Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Hindenburg Line’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class II M. Alford, 7th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, for his gallantry and leadership at Moeuvres on 19-20 September 1918 - with every officer a casualty, he took command of his Company and repelled one very determined attack. For his great gallantry during the same attack Corporal David Hunter, of the 5th Battalion, H.L.I., was awarded the Victoria Cross

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (280421 Sjt. M. Alford. 1/7 High: L.I.); 1914-15 Star (2076 Pte. M. Alford. High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2076 Cpl. M. Alford. H.L.I.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (3303579 Cl.II [sic] M. Alford. D.C.M. 7-H.L.I.) contact marks, polished and worn in parts, therefore good fine (5) £800-£1,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919; citation published 11 March 1920:
‘In the attack on Moeuvres, on 19-20 September 1918, his company suffered very heavy casualties in officers and non-commissioned officers. The objective was gained, and on 20 September the only remaining officer was killed. He then took command of the company and carried on his duties with great gallantry and ability. During his command the company repelled one very determined bombing attack.’

Michael Alford attested for the Highland Light Infantry and served with the 1st/7th Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 2 July 1915 - the Battalion remained at Gallipoli for the remainder of the campaign until the evacuation of the peninsula on 8 January 1916. They saw further service in the middle East, and took pat in the Third Battle of Gaza in November 1917, culminating with the entry into Jerusalem on 9 December 1917.

Proceeding to France in April 1918, in late August 1918 the Battalion was involved in the various attacks on the Hindenburg Line, and between 22 and 31 August suffered over 330 casualties. The following month the Battalion was stationed at Moeuvres, a small village just to the west of Bourlon Wood, on the west bank of the Canal du Nord, preparing for the advance on Cambrai. On the night of 19-20 September 1918 two companies of the 7th H.L.I. attacked and recaptured a post on the northern edge of Moeuvres- the Battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Gibons, D.S.O., was mortally wounded; virtually all the officers became casualties; and for his gallantry and leadership Alford was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. By the end of the month the Battalion had suffered a further 130 casualties, and numbered an effective strength of around 420 men. Corporal David Hunter, of the 5th Battalion, H.L.I., was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry during the capture of Moeuvres on the same night.

Alford was demobilised at the end of the War (his Medal Index Card being at odds with the London Gazette entry for his D.C.M. in that it shows his substantive rank as being Corporal, rather than Sergeant), but elected to remain in the Territorial Force, and was awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal in August 1930, whilst holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class II.

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