Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant J. Ireland, Lanarkshire Yeomanry and 12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (295623 Sjt. J. Ireland. 12/R Sco: Fus.); 1914-15 Star (782 Pte. J. Ireland, Lanark. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (782 Sjt. J. Ireand. Lanark. Yeo.); Defence Medal; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (29562 Sjt. J. Ireland. 12/R. Sc: Fus:) second digit of number double-struck; together with the recipient’s related miniature awards, the TFEM a TEM, these mounted as worn, generally very fine (6) £800-£1,200

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; citation published 10 January 1920:
‘On the 31 October 1918, during an attack south west of Audenarde, as Platoon Sergeant he showed splendid courage. He went forward alone and rushed a machine-gun post killing both gunners and capturing another six enemy riflemen who were in the vicinity. During the course of the day he rushed on two separate occasions two other machine-gun posts, capturing the guns in both cases.’

John Ireland was born in 1890 and attested for the Lanarkshire Yeomanry at Glasgow on 18 March 1909. He served with them during the Great War in the Balkan theatre of War from 11 November 1915. Dismounted, the Lanarkshire Yeomanry were re-designated the 12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, and Ireland saw further service with them on the Western Front, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry during the last month of the War. He was discharged on 5 May 1919; his Discharge Certificate noting he had ‘wound scars left arm, face and eye’.

Sold together with a named Second Army Certificate regarding the award of the D.C.M., dated 6 December 1918, and signed (in facsimile) by General Sir Herbert Plumer; the recipient’s Discharge Certificate; a Royal Hospital Chelsea Pension Letter; a postcard photograph of the recipient; and other documents.