A Great War ‘Hill 60’ D.C.M. to Acting Corporal J. Thompson, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7229 A. Col., 2/K.O.S.B.) very fine £600-700

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 June 1915. ‘For conspicuous gallantry on “Hill 60” on the night of 17th April 1915, when he superintended his section digging a communication trench under heavy fire, and set a fine example to his men’.

‘Hill 60’ was formed largely from the debris dug out to form a cutting in the Ypres-Comines-Lille railway. The hill, held by the Germans since December 1914, was mined in seven places. The mines were exploded at 7 p.m. on 17 April 1915. The Royal West Kent Regiment were detailed to storm and clear the ‘exploded’ hill, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies of the 2nd Battalion K.O.S.B. were detailed to consolidate the position when won - though in the attack, many of the K.O.S.B. joined in, reportedly using their picks and shovels for other than digging! The cratered hill was taken and a rough firing trench constructed in the face of fierce German counter-attacks and bombardment that continued into the 18th. Sold with copied extracts from the regimental history.