The John Chidzey Collection

A good Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. W. Chidgey, Dorsetshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (3-8106 Sjt. W. W. Chidgey, M.M., 6/Dorset R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (3-8106 Sjt. W. W. Chidgey, 6/Dorset R.); 1914-15 Star (3-8106 Pte. W. W. Chidgey, Dorset R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-8106 Sjt. W. W. Chidgey, Dorset R.), lacquered, generally good very fine (5) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Chidzey Collection.

View
Collection

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 18 September 1918, at Gauche Wood. After the Battalion had advanced through the wood and captured a redoubt, touch was lost with the left, and this N.C.O. came under heavy fire from a trench on that flank. In hand-to-hand fighting he cleared the enemy from this trench, and later, although wounded, he collected some detached men and led them to the objective. His enterprise and endurance were a splendid example to all ranks.’

M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1918.

Walter William Chidgey, who was a native of Bristol, enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment in September 1914, and won both of his decorations for his gallant deeds with the 6th Battalion. The award of his M.M. is confirmed in the regimental history as being in respect of a bloody raid carried out against enemy trenches at Beaumont Hamel on the night of 6-7 June 1918, when Chidgey was credited with killing two Germans and taking four prisoners - ‘It was a fierce and murderous work of not an hour’s duration: one of the three definite occasions when the blood was hot for killing and the Dorsets showed their fangs in real anger and slew their enemies face to face.’

Chidgey was discharged as a result of his wounds in April 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge.