A Great War ‘Mesopotamia 1917’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant William Challoner, 6th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6741 Sjt: W. Challoner. 6/R. Lanc: R.); 1914-15 Star (6741 L. Cpl. W. Challoner. R. Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (6741 Sjt. W. Challoner. R. Lanc. R.) medals unmounted, very fine and better (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917; citation published 26 January 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack upon the enemy’s position. He led a party of twenty men to the enemy’s communication trench, where he held on although subject to heavy enfilade fire, by which twelve became casualties, eventually blocked the trench and put a Lewis gun in position, thus preventing the enemy from making any further advance. He was wounded himself and set a splendid example of initiative and determination.’
Annotated gazettes states: ‘Mespot.’

William Challoner was born in the Parish of St John's near Manchester on 25 March 1883. He worked as a labourer and on 4 March 1901, he enlisted into the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, having previously served in their Territorials. He was posted to the 1st Battalion on 8 May 1901, serving at Malta from November 1901 until September 1903, and then in India until January 1909 when he returned to the U.K., serving until 5 April 1909, when he was transferred to the Army Reserve having attained the rank of Lance-Corporal.

Mobilized on 5 August 1914, at the outbreak of the Great War, he was posted to the 1st Battalion King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment with the rank of Lance-Corporal. He landed in France on 4 December 1914, to join the 1st Battalion who were by then already serving in France, having suffered heavy casualties at Le Cateau. Challoner returned to the U.K. on 27 March 1915, and on 26 July 1915 he was posted to the 6th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, a New Army battalion preparing to depart for Gallipoli. Landing in Gallipoli on 24 July 1915, he remained there until the peninsula was evacuated. He was promoted Corporal on 6 August 1915, and a week later promoted Sergeant. The 6th Battalion went from Gallipoli to Egypt and from there to Mesopotamia, where they landed on 13 February 1916.

On 8 May Challoner was appointed acting C.Q.M.S., a position he held until reverting to Sergeant on 6 November 1916. Challoner was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his services in Mesopotamia in early 1917, most likely for the action at the Dahra Bend in February 1917. On 15 April 1918, he returned to England, being posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, with whom he remained for the remainder of the war. He was demobilised on 11 March 1919.

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