A superb and rare Great War 1917 ‘Palestine campaign’ D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal J. B. Symonds, Herefordshire Regiment, who was killed in action in France in July 1918
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (235989 L. Cpl. J. B. Symonds. 1/1 Hereford: R.-T.F.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (235989 L. Cpl. J. B. Symonds. 1/1 Hereford: R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2947 Pte. J. B. Symonds. Hereford R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2947 Cpl. J. B. Symonds. Hereford R.) together with Memorial Plaque (John Bertram Symonds) extremely fine (6) £2,600-£3,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an action. He showed great courage in crossing an exposed piece of ground under very heavy rifle fire to obtain an important message from a runner who was lying wounded in the open.’

One of only eight D.C.M.s awarded to the regiment in the Great War.

M.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 12 January 1918.

The Battalion War Diary for January 1918 notes that the M.M. was awarded for the battle of Gaza, but does not specify if it was for the first battle in March 1917, or the second battle in April 1917; it is more likely to be the former, however, when the battalion was more heavily engaged. The Mention was for the period of 1 March to 28 June 1917, which covers both battles of Gaza. The D.C.M. is not mentioned in the War Diary and the annotated gazette only specifies ‘Egypt’, which also covers the Palestine campaign. Given the date of the gazette and the nature of the citation, it is likely that the award was for the battle of Tel-el-Khuweilfe, during the third battle of Gaza in November 1917.

John Bertram Symonds was born at Tupsley, Hereford, in late 1894. A Territorial soldier, he landed with the 1/1 Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment, at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on 9 August 1915. He went on to serve with the regiment in the Palestine campaign where he was awarded the D.C.M., M.M. and Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Archibald Murray. With the German Spring Offensive under way on the Western Front, many of the British units in Palestine were replaced by Indian formations and, in June 1918, the Herefords Battalion was among five from the 53rd Division dispatched to France. On 23 July 1918, the Battalion took part in an attack to the south of Soissons, between Tigny and Bois de Reugny, suffering some 238 casualties from machine-gun fire whilst advancing through high standing corn. Among those killed was Corporal John Symonds who was initially buried near Soissons, but post-War his remains were re-interred at Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire.

Sold with original letter to his parents notifying them of his death, together with copied research including gazette notices, Ward Diary extracts and Medal Index Card.