Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Dadizeele, October 1918’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private E. T. Forrest, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, late South Lancashire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (59524 Pte. E. T. Forrest. 1/R. Innis: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (202850 Pte. E. Forrest. S. Lan. R.); Belgium, Kingdom, Military Decoration, A.I.R., silver-gilt; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., mounted in incorrect order, very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; citation published 10 January 1920:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and tenacity during an enemy counter-attack near Dadizeele on 2nd October, 1918. He was No. 1 of a Lewis gun on the left flank of a company which was heavily engaged. The No. 2 of the gun was wounded in fetching up ammunition, and he rushed across the open and carried him to cover; then bringing up more ammunition himself, put up such a heavy fire that the enemy hesitated, and gave the company time to recover and drive them back.’

Belgian Military Decoration with Croix de Guerre London Gazette 24 October 1919.

Of the counter-attack near Dadizeele, the History of the 9th (Scottish) Division records: ‘Lt.-Col. Smyth saw the Germans collecting troops for a great counter-strike, and the K.O.S.B. were bracing themselves for a desperate resistance at Manhattan Farm, when the timely arrival of the 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, who made a most heroic attack on Hill 41 from the north, scared the enemy and turned his efforts solely to defence. Though the Inniskillings failed to capture the hill, their plucky effort probably saved the K.O.S.B., and so great was the admiration of the latter and the troops of the 9th Division who witnessed the attack, that the G.O.C., at their request, wrote at once to the 36th Division expressing the admiration and thanks of the officers and men of the 9th.’

Ernest T. Forrest is believed to have been born at Prescot, Lancashire in 1897, and at the time of winning the D.C.M. was living at St Helens. His prior service in the South Lancashire Regiment and change of service number is confirmed on his Medal Index Card.

Sold with copied research including Medal Index Card, gazette notices and Battalion War Diary entries for October 1918.