Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘Palestine Campaign’ May 1918 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private T. Lewis, 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, who held a sniper’s post for two days and put ‘many of the enemy out of action’

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7920 Pte. T. Lewis, 2/Leic. R.); 1914 Star, with copy slide clasp (7920 Pte. T. Lewis. 2/Leic: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7920 Pte. T. Lewis. Leic. R.) polished, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1919; citation published 3 September 1919 [Egypt]:
‘For gallantry and devotion to duty. During the operations on the 28-29 May 1918, he worked untiringly the whole time under fire. He persistently volunteered for any particularly dangerous work, and by daylight held a sniper’s post for two days, putting many of the enemy out of action. He has previously done excellent work on many occasions during four years of practically continuous service, and is always cool and reliable in action.’

Thomas Lewis was a native of Leicester and was serving with the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment at Ranikhet, India, when war was declared. Part of the Garhwal Brigade of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army, the Division was sent to France and landed at Marseilles in October 1914. The Division took part in the battles of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, Aubers Ridge and Festubert in May 1915, and Loos in September 1915. In November 1915 the Division left France and landed at Alexandria in Egypt, and on to Basra, Mesopotamia, where it served until January 1918, 2/Leicesters now with 28th Indian Brigade but still part of the Meerut Division. During the spring and early summer of 1918, the Palestine front was relatively calm. There were, however, some minor actions as the E.E.F. sought to improve their position. Jerusalem had been captured in December 1917 and the Turks had retreated to a line north, running from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean.

Arsuf was a small town about 15 miles north of Jaffa, very close to the Mediterranean coast and was the scene of Private Lewis’s D.C.M. action during the assault on Brown Ridge, near Arsuf on 28-29 May 1918. The Battalion War Diary reports:

‘28th May 1918. Battalion Headquarters established at Arsuf. Objectives of Battalion - Brown Ridge (C Coy supported by D Coy), Dud Post (A Coy supported by B Coy). These posts to be captured by surprise. 2045 assaulting Coys in position. 2055 Coys advance and assault position. Advance commenced on time. Dud Post was occupied without opposition. Considerable opposition was encountered at Brown Ridge. Several counter attacks were suitably dealt with. Owing to the activity and proximity of the enemy Brown Ridge could not be wired but the trench line about V10 C 2/2 was occupied and consolidated.
29th May 1918. At dawn the enemy were still holding strongly a line of rifle pits about V10 C 2/4, but our snipers accounted for several and forced the remainder to withdraw into Wadi. Enemy casualties estimated about 350. The advance came as a surprise to the enemy, who took about 1/2 hour to open his artillery fire. There was heavy enemy artillery fire at frequent intervals, mostly about Bedouin Knoll and Arsuf. Fortunately it came too late to do us much damage. Soon after dark C Coy captured the remainder of Brown Ridge under a very effective bombardment. The remainder of the night was spent by C and D Coys in wiring and consolidating the new position. All quiet on Dud Post.’

Sold with copied research including gazette entries, War Diary extracts and Medal Index Card.