Auction Catalogue

29 March 2000

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

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Lot

№ 894

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29 March 2000

Hammer Price:
£6,500

An exceptional Great War D.S.O., M.C. and Bar, D.C.M. group of six awarded to Major Charles Gibbens, Durham Light Infantry

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8346 Sjt., 2/Durh. L.I.); 1914 Star (8348 Cpl., Durh. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major), together with Kneller Hall, Royal Military School of Music ‘Cousins Memorial Prize Medal’, bronze (No. 8346 C. Gibbons, 2nd Bn. Durham Light Infantry 1907), sometime lacquered, otherwise generally good very fine (7) £4000-5000

See colour illustration (Plate III) and photograph overleaf.

D.S.O.
London Gazette 2 April 1919, citation 10 December 1919: ‘Lieutenant, temp Captain, 12th Bn. D.L.I. (Italy). For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At the forcing of the River Piave on 27 October 1918, near the island of Padopoli, the battalion, after passing the most northerly stream under very heavy fire, was held up by uncut wire. He with four NCO’s and men ran forward from his own company and through the leading company to cut the wire, which was swept from end to end with shell fire and by machine gun fire from front and enfilade. All the party except himself were killed and he was wounded. In spite of his wound he continued until a lane had been cut, helped only by one other rank, who had already been wounded, and who came up to his assistance. But for this act of devoted heroism the attack must have failed and the battalion been repulsed. Suffering from a most painful wound, he continued to lead his company until they had taken the third and final objective.’

M.C.
London Gazette 7 June 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Despite heavy shelling he kept his men at work on a communication trench until the work was complete, rallying the men, and by his fine personal example encouraging them under very trying conditions. He also showed great judgement in keeping other parties in readiness to repel a counter-attack.’

Bar to M.C.
London Gazette 15 October 1918: ‘During an enemy attack he handled and controlled his company so admirably that the enemy attacks were easily beaten off by rifle fire. Throughout the battle he showed marked courage and powers of command.’

D.C.M.
London Gazette 9 August 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry on the 9th and 10th August 1915 at Hooge. About 3 p.m. some men started to withdraw from the vicinity of the “Stables”, Sergeant Gibbens assisted by three others, succeeded in rallying them and leading them back, under considerable shell fire, to the vacated trench. Later he, in company with an officer, ran across some exposed ground in order to head off some men who had commenced to withdraw. The action was very gallant owing to the heavy shell fire.’

Charles Gibbens was born in Barnes, London, on 10 June 1889, and educated at St Paul’s School, Hammersmith. He enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry under age as a Band Boy and studied at the Royal School of Music, Kneller Hall, to be a Bandmaster, winning the Cousins Memorial Prize Medal for instrumental ability in 1907. He went to France with the 2nd Battalion in 1914 and fought continuously with them, including the battle of Hooge, until March 1916 when he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant for services in the field. He served in France until 8 August 1916, and again from 4 January to 7 November, 1917. He served in Italy from 11 November 1917 to 4 November 1918, and was mentioned in despatches
London Gazette 5 June 1919. He was made a Freeman by his native Borough of Hammersmith in 1919 in recognition of his outstanding gallantry during the War. Major Gibbens died in July 1951.