Auction Catalogue

22 September 2006

Starting at 11:30 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1074

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22 September 2006

Hammer Price:
£1,700

A Great War ‘Tunnelling Company’ D.C.M. group of four to Corporal P. O’Brien, Royal Engineers, late Coldstream Guards

Distinguished Conduct Medal
, G.V.R. (79908 A.2 Cpl. P. O’Brien, 170/Tlg. Co. R.E.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (9939 Pte., C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (9939 Cpl., C. Gds.) slight edge bruising, very fine (4) £1200-1500

D.C.M. London Gazette 29 November 1915: ‘For conspicuous gallantry on 16th October, 1915, near the Hulluch quarries. A shaft had been discovered close to the front line of trenches, and the sentry on the shaft reported having seen two of the enemy moving along a gallery leading out of the shaft. Corporal O’Brien, with an officer, descended the shaft by means of a rope ladder, fully expecting to find the enemy there. No gallery was found, but Corporal O’Brien’s action showed courage of a high order’.

Private Philip O’Brien, Coldstream Guards, enlisted on 7 September 1914 and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 22 October 1914. He later transferred to the 170 Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers, winning the D.C.M. with them. Sold with copied research including m.i.c. which confirms the award of the clasp to the 1914 Star and the Silver War Badge - O’Brien was discharged through sickness from the 3rd Provisional Company on 3 September 1916.