Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘German Spring Offensive’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Acting Corporal A. O. Porter, 51st Company, Machine Gun Corps, for gallantry at Vélu 23 March 1918, in which action he was also killed

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (125582 Pte.-A. Cpl. - A. O. Porter. 51/M.G.C.); British War and Victory Medals (125582 A. Cpl. A. O. Porter. M.G.C.) with Memorial Plaque (Arthur Osgood Porter) extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. was in charge of one of the machine guns in a strong point which had been formed when the enemy’s advance had penetrated part of our line. He inflicted losses of the heaviest description on the enemy, whose further progress he checked for some time, holding on to the post to the last and firing the gun himself when all the gun members had become casualties. His coolness and disregards of danger were a fine example to the men whom he had collected to man the strong point, and on whom it had a marked influence.’
Annotated gazette states: ‘Velu, 23 March 1918.’

Arthur Osgood Porter was born in Wandsworth, London. He served in France with the 51st Company, Machine Gun Corps, part of the 51st (Highland) Division. He died on 23 March 1918, aged 19, and is commemorated by name on the Arras Memorial. It should be noted that Soldiers Died in the Great War shows him as being killed in action on 21 March 1918.