Auction Catalogue

5 & 6 December 2018

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

Download Images

Lot

№ 661

.

5 December 2018

Hammer Price:
£190

A Great War pair awarded to Lieutenant H. C. Bounds, 6th United States Infantry, who was recommended for the D.S.C. for his services at Romange on the Western Front on 14 October 1918

United States of America,
Victory Medal 1918, bronze, 3 clasps, Defensive Sector, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel; Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, bronze; together with the recipient’s Corporal stripes; First Lieutenant rank insignia; Infantry Branch insignia; U.S. Army insignia; two buttons; and the recipient’s Army Rifle Marksmanship Badge with Expert Rifleman Clasp, nearly extremely fine (2) £200-£240

Harvey Chaplain Bounds was born in Randallstown, Roslyn, Maryland, on 29 September 1893, the son of the Rev. George Bounds, and was educated at Delaware College. He enlisted in the 1st Delaware Infantry on 31 January 1913, and served for four and a half years in the Delaware National Guard. Commissioned Lieutenant, he served with the 6th Infantry, as part of the 5th Division, during the Great War on the Western Front, and was present at the Defence of the Annould and St. Die Sectors in the Vosges from 22 June to 28 August 1918, including the engagement at Frappelle on 17 August 1918; in the St. Mihiel offensive from 12-16 September 1918; and in the Argonne-Meuse offensive from 13 October to 11 November 1918. For his services during the Great War he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross:
‘For extraordinary heroism and bravery in battle. At Romagne, France, on 14 October 1918, having become separated from his company during an intense bombardment of high explosive and gas shells, Lieutenant Bounds noticed an enemy machine gun nest which had been passed in the advance and which were firing into our lines from the flank and rear. Collecting a few men, he personally led the attack on the nest, himself killing the gunner by shooting him with a pistol and thereby causing the surrender of the other five members of the machine gun crew. His example of courage under fire was a splendid inspiration to his man and saved our forces many losses.’

After the War, Bounds served as part of the Army of Occupation in Germany before resigning his commission in September 1919. He was later appointed Captain with the Coast Artillery Corps in Delaware on 6 June 1921. He died on 19 January 1969 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware.

Sold with three portrait photographs of the recipient; his Delaware National Guard Discharge Certificate; his Army Commission Document; his State of Delaware Commission Document; and various other documents, letters, and copied research.