Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War 1916 ‘Somme’ Lewis Gunner’s M.M. awarded to Sergeant, later Lieutenant, D. C. Jacob, 10th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who used his gun to great effect despite being blown off his feet by shellfire on two occasions. He was subsequently wounded, 22 August 1916, and suffered multiple gun shot wounds, 1 October 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (3041 L. Cpl. D. C. Jacob. 10/Aust: Inf: Bn:) additionally engraved twice, either side of naming, ‘25.7.1916’, very fine £500-£600

M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘On the 25th July 1916, on the occasion of the capture of Pozieres during a fierce hand to hand bomb struggle, he used his light machine gun with great coolness and judgement. On two occasions he was, by shellfire, blown down the crater side away from his gun and slightly wounded on each occasion, but he immediately returned to his gun and continued to keep it in action for four hours.’

Denis Courtauld Jacob was born in Glenelg, South Australia, in 1898. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 11 June 1915. Having already served in Egypt, Jacob served as Lance-Corporal with the 10th Australian Infantry Battalion in the French theatre of war from March 1916.

Jacob was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry as a Lewis Gunner during the attack on Pozieres, Somme, 25 July 1916. The Battalion War Diary for 22-25 July 1916, records the Battalion at Pozieres and as inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy who advanced into their heavy machine gun fire. The enemy retreated. The Battalion's casualties were 2 officers and 56 other ranks killed, 11 officers and 235 other ranks wounded and 46 other ranks missing.

Jacob was wounded in action, 22 August 1918, and advanced to Corporal in October 1916. Having advanced to Sergeant, he was wounded in action again, 1 October 1917. Jacob was commissioned Second Lieutenant in July 1917, and advanced to Lieutenant in November of the same year.

Jacob returned to Australia, and was discharged 6 December 1918.