A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major J. Croll, 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, for gallantry at Mont de Lille in April 1918 when he led a counter-attack and forced the enemy back to his own lines

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (19967 C.S. Mjr: J. Croll. 9/L.N. Lan: R.); 1914-15 Star (19967 Pte. J. Croll. L.N. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (19967 W.O. Cl. 2. J. Croll. L.N. Lan. R.); Defence Medal, medals unmounted, the first with light contact pitting from star, otherwise very fine and better (5) £1,000-£1,400

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

‘On the night of the 14/15th April, 1918 at “Mont de Lille,” this Officer took charge of a party of reinforcements to the front line. Arriving near Mont de Lille he found the situation serious as the enemy had captured the commanding point of the hill. He immediately led a counter-attack with these reinforcements, and by means of outflanking them, forced the enemy back to his own lines, thus restoring the general situation. He showed great initiative and skill in the way he handled his men.’

John Croll hailed from Glasgow and served with the 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in East Africa from 21 February 1915. He afterwards served in France and Flanders from 26 September 1915 to 12 August 1918.

Sold with Second Army certificate of congratulations on award of the D.C.M. and old typescript citation giving full date and location which are omitted from the published London Gazette citation.