Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front, November 1918’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal T. Fitzpatrick, 33rd Battalion, London Regiment, late West Yorkshire Regiment and Royal Engineers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (860522 Pte. T. Fitzpatrick. 33/Lond: R.); 1914-15 Star (1049 Pte. T. Fitzpatrick. W. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1049 Spr. T. Fitzgerald. R.E.) mounted court-style for display, contact pitting, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At Helchin, on night 4/5th November 1918, he was in charge of a Lewis gun team and engaged an enemy post. He shot personally two enemy at point blank range and took eleven prisoners. He established his post, and remained there the next day under the most trying conditions. On the following evening, after a heavy bombardment, he succeeded in again beating off an enemy attack.’

Thomas Fitzpatrick was born in from Batley, Yorkshire, and was a coal miner when he attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment at Leeds on 9 January 1915. Although service papers have been found for Private Fitzpatrick, their legibility is poor and there is some confusion surrounding his many changes of regiment. He was posted to the 17th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, a bantam battalion raised in Leeds, and given the regimental number 1049. He was then transferred to the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Company as a Sapper and given the number 82751 which, given his size and occupation, is not surprising. He landed in France with the R.E. on 8 March 1915, but on 18 April 1915, he requested to be returned to the 17th West Yorkshires, which he appears to have done on 4 May 1915.

On 31 January 1916 he embarked once more for France, landing on 2 February 1916, with the 17th West Yorkshires. During 1916 he was twice admitted to hospital suffering from scabies and his service papers note that he served in France until 4 January 1917, when he was returned to England, being admitted to the Military Hospital in York suffering from ‘debility - general weakness, headache and dizziness’.
The next period of his service may not be entirely accurate but it appears that he was transferred to 2/6 Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on 26 April 1918, and given the regimental number 100150. This battalion served as a garrison battalion, landing at Calais on 6 May 1918 and became the 28th Battalion D.L.I. Ftizpatrick returned to France on 3 July 1918.

Appointed Lance-Corporal, he was then transferred to the 33rd Battalion, The London Regiment for the final months of the war, with the regimental number 860522. Whilst serving with 33rd Londons he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions in the very last days of the war. At the war’s conclusion he was granted early release because of the demand for his trade as a coal miner, being discharged in December 1918 and transferred to Class Z Army Reserve in January 1919.

Sold with an original certificate of congratulation from the General Commanding 5th Army, and copied research including service papers, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, gazette notices and War Diary extracts for D.C.M. action.