Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of eight awarded to Serjeant Thomas Bisset, Gordon Highlanders, a P.O.W. of the Germans, who later served with the ‘Black and Tans’ and the Toronto Scottish

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (240523 A.L. Sjt., 1/5 Gord. Hdrs.-T.F.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (240523 Sjt., 5/Gord. Highrs.; 1914-15 Star (2308 Pte., Gord. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2308 Sjt., Gordons); Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas service clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, mounted court style for wear, some contact marks, very fine and better (8) £2500-3000

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917; citation 26 January 1918.

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, when his platoon commander was wounded he took command, and led the men forward to the enemy’s trench under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He afterwards again lead them forward with the leading company and attacked a farm under heavy machine gun fire, capturing 60 prisoners. He displayed the utmost gallantry and determination throughout the day.’

M.M. London Gazette 30 January 1920 ‘the P.O.W. Gazette’

Thomas Bisset was born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire on 20 August 1892. On 22 August 1913, while employed as a Postboy, he married Jessie Wallace, a Domestic Servant. The couple lived at 16 Chapel Street, Peterhead. During the Great War he served with the 1/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 2 May 1915. For his bravery and distinguished service in action he was awarded the D.C.M. During the German Spring Offensive he was captured and spent the remaining months of the war as a prisoner-of-war. For his services as a P.O.W. he was awarded the M.M. After the war Sergeant Bisset left the army, being disembodied on 27 March 1919.

Bisset was recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary in Glasgow and appointed to the force on 9 March 1921, subsequently being posted to Monaghan County. Unlike a number of his fellow ‘Black and Tans’, Bisset did not ‘funk’ (resign for personal reasons), but saw out his service through to disbandment on 6 February 1922 - at which time he received a gratuity of £46.16.0.

Bisset later moved and worked at Detroit, U.S.A. before moving to Canada in the 1930’s where he was employed as a Trucker. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Bisset joined the Canadian Army, joining the Toronto Scottish Machine Gun Battalion for overseas service. He subsequently served as an officer’s batman when the regiment moved to England in 1940. Bisset was discharged in June 1944 as being ‘no longer required’.

With a large quantity of copied service papers and extracts.