A good Great War ‘Gas Alley’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant H. Gerrard, 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, for gallantry during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme in September 1916

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (S-5328 Sjt: H. Gerrard. 9/Rif: Bde:); 1914-15 Star (S-5328 Pte. H. Gerrard. Rif: Brig:); British War and Victory Medals (S-5328 Sjt. H. Gerrard. Rif. Brig.) together with three Rifle Brigade badges, some contact wear and edge bruising, therefore nearly very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 November 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations, when he collected a party of bombers from several units, made a block in a communication trench, and defended it against repeated attacks, in spite of heavy casualties and a small supply of bombs and ammunition. His bravery and resource was very marked.’
Annotated Gazette states: ‘Flers, 15 September 1916’.

During the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916, the 9th Rifle Brigade lost all but one officer killed in the action known as ‘Gas Alley’, and nearly every man of the battalion killed or wounded. Most officers seemed to fall on the advance to Bulls Road from machine-gun fire on the right flank where the Guards Division had failed to keep up with the 14th Division. At 10.30 a.m. they decided to dig in and await the Guards Division to catch up, with a defensive block made in Gas Alley, near its junction with Gird Trench, with Gas Alley becoming a defensive flank.

Sold with copied research including gazette notices, War Diary extracts and Medal Index Card which also refers to award of S.W.B.