Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Battle of the Lys’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private A. Corlett, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was badly wounded in this action, and died of his wounds the next day, on 27 April 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6847 Pte. A. Corlett. 11/Lan: Fus:); British War Medal 1914-20 (6847 Pte. A. Corlett. Lan. Fus.); Victory Medal 1914-19, naming erased on last, good very fine (3) £600-£800

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a counter-attack. Seeing that the battalion on his right was held up by machine-guns, he took out a Lewis gun section and took up a position from which he brought flanking fire on the machine guns and compelled them to withdraw. He was wounded whilst taking up this position, but continued to encourage his men until accomplishing his object successfully, so enabling the next battalion to advance.’

Arthur Corlett was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, and attested there for the Lancashire Fusiliers. He served with the 11th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry during the attack on Mount Kemmel at the Battle of the Lys on the night of 25-26 April 1918- the battalion’s casualties during the attack were 5 other ranks killed; 3 officers and 30 other ranks wounded; and 9 other ranks missing. (History of the Lancashire Fusiliers 1914-1918 refers).

Corlett was amongst those wounded, and he died of his wounds the following day, on 27 April 1918. He is buried in Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium.