Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘Palestine’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant W. Bale, 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (200174 R.Q.M. Sjt. W. Bale, 1/4 Norf: R.); 1914-15 Star (1991 C.Q.M. Sjt. W. Bale. Norf. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (1991 W.O. Cl. 2. W. Bale. Norf. R.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, 2 clasps, Long Service 1940, Long Service 1944 (William Bale) mounted as worn, some contact wear, otherwise very fine (5) £1,200-£1,600

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004.

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919; citation published 11 March 1920:
‘He has served with the battalion since 1915, in Gallipoli, Egypt, Suez Canal Defences, Syria, and Palestine. He has always shown courage and determination in bringing up the battalion’s rations and water to the front line under heavy fire. By his energy and sense of duty he has earned the respect and confidence of all ranks.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 6 July 1917 (Egyptian Expeditionary Force).

William Bale was a pre-war territorial from Diss who served in the 1st/4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, as part of the 163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 10 August 1915 - the date that the 54th Division landed at Gallipoli. On 13 August the Battalion took part in an attempt to clear the enemy from an area of small fields, ditches and high hedges that would have proved an obstacle to a further attack on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova - this is the action in which the famous Sandringham Company of their sister Battalion, the 1st/5th Norfolks, disappeared. Fortunately, losses inn the 1st/4th Norfolks were relatively light in this action, their role mainly being in support and suppressing sniper fire. The battalion was evacuated from Anzac on 7-8 December via Mudros to Alexandria where it arrived on 19 December, with an effective strength of about 250.

The whole of 1916 was spent in Egypt, training and bringing the battalion back up to strength, whilst being engaged in occupying the defensive positions for the Suez Canal. In February 1917 the 163 Brigade marched across the Sinai Desert to assist in the attack on Palestine. During the First Battle of Gaza, 26-7 March 1917, the brigade advanced to occupy positions on the Sheikh Abbas Ridge to the south of Gaza. The attack on Gaza itself met unexpectedly heavy opposition and was not successful. The brigade’s chief role was in assisting in breaking up Turkish counter attacks and covering the withdrawal of the division.
The battalion took turns in defensive positions at Seirat until 17 April, when as part of 163 Brigade they again advanced to capture the Sheikh Abbas ridge, which was achieved with little difficulty. On 18 April, the brigade was to attack about Khirbet-el-Bir, with 1st/4th Norfolks on the left of the brigade’s line, with one tank in support, although that was soon knocked out by an artillery shell. The attack was made across 1,700 yards of undulating country in full view of the Turks and it was found that the preceding artillery barrage had made little impact on the defenders.

The attackers were met with intense machine gun and artillery fire and suffered heavily as the attack failed. The 1st/4th Norfolk battalion suffered around 50% casualties, losing 478 officers and men in killed, wounded and missing. The 1st/5th Norfolk battalion suffered similarly and for a time the battalions were combined to form a single composite battalion. From April until October, the battalion was engaged in the usual round of occupying defensive positions, receiving re-inforcements and preparing for the forthcoming offensive.

In the early hours of 2 November, the battalion took part in the attack for the third Battle of Gaza, which finally resulted in its capture. The fighting was confused, with heavy casualties resulting from the enemy barrage and by 3.55am they were engaged in heavy hand to hand fighting at El Arish, where they eventually occupied the trenches. The battalion suffered casualties of 131 killed and wounded in this action.

On 9 December 1917, Jerusalem surrendered to Allenby, at which date the 1st/4th Norfolks were engaged in a brisk action on the left of the line at Cistern Hill from where they were attacked by the Turks but held their positions, although suffering some 54 casualties. On 15 December, the battalion took part in an attack on Stone Heap Hill which was successfully taken with 78 casualties, with the 1st/5th Norfolks in support.

The early part of 1918 was spent in the usual trench routine, with a couple of lively raids carried out by the 1st/4th Norfolks in June. The British line remained practically unchanged running from a few miles north of Jericho, Jerusalem and Jaffa to the sea.
In September, Allenby’s final advance began and 54th Division, as part of 21st Corps took part in the Battle of Sharon. The 54th Division’s attack was entirely successful, breaking through the enemy’s defenses, with the 1st/4th Norfolks capturing the village of Bidya. Following the battle, the battalion marched north with the victorious army pursuing the Turks, being in Beirut in the first days of November, from where they were disembarked for Egypt on 28 November 1918.

In accordance with the re-numbering of all Territorial Forces in early 1917 Bale’s regimental number was changed from 1991 to 200174. For his services during the Great War he was both Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was discharged on 23 March 1919 and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He subsequently served in the Special Constabulary.

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