Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Second War Burma stretcher-bearer’s D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private G. A. Vincent, 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, in recognition of numerous incidences of personal bravery, including ‘on one of these heroic missions of his that Pte. Vincent was ultimately seriously wounded. He was wounded in four places by a mortar bomb - the same bomb killing the wounded man whom he had been attending - but Vincent crawled back to his own lines and would not suffer any of his comrades to venture towards him in spite of his slow progress, until he was out of enemy fire’

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (4464672 Pte. G. A. Vincent. W. York. R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, very fine (5) £2,400-£2,800

Provenance: Glendinning 1990 and Spink 1999.

D.C.M. London Gazette 28 June 1945. The recommendation states:

‘During the period May 9th-June 3rd Pte. Vincent performed the dangerous duties of Coy Stretcher Bearer in a manner which has filled all ranks with admiration. On occasions too numerous to specify he has crawled out under fire dragging a stretcher behind him to attend to the wounded; to administer morphia to the badly wounded and dying; or to satisfy himself that a man was past all help. On almost every one of these missions he has risked his life to get to the wounded man. On one occasion he crawled to within 20 feet of a Japanese post to get to an officer who was lying badly wounded. Assisted by other men he dragged this officer to safety on a stretcher. On another occasion he crawled up to a leading section which had been pinned down by fire and grenade and there gave morphia to a dying man. It was on one of these heroic missions of his that Pte. Vincent was ultimately seriously wounded. He was wounded in four places by a mortar bomb - the same bomb killing the wounded man whom he had been attending - but Vincent crawled back to his own lines and would not suffer any of his comrades to venture towards him in spite of his slow progress, until he was out of enemy fire. Subsequently his attitude while being attended by the Doctor was a model of calm fortitude and example to all the wounded and others in the vicinity.

Although it must be expected that a stretcher bearer carrying out his duties is bound to run considerable risk, the actions of Pte. Vincent throughout the campaign were far over and above the normal requirements of his task. His devotion to duty coupled with the determination to carry that duty out, no matter at what cost, has been a splendid example of unselfish initiative. His eagerness to do his job under the heaviest enemy fire without the possibility of returning it was an inspiration to all ranks.’

Sold with research including copied War Diaries for the period May-June 1944.