The Kenneth Petrie Collection

A good Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ trench raid D.C.M. awarded to Lance Corporal H. E. Bradley, 2/23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment, who not only accounted for a number of the enemy with his bombs during the raid, but also rescued his wounded commanding officer

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5473 L. Cpl H. E. Bradley. 2/23 Lond: R.) good very fine £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Kenneth Petrie Collection.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 29 September 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry. He carried his wounded officer from the enemy’s trenches, through the wire, bound up his wounds, remained all night by him in a ditch and finally guided a party to his rescue. Though his hands were badly torn by wire he then led a search party for another wounded man.’

Harry E. Bradley served during the Great War with the 2/23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment on the Western Front (entitled to Great War pair and Silver War Badge). He served as part of the 181st Brigade, 61st (2nd/2nd London) Division baptism of fire during the crater fighting and trench raids on Vimy Ridge, June - October 1916. Bradley distinguished himself during one such trench raid, 7 August 1916, and the Divisional History gives the following additional details:
‘The second raid was carried out by the 2/23rd, the old “Loyals” of the 181st Brigade, on the night of August 7th. It was made by two parties; one comprising Second Lieutenant I. D. Hunt with two N.C.O.’s and eighteen men, the second under Second Lieutenant Flight, with a similar number of other ranks. Both parties started from the sap-head, covered by a heavy box barrage from the right Artillery group and trench mortars. They were met within a minute of zero by a fierce enemy fire, showing that the enemy had been forewarned. The raiders also found a number of Germans lying in wait for them in the trench to be raided. Lieutenant Hunt, within a few seconds, had six of his party put out of action, and was consequently delayed. Lieutenant Flint, in charge of the other party, was more fortunate, and got through the enemy’s wire without casualties. Lieutenant Hunt’s party, severely shaken by the losses at the start, became practically knocked out, and had barely reached the wire when the barrage “cease fire” signal was made. They could do little more, and the survivors had to withdraw, and were back by 10.30pm.

Some time after the second party returned, reporting that Lieutenant Flint and two men were missing. It was impossible to discover their whereabouts or what had happened to them, till between midnight and one the next morning, when one of the two missing men returned. He reported that Lieutenant Flint had been wounded, and lay in an old trench with Lance Corporal Bradley, the missing man, looking after him. The man went out with a search party, but could not find his way, having lost all idea of direction in the dark. Finally, at 7.30, an officer’s party, on hearing a call for help, went out and brought back both Lieutenant Flint and Corporal Bradley. What had happened to the second party, it is told, was this. On getting through the wire it had split up into three groups, Lieutenant Flint going with the centre part of eight. Directly they entered the trench a German was seen outside a dug-out, and a bomb was thrown. Three more bombs were thrown into the dug-out, apparently with effect; then, while three of the men formed a bombing block, Lieutenant Flint, though wounded in the arm at the outset, and Lance Corporal Bradley, rushed along towards the far end of the trench. They met several Germans, who showed fight, but bolted after two had been killed. Pressing on they flung bombs down three dug-outs in succession, from which yells and cries were heard as the bombs burst. The two again pushed on and met more Germans; these flung bombs at them, wounding Lieutenant Flint in the arms, thigh, and leg, and he Bradley had to retire, but unpursued. They met a private of Lieutenant Flint’s party, and he, with Bradley, got the Lieutenant out of the trench with difficulty, which like all German trenches in the sector was several feet deep with vertical planked sides. The two were helping the officer back across No-Man’s Land when he fainted; unable to move him further, they placed him in an abandoned trench, where Bradley stayed in charge of him, while the other man went for help, eventually reaching the Battalion. The two other other groups of Lieutenant Flint’s party had worked for some distance down a German trench, but met no enemy; withdrawing safely when the recall signal went up. Of the raiders one man was killed, twelve, including the Lieutenant, were wounded, and one man was missing. Lieutenant Flint received the M.C. and Lance Corporal Bradley the D.C.M.’