Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part III)

A Great War ‘First Battle of Ypres 1914’ D.C.M. group of four to Driver F. Bianchi, Royal Engineers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (25354 Dvr., 23/F. Coy. R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (25354 Dvr., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (25254 Dvr., R.E.) nearly very fine and better (4) £2000-2500

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1916. ‘For conspicuous courage near Ypres on 9th November, in voluntarily remaining alone for two hours with the horses, under continuous high explosive shell fire. Fifty horses were killed or wounded in his immediate vicinity’.

The London Gazette date is January 1915, i.e. this is a 1914 award