Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare 1914 Cavalry D.C.M. group of six awarded to Private W. A. Jerome, 19th Hussars, later a Chief Inspector in the Uganda Police

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5936 Pte. W. A. Jerome, 19/Hrs.); 1914 Star (5936 Pte., 19/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (5936 Pte., 19-Hrs.); Colonial Police Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, for Meritorious Service (Ch. Insp. Walter A. Jerome, Uganda Police Force); Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ch. Insp. W. A. Jerome, D.C.M. Uganda Police) mounted as worn, contact marks and polished, otherwise nearly very fine or better (6) £3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 17 December 1914: ‘For gallantry in trying to rescue Major McClure who was wounded, under heavy close range fire at Le Bizet.’

12 D.C.M’s. and one Bar awarded to the 19th Hussars during the Great War, including three won in 1914.

L.S. & G.C. medal Uganda Gazette 30 March 1946.

C.P.M. for Meritorious Service London Gazette 13 June 1946.

Walter Alfred Jerome was born in London on 22 July 1888. He was a Regular soldier in the 19th Hussars before the Great War and won the D.C.M. for gallantry in October 1914. An account of this incident is given in Deeds that Thrill the Empire, along with two illustrations, but the officer is given as Lieutenant E. D. Murray, 19th Hussars, who was killed near Le Bizet and the River Lys, in France, on 16 October 1914. Major C. R. McClure, 19th Hussars, however, was killed at Le Gheer, near Ploegsteert, in Belgium, on 21 October 1914.

The account states: ‘Hearing that Lieutenant Murray had been shot, Sergeant Brunton sent information to the Squadron Commander and then galloped off with the patrol towards the village. On dismounting he called for a volunteer to help him, and Private Jerome at once dismounted. Having sent his horse and that of Jerome back to the inn with the rest of the patrol, Sergeant Brunton and Jerome crawled into the road to the officer, but as they raised him the reports of rifles rang out from point-blank range, and they were obliged to rush to cover. [Fortunately neither man was hit], and after waiting a short time they made a second attempt to carry away Lieutenant Murray. On going out they were again fired upon, but they quickly brought the officer under cover. To their dismay, however, they found he was dead, being wounded in the head, the left hand, and the region of the heart.’

Sergeant Brunton was also awarded the D.C.M., with an identical citation, and went on to win a Bar to the D.C.M. in 1918.

After the Great war, Jerome joined the Colonial Police and was appointed to the Uganda Police and Prisons service on 13 February 1928. He was promoted to Chief Inspector in January 1943 and is last mentioned in the Uganda Staff List of 1946. Sold with copied gazettes and pages from Deeds that Thrill the Empire.