Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Corporal E. B. Matthews, 101st Field Company Royal Engineers, killed in action, Flanders, 11 June 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (48215 Cpl., 101/F. Co. R.E.); 1914-15 Star (48215 Cpl., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (48215 A.W.O. Cl. 2, R.E.) good very fine (4) £1000-1200

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation 11 March 1916. ‘For conspicuous gallantry, when he assisted in the digging of a fire trench within thirty yards of the enemy, and again on another night, when he assisted in placing a wire entanglement within twenty yards of the enemy.’

Corporal Ethelbert Balfour Matthews, Royal Engineers, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 26 August 1915. As Corporal in the 101st Field Company R.E. he was awarded the D.C.M. for his conspicuous gallantry in action. As Company Sergeant-Major in the 101st Field Company, R.E., he was wounded in action at Ypres on 5 June 1917. He was killed in action on 11 June 1917, aged 22 years and was buried in the Hop Store Cemetery, West Vlaanderen. With copied gazette extracts, m.i.c. and other research.