Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War B.E.F. 1914 operations D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant T. C. Buck, Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action in May 1915 while serving as the 1st Battalion’s Machine-Gun Sergeant

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7584 Sjt. T. C. Buck, 1/C.G.); 1914 Star, with clasp (7584 Sjt. T. C. Buck, C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (7584 Sjt. T. C. Buck, C. Gds.), together with related Memorial Plaque (Thomas Cyril Buck), good very fine and better (5) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Coldstream Guards, R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F. formed by the late Tom Baugh.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 1 April 1915:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability at Givenchy on 21-23 December 1914, in going forward under heavy fire to select positions for machine-guns, and subsequently for rescuing a wounded man who was lying out under fire. He also behaved gallantly on 29 October 1914, near Gheluvelt, when in charge of machine-guns.’

Thomas Cyril Buck was born in Frettenham, near Norwich, Norfolk in November 1889, and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in December 1907. Advanced to Sergeant on the eve of hostilities, he went out to France with the 1st Battalion in August 1914, where he served as the Battalion’s Machine-Gun Sergeant up until his death in action at Richebourg on 9 May 1915, gaining the D.C.M. for gallant deeds at Gheluvelt in October and Givenchy in December 1914, in addition to a mention in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915 refers). Buck is buried in the Rue de Berceaux Military Cemetery at Richebourg l’Avoue, France.

sold with a quantity of related research.