Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 A. Burnside, Connaught Rangers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (I-6286 C.Q.M. Sjt., 1/Conn. Rang.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (6286 Pte., 1st Bn. The Connaught Rangers); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (6286 Corpl., 1st Bn. The Connaught Rangers) Q.S.A. and K.S.A. officially engraved in a slightly later style; 1914 Star, with copy slip-on clasp (6286 Sjt., 1/Conn. Rang.); British War and Victory Medals (6286 W.O. Cl. 2, Conn. Rang.) nearly very fine and better (6) £1200-1500

D.C.M. London Gazette 29 August 1917. ‘For conspicuous gallantry throughout the operations. He has been in every action, with the exception of one. By his coolness and determination, either as platoon serjeant, or company serjeant Major, he has always set a fine example to those under him.’

Andrew Burnside was born in Sligo. A Tailor by occupation, he attested for the Connaught Rangers at Sligo on 3 January 1898, aged 18 years. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war as a Serjeant in the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers on 26 September 1914. He died 17 April 1941.

Only 60 D.C.M’s. (and two bars) awarded to the Regiment during the Great War.