A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. awarded to Corporal G. H. Budd, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (33225 Cpl., 2/Devon R.) edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Devonshire Regiment.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the enemy attempted to cross a bridge he took his Lewis gun forward from his post and opened fire. He had his knee shattered by a shell, but prevented the enemy from crossing, and eventually got his own gun to safety, after which he collapsed. He behaved splendidly’.

George Henry Budd was born on 16 December 1893 and grew up in the village of Bradninch, near Exeter, Devon. Before the war he worked for Wiggins Teape, Paper Mill at Bradninch, and was a member of the Territorial Army. With the onset of war he was posted to the 1st/7th Battalion Devonshire Regiment and then later to the 2nd Battalion as a Lewis Gunner. He won the D.C.M. for his conspicuous gallantry at the St. Christ Bridge in March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

The 2nd Battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Cope were moved to St. Christ Bridge on the Somme on 23 March. The position was most important as it was the only good crossing of the river in the vicinity. “C” Company was ordered to hold the bridge and dug in two Lewis guns, one either side of the road with a commanding view of the bridge. During the night the Germans made three attempts to cross the bridge, and three times the Devons repulsed them; the Lewis guns heavily involved. On the next day the Germans kept up a terrible barrage on the positions occupied by the company. The news then came that the Germans had broken through on the flank and the order was given to retire. The need to hold the bridge then became ever more necessary in order to cover the retirement and a platoon with the Lewis guns were detailed this onerous task. Through Hell to Victory then takes up the story,

‘.... the enemy was making a determined effort to force the bridge. He was shelling, and big bodies of men tried, time after time, to rush the crossing. With fine tenacity, “C” Company stuck to their job. One of the Lewis gunners [Budd], whose name cannot be traced, had his leg shattered by a shell fragment. But he kept firing his gun down that bridge, and made the Germans pay dearly for the injury he had suffered. All the time he must have been enduring untold agony, with but small hopes of any better fate than being taken prisoner, as he was apparently unable to get away. For half-an-hour he stayed there blazing away, firing drum after drum of ammunition into the advancing enemy, taking fiendish delight in watching the deadly effect of his fire, knowing all the time that his company was evacuating its position. He had better luck than he expected, did that Lewis gunner, for, not only was he able to escape himself, but - though heaven alone knows how he managed it - he saved his gun as well! ....’

As a result of his injuries Budd had his right leg amputated below the knee. After the war, he returned to work at the Bradninch Paper Mill before moving to Burnham-on-Sea in 1926 and working as a master boot and shoe repairer. During the Second Word War he served with the A.R.P. He died in January 1962, his medals being divided amongst the family.

Sold with a quantity of copied research, including modern photographs of the ‘St. Christ Bridge’ area. Also with a letter from the son of the recipient.