Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant T. Gardner, Highland Light Infantry, who, according to regimental records, was wounded on no less than five occasions

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8264 Sjt. T. Gardner, M.M., 12/High. L.I.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (8264 Sjt. T. Gardner, 12/High. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8264 Sjt., H.L.I.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, contact wear, edge bruising and polished, otherwise generally good fine (5) £1200-1500

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when, with one other man, he advanced across the open at imminent risk of his life to a position from which fire could be directed against a machine-gun which was harassing our troops. This he silenced. He remained in this position until dark, sniping the enemy, who were endeavouring to percolate into the valley.’

M.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917.

Thomas Gardner, a native of Glasgow, enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry in August 1914 and first entered the French theatre of war as a Private in the 1st Battalion in January 1915 - his M.I.C. entry clearly states that his 1914-15 Star was returned to the issuing authority in June 1936 and soon thereafter ‘scrapped’, but for what reason remains unknown. More certain is the fact that Gardner’s first stint of active service was short-lived, the April 1915 issue of the Highland Light Infantry Chronicle reporting on his first wound, most likely collected in the fighting at Ypres. It was probably at this juncture that he exchanged into the 12th Battalion, with whom he would have seen action on the Somme in 1916, the October issue of the regimental chronicle once more reporting that he had been wounded. So, too, the January 1917 issue.

According to the Battalion’s war diary, his subsequent award of the M.M. was approved on 30 April 1917, most likely as a result of the recent “Battle of Scarpe”, while the October issue of the regimental chronicle for that year reports on his fourth wound, this time collected at Polygon Wood. Once more back on active duty, Gardner added a D.C.M. to his accolades for his bravery on the Marne in the following year, but his fifth and final wound resulted in his discharge on 14 September 1918, as no longer physically fit for war service, and he was accordingly awarded the Silver War Badge (No. B12160); Croix de Guerre unverified but most surely a worthy recipient.