Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘1916 Somme’ D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Corporal J. Fincham, Grenadier Guards

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (16318 L.Cpl. J. Fincham. 2/G. Gds:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (16318 L.Cpl. J. Fincham. 2/G. Gds:); 1914 Star (16318 Pte. J. Fincham. 2/G. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (16318 Pte. J. Fincham. G. Gds.) mounted for display purposes with the recipient’s cap badge in a wooden case, contact marks, very fine (5) £1800-2200

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 November 1916:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion as a signaller, when he was out in the open under heavy fire for 24 hours consecutively endeavouring to establish communications, which he eventually succeeded in doing. He has on previous occasions been noted for great coolness and bravery.'

M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 18 January 1915.

Joseph Fincham was born in Little Downham, near Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1894, and attested for the Grenadier Guards on 11 March 1913. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War in France from 12 August 1914, arriving with the first draft of the Battalion, and served continuously with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front until returning home on 9 August 1917, having been awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, the former almost certainly for gallantry in the Ginchy sector between 13 and 16 September 1916, when the 2nd Granadiers carried out a successful operation at the orchard just outside Ginchy, and then took part in the attack towards Lesboeufs, clearing the enemy trenches at the point of the bayonet having advanced through a heavy bombardment with ‘shells said to be dropping at the rate of one per second’. Appointed Lance Corporal on 2 May 1916, and acting Lance Sergeant on 30 April 1918, he transferred to the Army Reserve on demobilization on 14 May 1919, and was finally discharged on 10 March 1925, after 12 years’ service.

Sold together with copies of the Battalion War diary for September 1916.