Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant Joseph Thelwell, 4th (Denbighshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, who was killed in action near Bourlon Wood in January 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7723 Sjt. J. Thelwell, 1/4 R.W. Fus:-T.F.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (200721 Sjt. J. Thelwell, D.C.M. 1/4 R.W. Fus:-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (7723 L/Cpl. J. Thelwell, R.W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (7723 Sjt. J. Thelwell, R.W. Fus.) mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (5) £2500-3000

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1916, citation 21 June 1916:

‘For consistent good and gallant work as a bomber and when on patrol.’

M.M. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Joseph Thelwell was a native of Wrexham and was employed at the Cambrian Leather Works. He joined the 4th (Denbighshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (T.F.) at the outbreak of the War, and probably served in “A” or “B” Company, both of which were comprised of Wrexham men. He joined the battalion in France on 10 January 1915, taking part in the operations at Givenchy on 25 January 1915, and Richebourg on 9 May 1915. The battalion was converted to Pioneers at the beginning of September 1915 and were employed as such at Loos. From March 1916 the battalion was at Vimy, where, on 3 May 1916, three large British mines were exploded, and it was their duty to consolidate the craters. It is probable that Thelwell’s D.C.M. was connected with this operation.

In November 1917 the battalion was at Bourlon Wood and it is likely the Thelwell’s M.M. was awarded in connection with the difficult withdrawal from that place. He was killed at Flesquiéres, near Bourlon Wood, on 19 January 1918. A letter from an officer stated that a shell came into the trench and killed him instantly, and added “we are all very sorry as he was such a splendid fellow.” Thelwell’s D.C.M. and M.M. were formally presented to his widow at a parade of troops on 3 June 1918.