Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of four awarded to Serjeant E. J. West, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (R-7339 Cpl., 6/K.R.R.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (R-7339 Sjt., D.C.M., 2/K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals (R-7339 Sjt., K. R. Rif. C.); together with a set of four miniature dress medals, good very fine (8) £1800-2200

D.C.M. London Gazette 13 February 1917. ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He got on to the parapet under heavy fire, and drove back the enemy parties on both sides of the trench. Later, he rallied and led forward a party of men’.

M.M. London Gazette 7 October 1918.

Edward James West was born in 1892. Coming from Staines and a Lino Maker by occupation, he enlisted into the K.R.R.C. on 18 November 1914. Serving with the 6th Battalion K.R.R.C. he was awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry on 22 July 1916. Later serving with the 2nd Battalion he was awarded the M.M. for bravery. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 10 February 1919. After the war he returned to employment with the Staines Lino Company and worked for a total of 48 years with them until his eyesight failed. He came to St. Dunstans in 1954. He died on 28 January 1972 leaving a widow and a married daughter. According to the vendor who purchased these medals directly from the family he was told that the M.M. was awarded for saving men’s lives on the Somme river.

Sold with copied research; the recipient’s Certificate of Transfer to Reserve; Certificate of Emloyment during the War; handwritten notes re the forwarding of the D.C.M. and M.M. dated 1919; a letter from St. Dunstan’s re. a pension, dated 2 March 1954; St. Dunstan’s Golden Jubilee 1915-65 London Reunion Invitation Card to Mr and Mrs West; together with a Menu, which includes a list of St. Dunstaners (including West) attending; St. Dunstans Review, March 1972 - with obituary; several photographs including two of the recipient in uniform; and one of recipient’s sweetheart whom he later married; also with a K.R.R.C. cap badge and three metal and two cloth badges and a leather wallet.