Auction Catalogue

20 September 2002

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1485

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20 September 2002

Hammer Price:
£1,900

A very rare Great War D.C.M. and Bar, M.M. group of six awarded to Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant E. Richardson, Royal Artillery, who won his first D.C.M. for gallantry under a ‘ceaseless shower of gas shells’ and ‘amidst terrible gas fumes’

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (795382 Sjt., A232/Bde. R.F.A. - T.F.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (795382 Sjt., A232/Bde. R.F.A. - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (620 Sjt., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (620 B.Q.M. Sjt., R.F.A.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (795382 B.Q.M. Sjt., D.C.M., M.M.), with related Corps of Commissionaires Medal, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘E. Richardson’, heavily polished, thus fair (7) £1400-1600

Believed to be one of just two D.C.M. and Bar, M.M. combinations to the Gunners for the Great War.

D.C.M.
London Gazette 17 September 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, when under heavy gas shell bombardment with his Battery. Amidst terrible gas fumes, he left his dug-out and went to the assistance of four men who had been buried in the adjoining one. Assisted by three others, he extricated a badly injured man and carried him to the Dressing Station, all the while under a heavy and ceaseless shower of gas shells. The following day, he went out into the open to rescue his Battery Commander, who had been seriously wounded and lay helpless exposed to heavy shellfire. His conduct throughout a strenuous and lengthy bombardment has been magnificent.’

Bar to D.C.M.
London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During recent operations, this N.C.O. showed exceptional courage and resource. It was largely due to his courage and total disregard of danger that so inspired his Gunners and enabled the guns to be saved under extremely difficult circumstances.’

M.M.
London Gazette 19 March 1918.

Sold with original certificate of commendation from General Rawlinson, 4th Army, regarding the recipient’s Bar to his D.C.M., dated 26 May 1918; D.C.M. League lapel badge, gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered, ‘295’; and D.C.M., M.M. tunic ribands in gilt and perspex case.