Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1915 ‘French theatre’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance Corporal, later Second Lieutenant, W. S. Muir, 1/6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was later killed in action on the Somme, 25 September 1916

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (3456 L. Cpl W. S. Muir. 1/6 A. & S. Hdrs - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (3456 Pte. W. S. Muir. A. & S. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W. S. Muir.) good very fine (4) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Kenneth Petrie Collection.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 29 November 1915:
‘For conspicuous bravery on the 8th and 9th October, 1915, at Thiepval. Early in the heavy bombardment of the fire trench by enemy trench mortars a tunnelled listening sap was blown in not far from the point of junction with the first trench. Communication was cut off, and four men were on duty in the sap. It was necessary to ascertain whether the men had been killed or buried, and Lance Corporal Muir volunteered to go over the parapet and through the wire entanglement into the shell hole. He returned by the same route and reported that two men, whom he brought in, were suffering from shock, and two men were buried. He then went out again, accompanied by an officer, and commenced digging the men out under a heavy fire. Later a dug-out was blown in which held seven men, Lance Corporal Muir being one. All the party were buried, two being instantly killed. He dug himself out and then dug out the first of the remaining men. Although suffering from shock, he was able to report what had happened. This was the means of saving three more men. He then collapsed and had to be sent to hospital.’

William Stewart Muir was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire in October 1887, and educated at the North Public School. Prior to the war he was employed by the Provident Cooperative Society, and was the Secretary of the Paisley Victoria Swimming Club. Muir served during the Great War with the 1/6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the French theatre of war from 1 May 1915. He is recorded by the Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette as being ‘the first Paisley Territorial to win the D.C.M.’

Muir was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1/6th Battalion in January 1916. Second Lieutenant Muir was killed in action on the Western Front, 25 September 1916. On the latter date the Battalion were serving as part of the 5th Division on the Somme, ‘Operations at Morval (25 - 26/9), casualties - 77.’ (British Battalions on the Somme, by R. Westlake refers).

Second Lieutenant Muir is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of recipient in uniform.