Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘Monchy, July 1917’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Edgington, 7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, who was wounded in the leg in August 1916, and killed in action on 17 September 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (191 Pte. H. Edgington. 7/E. Surr: R.); 1914-15 Star (191 Pte. H. Edgington. E. Surr: R.); British War and Victory Medals (191 Pte. H. Edgington. E. Surr. R.) together with Memorial Plaque (Harry Edgington), medals unmounted, extremely fine (5) £1,200-£1,600

D.C.M. London Gazette 17 September 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With two comrades he held a block in our trench against a strong party of the enemy at a most critical moment, when our advanced posts had been captured. Subsequently he posted himself and his comrades in shell-holes, causing such casualties to a fresh hostile attack that the enemy bolted back to cover. By the very great initiative and exceptional gallantry of these three men a very awkward situation was got well in hand.’
Annotated Gazette states: ‘Nr. Monchy, 11 July 1917.’

Harry Edgington was a native of Dorking and enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment, serving in France from 1 June 1915. He was invalided to England with a gun shot wound in the right leg received on 10 August 1916, returned to France on 25 October and was posted to join the 7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, on 22 November 1916. The 7th Battalion formed part of the 37th Brigade in the 12th Division and, in early March 1917, Edgington was attached to Brigade’s Sniping Company. He won the D.C.M. for gallantry near Monchy on 11 July 1917, which award was gazetted four days before he was killed in action near Arras on 21 September 1917. He is buried in the Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, Pas de Calais.

Sold with copied research including D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, annotated Gazette, and War Diary entries.