Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘St Eloi’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Company Sergeant-Major T. C. Tait, 4th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5895 C.S. Mjr., 4/Rif. Bde.); 1914-15 Star (5895 C.S. Mjr., Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (5895 W.O. Cl.2, Rif. Brig.) together with forwarding letter for D.C.M. and original news cutting with portrait, nearly extremely fine (4) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry at St Eloi, on 15th March, 1915, in leading his Company in the attack in the most gallant manner, after all the Officers had been killed or wounded.’

Thomas Cummings Tait was the son of Sergeant-Major John Tait, formerly of the 4th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (See Lot 22). The accompanying news cutting carries the following caption: ‘The photograph is that of Company Sergeant-Major Thomas Tait, of the 4th Rifle Brigade, who has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at St Eloi on 15th March. Company Sergeant-Major Tait is at present recuperating from wounds to his left arm in Dundee Royal Infirmary. He belongs to Dundee, and is a son of the late Sergeant-Major John Tait, of the old V.B.R.H. He has seen seventeen years’ service as a member of the Rifle Brigade, nine of which were spent abroad. He came to France with his regiment from India.’

Thomas Cummings Tait died on 28 April 1916, and is buried in Sheerness (Isle of Sheppey) Cemetery, Kent.