Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant J. Kendall, Worcestershire Regiment, who, having first gone into action with the 1st Battalion in November 1914, was decorated for gallantry in the 4th Battalion and died of wounds in October 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11663 Cpl. J. Kendall, 4/Worc. R.); 1914 Star (11663 Pte. J. Kendall, 1/Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (11663 Sjt. J. Kendall, Worc. R.), nearly extremely fine (4) £1200-1500

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was working with a fatigue party behind enemy lines when the enemy broke through. Collecting a party of twenty men, he kept the enemy at bay with rifle fire, until reinforced some hours later. He then led his men forward in a counter-attack, drove the enemy out, dug and consolidated the position, and held it until relieved. His skilful leadership and fine display of initiative undoubtedly saved a critical situation.’

Jabez Kendall, who was from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, first entered the French theatre of war as a Private in the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, on 5 November 1914. Going into action at Neuve Chapelle ten days later, the Battalion suffered its first casualties and was compelled to undertake a night march to La Gorgue, an event described in the unit’s war diary as the “Retreat from Moscow”, on account of the number of cases of frostbite - by mid-December 440 men in the Battalion were similarly afflicted.

Subsequently advanced to Corporal, Kendall transferred to the 4th Battalion, and was awarded the D.C.M. for the above cited deeds in early 1918. Sadly, however, and having been promoted to Sergeant, he died of wounds on 25 October 1918. The husband of Martha Kendall of Bromsgrove, he was 30 years of age and is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.