Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Passchendaele D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance Sergeant C. Rayner, 21st Manchester Regiment
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5759 A-L-Sjt., 21-Manch.R.) later issue with fixed suspension; 1914-15 Star Trio (5759 Pte. / Sjt., Manch.R.) these with later impressed naming, nearly extremely fine (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 26 November, 1917; details 6 February, 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He took command of his company when all the officers were casualties and led it forward. He supervised the reorganisation and consolidation after the final objective was captured, and remained in command of the company until the battalion was relieved. He displayed the greatest initiative and devotion to duty, and set a splendid example to the company.”
Sold with a copy of a contemporary newspaper report which describes the action as being in early October on the Passchendaele Ridge. Rayner was wounded in the leg by an exploding bullet when he was blown up in an attack on a German pill-box. ‘He enlisted in the Manchesters, and after a short service in France went to Salonika taking part in the withdrawal from Serbia before the Bulgarians. Returning to France, he has been in many engagements, and has three times been wounded.