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

A fine Great War Somme 1916 operations D.C.M. group of four awarded to Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major T. Craig, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10844 C.S. Mjr. T. Craig, 10/A. & S. Hdrs.); 1914-15 Star (10844 Sjt., A. & S. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (10844 A.W.O. Cl. 1, A. & S.H.), edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (4) £800-1000

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He rendered invaluable assistance to his Company Commander during a stiff fight, and during a heavy bombardment. His cheery example gave great confidence to his men. At a critical moment of the counter-attack he brought up a portion of his company, and by skilful handling suffered hardly any loss while advancing.’

Thomas Craig enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in June 1907 and was advanced to Corporal in the 2nd Battalion in January 1912. With the advent of hostilities he next joined the newly formed 10th Battalion, a component of the 9th Scottish Division, and arrived in France in May 1915. His subsequent award of the D.C.M. was for his gallantry in action at Longueval in July 1916. At that place on the 14th, the Battalion launched a successful attack, the German lines being penetrated while the Pipes played the Regimental March and “Charge”, while on the 18th it made another assault on Delville Wood, this latter action probably being the one for which Craig was decorated - resultant Battalion casualties for these two engagements amounted to 435 officers and men.

Craig was still serving as a Company Sergeant-Major in ‘D’ Company of the 1st Battalion in the early 1920s.