Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Northern Ireland D.C.M. pair awarded to Corporal G. W. “Sniffer” Courtenay, Gloucestershire Regiment: seriously wounded in 1972, he returned to an operational footing in the Lower Falls in the following year, where he was responsible for the discovery of significant quantities of terrorist weapons and explosives

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (23910745 Cpl. G. W. Courtenay, Glosters); General Service 1962, 2 clasps, South Arabia, Northern Ireland (23910745 Pte. G. H. Courtenay, Glosters), note second initial, mounted as worn, good very fine or better (2) £12,000-15,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Penhall Collection.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 18 December 1973:

‘For gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland during the period 1 May 1973 to 31 July 1973.’

George William “Sniffer” Courtenay was serving in the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment at the time of being awarded his D.C.M. for gallant work in Northern Ireland during 1973. An indication of the type of work he undertook in this period may be gleaned from the following letter from the C.O., H.Q. Northern Ireland (dated 17 December 1973):

‘I am writing to say how delighted I am that you have been awarded a D.C.M. for your bravery and dedication to duty whilst serving with your Battalion in the Lower Falls. I know that last year you were seriously wounded but that you have constantly displayed great leadership, courage and devotion to duty which resulted in large finds of terrorist weapons and explosives particularly during the period 29 April and 20 July this year.’

An accompanying print-out of the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershires’ Northern Ireland “diary of events” reveals stark evidence of the dangers inherent in searching properties for explosives - on 17 July 1973 two Privates were killed and a Corporal blinded by an I.R.A. bomb placed on the 5th floor of a building in West Belfast. So, too, of fairly regular “encounters” of one form or another, whether rocket or mortar attack, or direct gun battles.

Sold with a fascinating selection of original photographs from the recipient’s time in Northern Ireland (approximately 35), including images of captured terrorist arms and explosives, in addition to Courtenay and fellow men from the Glosters on patrol in the streets of Belfast; together with original congratulatory letters for the award of his D.C.M. (6), all dated in December 1973, including those from the C.O., H.Q. Northern Ireland (as quoted above), the C.O., H.Q. 11th Armoured Brigade, the C.O., H.Q. 1st Division, the C.O., H.Q. 1st British Corps, the C.-in-C., British Army on the Rhine (who had recently commanded in Northern Ireland); and a much battered Army-issue riot shield.