Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Tunneller’s’ D.C.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal Samuel Mayer, 173rd (Tunnelling) Company, Royal Engineers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (86428 L.Cpl. S. Meyer. 173/Tlg: Co: R.E.) edge bruises, otherwise very fine
£600-800

D.C.M. London Gazette 9 October 1915.

‘86428 Lance Corporal S. Mayer, 173rd (Tunnelling) Company, Royal Engineers. For conspicuous bravery on the 6th September, 1915, at Cambrin, when, under a heavy fire, he succeeded in placing, in an underground gallery occupied by Germans, a bag of blastine in such a position that a charge could be fired, thereby rendering possible the success of the operations in progress.’

Samuel Mayer went to France with the Bedfordshire Regiment on 18 March 1915 as Lance-Corporal No. 13343 before transferring to the Royal Engineers, being attached to the 173rd Tunnelling Company. It was with this latter unit that he won the D.C.M. and was later killed in action on 17 April 1916. His name is recorded on the Arras Memorial.

See also lot 1028 for the Military Cross awarded to 2nd Lieutenant F. Bell for the same incident.