Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M., M.M. and Second Award Bar pair awarded to Company Sergeant Major C. E. Minchin, 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who earned all three gallantry awards during a six month period in 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5374 Sjt: C. E. Minchin. 5/R. Berks: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (5374 Cpl: C. E. Minchin. 5/R. Berks: R.) minor edge bruising and light contact marks, very fine (2) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Royal Berkshire Collection.

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Sotheby’s, November 1988.

D.C.M. London Gazette 26 November 1917; citation published 6 February 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid. His officer was wounded in the leg, and told him to leave him. He, however, bound up his wound, sent a man back to report, and with the help of the remaining man succeeded in carrying the officer out of danger, after being under shell fire for four hours.’

M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 17 September 1917.

Charles E. Minchin, from Dublin, attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served with the 5th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 May 1915. He was awarded his Military Medal for gallantry near Monchy on 28 April 1917, and was awarded a Second Award Bar for supervising the erection of a wire entanglement only 40 yards from the enemy front of Hook Trench at Monchy on 21-22 July 1917. He was additionally awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bringing in, under heavy fire, Second Lieutenant Beattie on the night of 15-16 October 1917, making it three gallantry awards won in the space of under six months.

Returning to England, Minchin was presented with both his M.M. and the Second Award Bar by Lieutenant-General Sir H. C. Sclater, Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command, at Oxford on 11 December 1917. Advanced Company Sergeant Major (acting Warrant Officer Class I), he subsequently transferred to the Liverpool Regiment, but did not serve overseas with them.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient and copied research.