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

An outstanding 1914 D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major George Delara, 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, captured at Kut-al-Amara and subsequently awarded the M.S.M. for services whilst a prisoner of war

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (3865 S.Mjr., 2/Dorset. Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3865 Serjt., Dorset Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3865 Serjt., Dorset Regt.); 1914-15 Star (3865 S.Mjr., Dorset R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (3865 W.O.Cl.1, Dorset R.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (3865 R.S.Mjr., D.C.M. 2/Dorset R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (3865 C.Sjt., Dorset Regt.); together with the 1914-15 Star Trio awarded to his brother (7879 Pte. A. T. Delara, Dorset R.) who died in captivity at Kut, the Boer War pair good fine, otherwise with light contact marks but generally good very fine, the brother’s trio extremely fine (11) £2000-2500

See Colour Plate V

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 April 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability on 17th November, 1914, in the engagement at Sahil (Turkey in Asia), in getting ammunition to the firing line under very heavy fire and for attending on the wounded with the utmost zeal whilst exposed to a severe fire - there being no cover or shelter.’

M.S.M. London Gazette 30 January 1920: ‘In recognition of devotion to duty and valuable services rendered whilst prisoners of war or interned, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 April 1916: ‘For services in connection with the operations in Mesopotamia from 6th November, 1914, up to 14th April, 1915.’

George Delara was born at Portsea, Hampshire, and enlisted into the Dorsetshire Regiment on 12 June 1893, aged 18. He served continuously until he was finally discharged in 1919 with the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major. He first saw active service in the Cretan insurrection of 1898, and he also served throughout the South African War. At its conclusion he went trooping for a time in the old Dilwara and then went for a year as R.S.M. to the 10th Battalion Mounted Infantry, before rejoining the 2nd Battalion in India.

He became R.S.M. just before the outbreak of World War I and went to Mesopotamia with the 2nd Battalion on 6 November 1914. He was awarded an immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery at the battle of Sahil on 17 November 1914, during which the Dorsets had 25% of its strength put out of action. However, it did have the satisfaction of being singled out in General Barrett’s despatch for special commendation along with the Sappers and Miners who had fought alongside with it.

Delara was taken prisoner during Townshend’s desperate retreat from Baghdad to Kut. The regimental history of the 2nd Dorsets states: ‘It was the hardest day of the retreat [1st December 1915]; the track was rough, the men were already weary when they started and the long march was a terrible trial. Though formed pursuit had stopped, Arab horsemen hovered about the flanks of the column and woe betide the unfortunate straggler who fell into their hands. Even so some men were so utterly done that it was extremely hard to make them keep going. To make matters worse, when at last the halting-place was reached no rations were available for issue, so the hungry and exhausted men could merely lie down practically as they halted along the road and get what sleep the intense cold of the night would allow. The worst feature of the day had been that the Turks had managed to close with the flotilla and two of the gunboats had run aground and had to be abandoned, together with a barge laden with over 300 wounded and two store barges... R.S.M. Delara was among those who had the misfortune to fall into Turkish hands in this way.’

The remaining Dorsets reached Kut on the morning of 3rd December and began the hard work of digging fortifications for the defence of Kut. Townshend’s force of nearly 3000 British and 6000 Indian troops finally surrendered on 29 April 1916, and went into captivity for the remainder of the war. Amongst the prisoners was George Delara’s young brother, Austin, who sadly died in captivity on 31 August 1916. George Delara, meanwhile, remained as a prisoner in Turkey until 6 November 1918, exactly four years after he first set foot in Mesopotamia. For his services to his fellow prisoners during their long captivity, Delara was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He was finally discharged on 13 March 1920. Sold with further research, including copied service papers, extracts from various publications, several copied portrait photographs, and an article form the Dorset Regimental Journal which carries a photograph of Delara in his later years wearing his medals, intriguingly with a Second Award Bar on his D.C.M. but no such award can be traced.

Private Austin Thomas Delara, born Gasper, Mere, Wilts, enlisted Weymouth, Dorset, 2nd Battalion, Dorset Regiment, died in captivity in Mesopotamia on 31 August 1916, and is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.