Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 Western Front ‘Attack on Havrincourt’ D.C.M., 1917 ‘Battle of Cambrai’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private G. H. Bevens, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, late West Yorkshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (65193 Pte. G. H. Bevens, M.M., 5/Yorks. L.I.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (42028 Pte. G. H. Bevens, 2/5 W. York. R. - T.F.); British War and Victory Medals (42028 Pte. G. H. Bevens. York. R.) very fine or better (4) £1,800-£2,200

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919 [a joint citation with Private A. E. Allen, M.M., also of the 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Light Infantry]:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Havrincourt between 12-14 September 1918, as Battalion “runners”. They worked continuously under very heavy shell and machine-gun fire; and there is no doubt that had it not been for the courage of these two men, several very important orders would never have reached the front line.’

M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1918.

George Bevens, a native of Bowes Park, London, attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment and served with the 2nd/5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry at the battle of Cambrai, with regimental records stating that he was notified of his award on Christmas Day 1917 - the unit was particularly active on the first day of the battle, in support of the tank attack, and suffered heavy casualties.

As a result of lack of reinforcements, the 2/5th Battalion was disbanded in August 1918, Bevens being allocated to the 5th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, being re-numbered 65193, and it was with this latter unit that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the above cited deeds as a “runner” at Havrincourt in the following month.

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