Special Collections

Sold on 2 April 2004

1 part

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A Collection of Medals to the 13th Regiment and Somerset Light Infantry

Lot

№ 349

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2 April 2004

Hammer Price:
£2,000

A fine Great War Somme 1916 operations D.C.M., Russian Cross of St. George group of five awarded to Sergeant W. G. Bryant, Somerset Light Infantry, who brought in a wounded man although a large part of his own hand had been shot away: luckily, however, his wound did not result in the abandonment of his successful pre-war career as a forward for Bristol Rugby Football Club

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10272 Sjt., Som. L.I); 1914-15 Star (Cpl., Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (10272 Sjt., Som. L.I.); Russia, Cross of St. George, 4th class, the reverse of the lower arm officially numbered ‘807666’, good very fine (5) £800-1000

D.C.M. London Gazette 26 September 1916:

‘For outstanding gallantry in action. He led his platoon in the charge and was the first man in the second wave to reach the enemy’s lines. Later, when a large part of his left hand had been shot away, he carried in another badly wounded man.’

Russian Cross of St. George
London Gazette 13 February 1917.

William George Bryant was serving in the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light infantry at the time of the above related deeds. As part of 43rd Brigade, Bryant and his comrades participated in a costly attack mounted against Delville Wood on the Somme on 18 August 1916 - the Battalion’s casualties amounted to five officers killed and seven wounded, while 48 other ranks were killed and another 220 wounded (or posted missing).

According to a local newspaper source Bryant was evacuated to the U.K. and ‘was for some weeks at Beaufort War Hospital’ before going home to Sussex Place in Bristol. Luckily, however, his wound did not result in the abandonment of his successful pre-war career as a forward for Bristol Rugby Football Club, and between 1921-32 he turned out for his team on 121 occasions.