Orders, Decorations and Medals

A superb Great War ‘Battle of the Lys’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Serjeant J. Conn, Royal Field Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (630036 Sjt., A.255/High. Bde. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (256 Cpl., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (256 Sjt., R.A.) good very fine (4) £1800-2200

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

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy advance. When his gun was brought into action within 300 yards of a bridge in the open to hold a canal crossing, he acted as layer, and by his skilful shooting he knocked out three machine-guns, and caused heavy casualties to the enemy, and greatly helped his guns to be got safely away’.

James Conn, a native of Aberdeen, was a member of the 1/1st City of Aberdeen Battery, R.F.A., which later became “A” Battery, 1st Highland Brigade R.F.A. and which, in May 1916 became “A” Battery 255 Brigade R.F.A. As a Corporal he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 2 May 1915. Serjeant Conn gained the D.C.M. for his bravery at the battle of the Lys in April 1918, when the ‘Highland Gunners’ temporarily stemmed the tide of the German Spring Offensive, by engaging the advancing enemy over open sights at only 300 yards distance.

The above incident during the Battle of the Lys Valley (51st Highland sustained approximately 2,500 casualties during the fighting there in April 1918), was both painted and graphically ‘written-up’ in The 51st Division War Sketches, by F. A. Farrell, 1920.
One of the illustrations in the book is that of Serjeant Conn at his Gun!

Medals contained in a magnificent wooden glass-fronted frame made by the recipient, 484 x 383mm., the border of the glass with coloured enamel work displaying unit insignia and the battles in which he fought - highly attractive. With copied group photograph including the recipient and some copied research.