Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘Crowned Head’ D.C.M. pair awarded to Sergeant T.J. Connolly, 1st Battalion, The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment, who received his award for gallantry during a fire fight in Palestine on 21 August 1936 - one of only 14 such awards

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R., 2nd 'crowned head' type (7145048 Sjt. T.J. Connolly. 1-Loyal R.); General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., 1 clasp, Palestine (7145048 Cpl. T.J. Connolly. Loyal R.), nearly extremely fine (2) £4000-5000

D.C.M. London Gazette 6 November 1936 (7145048 Sgt T.J. Connolly 1st Bn. The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), 'For gallant and distinguished services in Palestine.'

One of only 14 G.V.R. 'crowned head' type D.C.M.s awarded.

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 July 1937 'Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. In recognition of distinguished services rendered in Palestine during the period, April to October 1936.'

The Regimental History gives the following details behind the award of Connolly's D.C.M., the action for which occurred on 21 August 1936:

‘On their return journey [from the village of Ara] the patrol were fired upon by about seventy Arabs, who were in position on a hill overlooking the Mus Mus pass. The vehicles were repeatedly hit, and C.S.M. Brinton was wounded. Leaving the two armoured cars and two sections to cover his advance, Captain Gidlow-Jackson set off up the hill with Sergeant T.J. Connolly and eleven men. On gaining the top they found that the enemy had decamped, so started moving forward to the next ridge, when they came under fire from both front and rear. Fortunately Corporal Haynes, who was guarding the transport, had noticed that some Arabs were about to outflank the half platoon on the hill, and immediately attacked them with the four men of his section, thus relieving the pressure on the forward troops. A single aircraft then appeared and machine-gunned the Arabs, who promptly dispersed, and the troops returned to Jenin without further incident. For this successful encounter Captain Gidlow-Jackson was awarded the D.S.O. and Sergeant Connolly the D.C.M.'

Sold with copied service papers confirming that Thomas Joseph Connolly enlisted in Dublin as a boy soldier in December 1920 receiving his discharge on 17 September 1937 due to being found ‘physically unfit for any form of army service’ at which time his conduct was given as ‘exemplary.’ Also included with the lot are copies taken from The Lancashire Lad: The Regimental Journal of The Loyal Regiment, which includes a further description of the action for which Connolly was awarded his D.C.M. as well as a photograph of recipient.