Orders, Decorations and Medals

An outstanding ‘Neuve-Chapelle’ D.C.M. and Russian Cross of St George group of five awarded to Private J. S. Draycott, Notts. and Derby. Regiment, who was with Private Rivers in the action that won him the Victoria Cross
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11588 Pte., 1/Notts. & Derby. Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (11588 Pte., 1/Notts. & Derby. R.); British War and Victory Medals (11588 Pte., Notts. & Derby. R.); Russian Cross of St George, 4th class, numbered ‘127 205’. together with an attractive large bronze presentation plaque from Rawmarsh Urban District Council, presented to ‘Private Jesse Draycott, 11588 1st Sherwood Forresters for bravery and gallant conduct in the field, March 11th and 12th 1915, at Neuve Chapelle in a bombing attack with Private Rivers V.C., in attacking the Germans who retired in confusion and we thus regained the trench previously captured by the Germans and for which he gained the D.C.M. and also the Order of St George in the Great European War’, 410 x 275mm., mounted on wooden shield, the medals with pitting and polished, therefore good fine and better (5) £2000-2500

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry at Neuve Chapelle from 10th to 14th March, 1915. On one occasion he went out with another man and threw bombs on a crowd of the enemy, which caused them to retire in confusion.’

Cross of the Order of St George, 4th Class London Gazette 25 August 1915.

The other man mentioned in Draycott’s D.C.M. citation was Private Jacob Rivers who was subsequently killed and awarded a posthumuous Victoria Cross. His citation reads: ‘For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve-Chapelle on 12th March, 1915, when he, on his own initiative, crept to within a few yards of a very large number of the enemy who were massed on the flank of an advanced company of his battalion, and hurled bombs on them. His action caused the enemy to retire, and so relieved the situation. Private Rivers performed a second act of great bravery on the same day, similar to the first mentioned, again causing the enemy to retire. He was killed on this occasion.’

Jesse Stanbury Draycott served in France and Flanders from 4 November 1914, with the 1st Battalion, Notts. & Derby. Regiment. He was later serving with the Durham Light Infantry and was awarded the Silver War Badge. Sold with further research including copies from the Battalion War Diary for 9th to 16th March 1915.