Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An early Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private A. E. Holton, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who, having been decorated for gallantry at Armentieres in February 1915, died of wounds the following September

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (B-431 Pte. A. E. Holton, 3/Rif: Bde:); 1914-15 Star (B-431 Pte. L. E. Holton. Rif: Brig:) not first initial shown as ‘L.’; British War and Victory Medals (B-431 Pte. A. E. Holton. Rif. Brig.) generally good very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600

D.C.M. London Gazette 10 March 1915; citation published 1 April 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and great daring near Armentieres on the night of 3rd February, 1915. In company with another man he crawled close to the German trenches to ascertain their movements, he then returned to our lines, and obtaining a hand grenade went back and threw it amongst them, scattering the enemy in all directions. To achieve his object it was necessary to crawl through the German wire entanglements, and the risk was very great.’

Albert Edward Holton, who was born in Dartford, Kent, served in the Army Service Corps 1899-1904, but was court martialed and imprisoned for the theft of goods belonging to a soldier, being subsequently discharged. Recalled in 1914, he disembarked in France with the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, on 30 November 1914 [Ineligible for “1914 Star”] but qualifying date for 1914-15 Star is shown as 3 December 1914 on Medal Index Card which also shows first initial as ‘L’. He died of wounds in France on 14 September 1915, aged 29, and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.

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