A Great War ‘stretcher bearer’s’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private George James, 6th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, for his gallantry in rescuing wounded men under heavy fire at Mericourt in October 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (17632 Pte. G. James. 6/Shrops: L.I.); 1914-15 Star (17632 Pte. G. James. Shrops. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (17632 Pte. G. James. K.S.L.I.); Defence Medal, unnamed as issued, mounted for display, the first with pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine or better (5) £800-£1,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919; citation London Gazette 11 March 1920:

‘His duties as a company stretcher bearer have always been carried out with marked coolness and disregard for personal safety. At Mericourt, on 3rd October, 1918, he made several journeys into No Man’s Land under heavy fire to bring in wounded men.’

George James, a native of Bridgenorth, served with the 5th and 6th Battalions, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, in France from 22 May 1915. Sold with copied L.G. entries, battalion war diary covering D.C.M. action, and Medal Index Card .