Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘Vauvillers, March 1918’ D.C.M., and ‘Somme 1916’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal R. H. Archer, 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action shortly after winning his D.C.M. for his part in capturing an enemy machine gun with its detachment of six men

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (265658 Cpl. R. H. Archer. M.M. 1/6 North’d Fus:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (3338. L. Cpl. R. H. Archer. 6/Nth’d: Fus:-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (6-3338 Pte. R. H. Archer. North’d Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (6.33338 Cpl. R. H. Archer. North’d. Fus.) together with Memorial Plaque (Robert Henry Archer) good very fine (6) £2,800-£3,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After a counter-attack this non-commissioned officer, accompanied by one other man, went forward and attacked and captured an enemy machine gun, with its detachment of six men.’
Annotated gazette states ‘Vauvillers, 27 March 1918.’

M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916. An award for the Somme, most likely between 9th September and 12th October. The M.M. was noted in the battalion war diary on 15 October 1916.

Robert Henry Archer was born in 1893, a native of Dunston-on-Tyne, Gateshead, County Durham, and enlisted at Newcastle-on-Tyne. He served in France with the 1/6th (Territorial) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers from 20 April 1915. He was killed in action on 14 April 1918, aged 26, son of Peter William and Hannah Archer, of Dunston-on-Tyne, Gateshead, and is commemorated by name on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

Sold with copied research including entries from the battalion war diary and a local newspaper with a small photograph of the recipient.