Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of the Somme’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant J. B. Hammond, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, for gallantry during a very heavy bombardment and in the subsequent assault on the enemy trenches at Ovillers on 7 July 1916, on which occasion he was killed in action

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6271 Sjt: J. B. Hammond. 9/R.Fus:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (40745. Tpr: J. Hammond. Imp: Yeo:) contemporarily re-engraved naming (see footnote); 1914-15 Star (6271 L.Cpl. J. B. Hammond. R. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (GS-6271 Sjt. J. B. Hammond. R. Fus.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.C., J. Hammond.) medals unmounted, toned, very fine or better (6) £1,000-£1,400

Note: Although Hammond is listed in Kevin Asplin’s Imperial Yeomanry Q.S.A. roll as a Trooper in the 36th Battalion, he notes ‘No Q.S.A. entitlement on I.Y. rolls’, this Battalion having arrived in South Africa too late to qualify for the medal.

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry to duty during a heavy bombardment of our trenches before an attack. In a subsequent assault he was among the first to arrive in the enemy trenches, and by his coolness and bravery he gave the greatest encouragement to all ranks with him.’
Annotated gazette states: ‘Ovillers, 7 July 1916’.

The Battalion War Diary for 7 July 1916, ‘In front of Ovillers’, states:
‘4.30 a.m. Our bombardment commenced & became intense at 5.30 a.m. at which time the Coys took up their positions in the front line ready for the assault. “A” on left & “D” on right were to form the 1st line & to be followed immediately by “B” & “C” Coys respectively. The enemy retaliated almost as soon as our bombardment commenced & our trenches were heavily shelled by guns of big calibre. There were no dug-outs available & our casualties were very heavy. “C” Coy suffered most heavily being reduced to about 40. It was then decided that “C” Coy should go over with “D”. At 8.30 a.m., the time fixed for the assault, “A” & “D” & the remainder of “C” left our trenches.
“A” Coy was decimated by M.G. fire & the same fate met 2 platoons of “B” which followed. The remaining platoons of “B” Coy were ordered to remain in the trench as it was seen to be useless to send them across at the same place. “D” & “C” on the left were more successful & although greatly weakened managed to reach the German trenches which they carried by assault. The enemy’s fire & support trenches were captured & consolidated. Two M.G’s were put out of action & 50 prisoners were captured, continuous bombing attacks were beaten off with loss to the enemy. About 5.30 p.m. the remaining platoons of “B” Coy managed to get across & & brought with them a large supply of bombs. It was raining heavily during the day.’

Joseph Barnard Hammond was born in Birmingham and enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers at Ealing, then being a member of the Metropolitan Police at Wapping. He had previously volunteered for service with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War but his Battalion arrived too late in 1902 to qualify for a medal. He went to France with the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, on 1 June 1915, and was killed in action on the Somme at Ovillers on 7 July 1916. He was aged 36, the son of Joseph Patrick and Clara Hammond, of Birmingham, and is commemorated by name on the Thiepval Memorial.

Sold with copied research including gazette notices, D.C.M. card and Medal Index Card, this annotated ‘K. in A. 7/7/16.’