Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘Delville Wood, August 1916’ D.C.M. and ‘First Day of the battle of the Somme’ M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal Jack Dales, South Staffordshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8891 Cpl. J. Dales. 1/S. Staff: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (8891 L. Cpl. J. Dales. 2/S. Staff: R:); 1914 Star (8891 Pte. J. Dales. 1/S. Staff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (8891 Cpl. J. Dales. S. Staff. R.) mounted court style, first two with slack suspensions, tightened or repaired, edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine or better (5) £2,000-£2,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 25 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He held his post almost alone under intense fire, displaying great courage and determination. Later, he set fire to a box of smoke bombs, thus screening the infantry who had been forced to temporarily vacate their position.’
Annotated gazette states: ‘Near Delville Wood, 31 August 1916’.

The Battalion War Diary records on 31 October 1916 state: ‘In Camp at Romarin. The following awards have been made during the month for gallantry in the field since 1st July 1916. Distinguished Conduct Medal, No. 8871 Corporal J. Dales.’ The very lengthy entries for the battalion’s action at Delville Wood, 29-31 August 1916, describe in detail the very bitter fighting that took place with the loss of 10 Officers and 265 Other Ranks killed, wounded or missing. The Fighting Strength of the Battalion, going into trenches was approximately 18 Officers, and 700 Other Ranks.

M.M. London Gazette 10 August 1916.
Awarded for service with the 2nd Battalion in their attack at Mametz on 1 July 1916, when the battalion had 10 officers and about 300 other ranks killed or wounded. ‘Most of our casualties occurred after we had taken Dantzig Alley. During the action the Battalion captured Machine Guns and Automatic Rifles, Portable Telephones, and a great quantity of stores of all kinds.’

Jack Dales served in France and Flanders from 4 October 1914, and is entitled to the 1914 Star with Clasp and the Silver War Badge, being listed as having been wounded twice.

Sold with copied research including D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, gazette notices, and Battalion War Diary entries for June to November 1916.