A Great War Officer’s Prismatic ‘Verners Pattern’ Compass, the reverse engraved ‘Lt. C. H. D. King. 7th. Bn. Devon Regt.’, in leather carrying case with shoulder straps, good condition £60-£80

D.S.O. London Gazette 15 February 1919 (citation published 30 July 1919): Lt. (T./Capt.) Cecil Hankey Dickson King, M.C., K.R.R.C., Spec. Res., attd. 7th Bn.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on March 21st, 1918. He was in command of his company holding a strong point. The other three companies of the battalion had been wiped out by the enemy. He put up a very fine resistance, killing many of the enemy, and when eventually forced to retire into the village of Benay, he effected the retirement with the minimum amount of loss. In Benay he succeeded in holding the enemy off a field ambulance, which passed out between the ranks of his company. Being again outnumbered he retired, firing an 18-pounder gun himself with open sights and killing many of the enemy. He showed most determined courage throughout.’

M.C. London Gazette 18 July 1917: Lt. Cecil Hankey Dickson King, K.R.R.C., Spec. Res., attd. 7th Bn.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty [at Hamcourt on 4 April 1917]. He reached the enemy trenches with a very few men. Despite repeated hostile attempts, he succeeded in establishing a bombing post, and with his few men held a long line of trench. He set a fine example throughout under most trying conditions.’

Cecil Hankey Dickson King was born on 17 August 1897, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Special Reserve in 8 September 1914, and was attached to the 7th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, on 8 June 1915. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 January 1917, and for his services during the Great War was awarded both the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order. He was promoted Captain on 1 April 1921, and relinquished his commission on 27 September 1922.