Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Tank Corps D.S.O. group of three awarded to Major D. C. Allen, 15th Battalion, Tank Corps, late York and Lancaster Regiment.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, G.V.R., in its Garrard case of issue, obverse centre slightly depressed; BRITISH WAR and VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. (Major), together with a Tank Corps cap badge and a copy of the unpublished history of the 15th Bn. Tank Corps held by the Tank Museum, good very fine (3)

D.S.O., London Gazette, 3 June, 1919.

M.I.D., London Gazette, 30 December, 1918, and 10 July, 1919.

Douglas Charles Allen served with the 12th (Service) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment in Egypt from 20 December, 1915, until 10 March, 1916, when the Battalion was sent to France. He was promoted Temporary Major, 21 January, 1917, and transferred to the 15th Battalion of the newly formed Tank Corps. Major Allen served with the Tank Corps for the remainder of the war as Commanding Officer of 'A2' Group, 15th Battalion. He led his men into combat at each of the five tank battles that the Battalion was involved in - The Battle of Amiens (8th and 9th August, 1918), Courcelles le Compte (21 August, 1918), Vaulx Vraucourt (30/31 August, 1918), and Canal du Nord (27 September, 1918).