Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C., D.C.M., Russian Cross of St. George group of six awarded to Second Lieutenant W. H. Brace, 19th (Glamorgan Pioneers) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, late 16th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and 16th (Cardiff City) Battalion, Welsh Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in case of issue; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (22053 Pte. W. H. Brace. 16/Ches: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W. H. Brace.); Defence Medal, with Army Council enclosure, in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr. W. H. Brace, 54 Pen y Dre, Rhiwbina, Cardiff’; Russia, Empire, Cross of St. George, Fourth Class, silver, reverse officially numbered ‘807673’, good very fine (6) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Great War Awards.

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M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919; citation published 4 October 1919:
‘For marked courage and initiative in command of a platoon attached to a company of infantry for consolidation of the final objective in the operations of 20 October 1918, north-east of Le Cateau. When the attack was checked by wire he joined the infantry, reorganised the attack, and captured the position. He mopped up enemy positions and dug-outs in a quarry, and later caught up the advance and rendered valuable assistance in taking, the final objective.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 20 October 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations. As C.O.’s runner he carried messages to all parts of the line. When the adjutant, signalling officer and assistant adjutant became casualties he did splendid work, and though only a boy knew exactly what was going on all along the line. He was twice blown off his legs during the day close to his C.O.’

Russian Cross of St. George, Fourth Class London Gazette 19 February 1917.

William Herbert Brace attested for the Cheshire Regiment and served with the 16th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from January 1916. Awarded the D.C.M., he was subsequently posted to the 16th (Cardiff City) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, prior to being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 19th (Glamorgan Pioneer) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, on 31 October 1917. He relinquished his commission on 1 September 1921. The 1920 Army List, as is the case with some D.C.M. recipients, also credits him with the award of a Mention in Despatches on 20 October 1916, which is the date of the D.C.M. award, although no further trace of a ‘Mention’ has been found.

Brace was again commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 16th Glamorganshire Battalion (Cardiff), Home Guard on 16 February 1941. He was a member of the Welch Regiment Officers Association and in 1957 carried the Colour of his old Battalion at the laying up ceremony in the Regimental Chapel. He died on 16 January 1962.

Sold with a Welsh Regiment other ranks cap badge; aluminium wrist I.D. tag on steel chain (W. H. Brace 22053, 16 Ch. Bapt.); riband bar for the first two; Welsh Regiment officers bladed cap badge; original London Gazette pages containing the citation for the M.C.; several original press cuttings; copy hand-written note, being an Extract from Army Orders, regarding the award of the D.C.M. and Russian Cross of St. George, this split to folds and part lacking; and original citation for Russian Cross of St. George to Officer Cadet W. H. Brace, which reads the same as the D.C.M. citation.