn., Manchester Regt. (Clapham Park) "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty on the night of 29th/30th October 1918, near Espierres, & on the subsequent night. An officer being selected to carry out a very difficult & dangerous reconnaissance, he volunteered to accompany him. Crossing the Escaut River, he penetrated the line of enemy posts & showed great coolness & initiative in reconnoitring manned machine-gun positions. The information he helped to collect was invaluable to the attacking party the next evening" (11.3.20)

40903 Pte. G. Doddemeade (Bakewell). "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty as company runner. He carried messages to & from the battalion headquarters under heavy machine-gun & shell fire. All communication by wire was destroyed, but by his courage & devotion to duty he enabled communication to be maintained. He did excellent service." (21.10.18)

47213 L/Cpl. W. Etchells (Manchester). "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty during several actions as battalion runner, when he carried many messages with unfailing success, although exposed to heavy shell fire & sniping" (17.4.18)

26519 CSM J. Gilbert (Manchester) "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty when all the machine & Lewis gunners in his trench became casualties he mounted a Lewis gun under a hail of rifle & machine-gun fire, & effectually held up the enemy's enveloping attack on the flank. His coolness greatly encouraged the men, who put up a splendid fight, until reinforcements arrived & the crisis was passed" (3.9.18)

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7111 Sgt. H. Gowan. "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage & skill in handling a machine gun, & in putting a hostile gun out of action. Later, he worked his gun single-handed with great ability" (13.2.17)

43008 Sgt. R. Leech. "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. In spite of very hostile fire he captured an important enemy post & maintained his position there until relieved 49 hours later" (18.6.17)

7191 Sgt. T.E. Pennington. "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He established & maintained communications under very heavy fire, on several occasions himself repairing wires in the open". (13.2.17)

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Dear Nick,

Thank you for finding one of the men. It is quite possible that the information I have on the other three awards needs checking.

Regards,

Sandcroft

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Dave - the rest of your list:

277049 Sgt. H.W. Potter (Flixton). "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. On all occasions he displayed the utmost courage, cheerfulness & skill, & his fine example had a most beneficial effect on all ranks" (17.4.18)

43046 R.S.M. W.J. Potter (E. Woolwich). "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. He did continuous good work during many operations, when he invariably displayed the highest courage & efficiency in the performance of his duties" (17.4.18)

12453 L/Cpl. F. Salter (Manchester). "For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. This man remained at his post till almost surrounded, when he broke through, bayonetting four of the enemy & shooting several others. He did magnificent service" (3.9.18)

Nick

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  • 2 weeks later...

Nick

Could I please have a look on BQMS 1202 William H Gastall of the RFA. Local papers (Bangor, N Wales) state he received one in the Dardanelles in 1915. He has a 372/24 and a 372/23 refernece on the NA site. Don't know whether this means he may have two.

TIA

Hywyn

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Hywyn

1202 BQMS W.H. Gastall, 1/5th Battery, 1/1st East Lancashire Brigade, R.F.A. (T.F.) "For conspicuous gallantry & ability south of Krithia, Gallipoli Peninsula, on 4th & 28th June, & 12th & 13th July, 1915. BQMS Gastall & another NCO were employed with guns dug in close behind the forward trenches & exposed to heavy shell & rifle fire, but kept their guns continuously in action in spite of great difficulties. BQMS Gastall was seriously wounded on 12th July" (L.G. 15 Sept. 1915)

No mention of a Bar to his DCM.

Nick

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Great stuff.Thanks for that Nick. I have now found his service papers which state he was shipped to UK and eventually discharged due to the wounds so there wouldn't be a bar. It's me, not knowing how to interpret the various WO subcategories.

Diolch/Thanks

Hywyn

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Nick,

Took me a while to get back to you, but thanks ever so much for the citations. Much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave

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Nick,

Took me a while to get back to you, but thanks ever so much for the citations. Much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave

You're welcome, Dave

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  • 3 weeks later...

Nick

Can you locate DCM's awarded to Canadians?

If so, could you please check for details of the DCM to :

Sgt James Stephen, 21764, 16th Batt., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)

He fell in action on 2nd Sept 1918.

Appreciate any assitance you can give.

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Jas

STEPHEN J. Sgt. 21764. "This non commissioned officer's platoon officer was wounded when the platoon was a mile from its objective, whereupon he took charge & led it through. It had to wheel to the left to capture some guns, but by his grasp of the situation & determination the movement was successfully performed, though under heavy machine-gun fire at the time" (L.G. 15/11/18)

Nick

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  • 3 weeks later...

In response to a PM:

"16735 Pte. A. Thomson, Coldstream Guards (Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire). London Gazette 26 Jan 1918. For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. On his own initiative he set out alone under heavy rifle fire to regain touch between his own unit & another division. He successfully accomplished this, & on his way back shot three of the enemy. He then took up a position midway between the two divisions, from which he kept up a consistent rifle fire upon the enemy for 24 hours, setting a very splendid example of determination & devotion to duty, & by his gallant action safeguarding the right flank of his unit"

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