Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Ypres 1916’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private G. M. Wright, 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, who, despite being wounded in seven places by a bomb, picked up his mortally wounded officer and carried him back to our lines under continuous fire

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (412874 Pte. G. M. Wright. 20/Can: Inf: Bn:); 1914-15 Star (412874 Pte. G. M. Wright. 20/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (412874 Pte. G. M. Wright. 20-Can. Inf.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914 1917, with bronze Palme, light contact marks, otherwise better than very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 July 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry. During a raid on the enemy the officer in charge of the party fell mortally wounded on the enemy’s parapet. Private Wright, although wounded in seven places by a bomb, picked up his officer and carried him back to our lines under continuous fire. He then had to be himself carried away on a stretcher.’

The above incident took place at ‘The Bluff’, near the Ypres-Comines Canal, on the night of 27-28 June 1916, as recorded in the battalion war diary: ‘Our raiding party deployed at 12 midnight close to enemy parapet - the enemy had a working party out and was very alert - our party was observed and fired on - Pte Burns being killed - the party then prepared to advance and bomb. The enemy then opened up a heavy rifle fire and commenced to bomb. About this time Lieut. Anderson was killed and the party, knowing nothing of this, were waiting his signal to enter the trench - the delay thus caused made it necessary for the party to retire, this was done and they returned to our trench, only after considerable difficulty and delay - Pte Wright, though wounded himself, carried in Mr Anderson’s body - it was impossible to recover Pte Burns’ body - Pte Baker is missing. Pts Andrus and Mitchell were wounded. This experience only confirms the belief that such enterprises cannot hope to be successful without a great deal of preparation. The enemy line along our front is apparently strongly held and sentries very alert.’

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 14 July 1917.

George Mervyn Wright was born at Picton, Ontario, on 25 July 1894, and enlisted there for the 39th Battalion on 1 February 1915. He transferred to the 20th Battalion, C.E.F. on 31 December 1915, and served in France from 1 January 1916. After being wounded near Ypres on 27/28 June 1916, he was evacuated in Hospital Ship St Denis to Folkestone and then transferred to 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, for treatment. He was discharged ‘medically unfit’ due to wounds at Toronto on 5 March 1919.

Sold with copied research including attestation papers, war diary extracts and gazette notices.