A rare Great War ‘Battle of Margeibra’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant W. B. Collier, City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders), attached 9th Company, Imperial Camel Corps; later Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, who was severely wounded, and was Mentioned in Despatches

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1939 Sjt: W. B. Collier. 1/1City of Lond. Yeo); 1914-15 Star (1939 Pte. W. B. Collier. C. of Lond. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2. Lieut. W. B. Collier); Defence Medal; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1939 Sjt. W. B. Collier. C. of Lond Yeo.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, nearly very fine and better, rare to unit (6) £1,800-£2,200

One of only 19 D.C.M.s awarded to the Imperial Camel Corps during the Great War.

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his men with great courage and determination. He set a fine example of dash and coolness throughout.’
The original citation is additionally annotated ‘Mageibra 7th, 10th & 11th August 1916’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 December 1916.

William Bruce Collier was born in Southampton on 14 August 1887, and was employed as a shipping clerk. He joined the Territorials whilst living in London in 1908 and served initially with the 16th Battalion London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster), before transferring to City of London Yeomanry - Signal Service - in 1912. As a Territorial he volunteered for overseas service on 4 September 1914 and entered the Egyptian theatre of War on 21 April 1915 in the 1/1 Imperial Yeomanry (Rough Riders). He served at Gallipoli from August to October 1915 and subsequently in Palestine, and was promoted Sergeant on 7 December 1915.

Collier transferred to the 9th Imperial Camel Corps in March 1916 and given the Regimental number 50792 with the rank of Sergeant. The 9th Camel Company was a British manned Company drawn from the Yeomanry 8th Mounted Brigade. After the break-up of the Imperial Camel Corps on 25 July 1918, the 9th Camel Company remained as a camel formation giving assistance in the Hejaz campaign. On 7 August 1916 he received a severe gun shot would to his right leg during an engagement at Margeibra and it was for his service during this action that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. General Murray’s Despatch gives the following account:

‘On the morning of 6 August the enemy was found to have retired from Qatia, and, while the cavalry pressed on in pursuit, the infantry moved forward and occupied the line at Rabah-Qatia-Bir el Mamluk. The Australian Light Horse regiments, which had borne the brunt of observing and harassing the enemy’s advance, were given a day’s rest in camp, while the remainder of the cavalry continued the advance. The enemy’s rearguard was found to be occupying his previously prepared position extending across the road and telegraph line between Hod el Reshafat and Hod el Dhaba. Our attempts to turn his flanks by Hod el Negiliat on the north and Hod el Sagia on the south were frustrated by heavy artillery fire.
On the same morning the Camel Corps detachment of Smith’s Mobile Column occupied Bir el Mageibra without opposition. Another body of mounted troops also moved to Mageibra in support at Bir el Jafeir. In the afternoon Major J. J. de Knoop, commanding the Camel Corps detachment of this column, reconnoitred towards Hod el Bayud, and reported that a force of the enemy was in occupation of Hod el Muhammam, five miles north-east of Mageibra. Orders for an attack next morning were issued by Colonel Smith.
On 7 August the cavalry maintained their action with the enemy’s rearguard, which had fallen back to the line of his first entrenched position running from Oghratina to Hod el Masia, with flanks thrown well out to the north and south. There was continuous fighting throughout the day.
On 8 August the enemy was found to have abandoned Oghratina and, by the evening, to have taken up a position covering Bir el Abd, his advanced base. It was here that the enemy made his final stand to cover the evacuation of his camp and stores. Touch was now gained between the cavalry and Smith's Mobile Column, and was maintained from this time onwards.
On 9 August the cavalry which had hitherto carried out the pursuit was reinforced. A strong effort was made to encircle both flanks of the enemy at Bir el Abd and cut off his further retreat. Strong opposition was, however, encountered on both flanks, and it was decided to deliver a dismounted attack with the object of driving out the enemy. Our field batteries got close enough to shell effectively the convoys removing stores from the pile at Bir el Abd, but our artillery fire drew a heavy reply from the enemy’s howitzers, which caused some casualties. The enemy, well supported by artillery, fought stubbornly. He made three counter-attacks, all of which were driven back with heavy loss by our rifle and machine-gun fire, and in the evening what appeared to be a general advance by fresh forces was made against our troops. This was also driven back with heavy loss, but the enemy was able to maintain his covering position. During the next two days our cavalry was unable to do more than maintain continuous pressure, but the Mobile Column, which had occupied Bayud on 9 August, continued to menace the enemy wide on his left flank.
On 10 August a strong reconnaissance was made against the enemy, who was in strength at Hod el Mushalfat, south-east of Bir el Abd.
On 11 August an enemy force with two mountain guns approached Bayud. A sharp action, which commenced at 5.30 a.m., was fought, and in the course of it all the baggage camels and ammunition mules of the enemy detachment were destroyed. Towards the afternoon the enemy evacuated this position and retired on the main body of his rearguard. On the following day patrols from the neighbourhood of Bayud found the country to the east and north all clear.
Early on the morning of 12 August it was found that the enemy had retired from Bir el Abd, and, though there was a small encounter with his rear troops about Salmana, the general pursuit stopped at this point, the enemy retiring through Bir el Mazar to el Arish.’

Collier’s wounds were initially treated locally before being evacuated on 2 November 1916, arriving back in England on 20 December 1916. On recovering from his wounds, in August 1917 he was posted to the Royal Field Artillery at Colchester, for officer cadet training. He received his commission on 20 January 1918 and landed at Havre in France on 2 May 1918, being posted to 52nd DAC on 9 May. On 5 October 1918 he was posted to C Battery, 56th Brigade RFA, but only 6 days later on 11 October he was wounded in the neck and evacuated via Boulogne to England.

After recovering from wounds Collier was demobilised on 24 January 1919 from 44th Reserve Battery with the rank of Lieutenant. He was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 507 of 1920, and died in 1959.

Sold with a display of various cap badges, rank and unit insignia; and copied reseearch.