Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private A. A. Taylor, 18th (Durham Pals) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9938 Pte. A. A. Taylor. 18/Durh: L.I.); 1914-15 Star (9938 Pte. A. A. Taylor. Durh: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (3-9938 Pte. A. A. Taylor. Durh. L.I.) together with a gilt and enamel badge, mounted for display, toned, good very fine and better (5) £1,600-£2,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When we had reached our objective after a successful advance, this man went forward to reconnoitre in front with his platoon serjeant. They took three prisoners in the standing corn and three more in a shelter, and, working through the corn, were able to attack from the rear an enemy machine gun and team, whom they also captured. Returning through the stacks of reaped corn, they secured another light machine gun and two prisoners. Private Taylor worked most energetically and courageously in co-operation with his platoon serjeant, and by their enterprising and determined action they crushed what might have become a serious local counter-attack.’

Albert A. Taylor came from Birmingham. Serving with the Durham Light Infantry he entered France on 29 June 1915. With the 18th Battalion (Durham Pals) his courageous and enterprising actions resulted in the award of a D.C.M. for an action on the Plate Becque, near Vieux Berquin, west of Armentières on 27-28 June 1918, as described in the regimental history:
‘At 6 a.m. on June 28th the advance began. 2nd Lieut. Everatt’s men went forward in small columns, meeting with little opposition. One post which showed fight was soon dealt with and small groups of Germans, evidently taken by surprise, fled southwards. Others were shot or bayonetted in the shell holes they occupied. The Durham men were on the line of the stream in a few minutes and started to dig in, while Sergt. H. Goldsborough, of Bishop Auckland, and Pte. A. A. Taylor, of Birmingham, crossed the Becque with a Lewis gun team and stalked a party of German machine-gunners in the standing corn beyond. These were killed and their gun was captured. On the left two more machine-guns fell into the hands of the Eighteenth, who had only sustained 2 casualties in the advance. The prisoners taken numbered 30.’

The regimental history also illustrates a 31st Division Card of Honour awarded to Private Taylor for this action. Sold with copied D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, together with other copied research.