The British War Medal awarded to Captain E. H. Dadd, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, late Queen’s Westminster Rifles,who was awarded the M.C. for his gallantry at Bazentin-le-Petit in June 1916, and was killed in action at Ginchy on 3 September 1916

British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. E. H. Dadd) edge nicks, good very fine £80-£120

M.C. London Gazette 26 September 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during a counter-attack. When the senior Captain was wounded he took over the command of the attacking line and drove off the advancing enemy.’

Edmund Hilton Dadd was born in Lewisham and was educated at Aske’s School for Boys. Employed by Messrs Butlert’s, of Lombard Street, London, he served for five years in the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, and following the outbreak of the Great War re-joined on 3 August 1914. He served as a Sergeant with the 1st/16th Battalion (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 November 1914, before being commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 24 October 1915. He served with his new unit on the Western Front, and was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Bazentin-le-Petit in June 1916, where he took charge of two companies when his senior commander was wounded.

Dadd was promoted to Captain on 6 July 1916 and took part in the opening stages of the Battle of the Somme. He was killed in action on 3 September 1916 during an attack on a German position north of Ginchy. His Commanding Officer wrote: ‘Edmund’s death is a great loss to the the battalion. He was my best Company Commander, and was a born soldier. We were all very much attached to him, and he was so cheery under the most trying circumstances.’

A fellow officer of Dadd’s also wrote: ‘As a sportsman, soldier, and gentlemen he has never been surpassed. The men loved him.’

Dadd has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.