Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Great War 1916 ‘Battle of the Somme’ D.S.O., 1914 ‘First Battle of Ypres’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Captain J. Brindley, East Yorkshire Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches during the Boer War for his conspicuous gallantry at Kafir Spruit on 19 December 1901; was commissioned Second Lieutenant ‘for gallantry in the field’ in October 1914, where he was also one of the first junior officers of his Battalion to be awarded the Military Cross; and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his conspicuous gallantry at Morval on the 25 September 1916, when, as a temporary Captain, he led a small party of men in support of one of the earliest tank offensives of the war, personally accounting for 12 of the enemy before successfully reaching the third objective and capturing 61 prisoners

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, reverse central medallion slightly depressed; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5949 Cpl. J. Brindley, 2nd. E. Yorkshire Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5949 Sergt: J. Brindley. E. York: Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (5949 R.Q.M. Sjt. J. Brindley. 1/E. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. J. Brindley.) light contact marks, generally very fine or better (7) £2,800-£3,200

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company in the attack with the greatest courage and initiative, himself accounting for 12 of the enemy. Later, although wounded, he continued to advance, and with a small party captured 61 prisoners. He has previously done very fine work.’

M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915.

James Brindley was born at Salford, Lancashire on 21 December 1879, and attested for service with the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1889. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he proceeded with them to South Africa where he was attached to the 14th Battalion Mounted Infantry, being promoted Sergeant and Mentioned in Despatches for his conspicuous gallantry at Kafir Spruit on 19 December 1901 (London Gazette 25 April 1902). Transferring to the 1st Battalion, he was advanced Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant in May 1914 and served with the Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 September 1914. Commissioned Second Lieutenant ‘for gallantry in the field’, with effect from 1 October 1914, he was one of the first junior officers of his Battalion to be awarded the Military Cross, almost certainly a retrospective award for his gallant conduct during October and November 1914, whilst serving with ‘C’ Company; his name being also brought to notice in Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May 1915 (London Gazette 22 June 1915). Promoted Lieutenant in February 1915, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his conspicuous gallantry at Morval on the 25th September 1916, when, as temporary Captain, he led a small party of men in support of one of the earliest tank offensives of the war, personally accounting for 12 of the enemy before successfully reaching the third objective and capturing 61 prisoners, and was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917).

Brindley’s personal diary from the period was subsequently published in part in ‘The Western Front Then and Now’ by John Giles. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient an a large file of research.