A Collection of Medals to the 20th (Blackheath and Woolwich) Battalion, London Regiment

A fine Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C., D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Major D. L. Waghorn, 20th Battalion, London Regiment, later Lancashire Fusiliers

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1880 Pte., 20/Lond. Regt.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1880 Pte., 20-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals with M.I.D. oak leaf, contained in a contemporary oak frame, with gilt-wood label above medals inscribed ‘Major D. L. Waghorn, M.C., D.C.M., XX Lancashire Fusiliers’, generally very fine or better (9) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 20th (Blackheath and Woolwich) Battalion, London Regiment.

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M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918 (Temporary Captain, Lancashire Fusiliers). ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When a party of the enemy succeeded in entering a copse, from which the whole of the position could be commanded, he organised a counter-attack, under heavy machine-gun and trench mortar fire and drove them out. Six enemy dead and a machine-gun were found in the position.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 March 1916 ‘For conspicuous gallantry. Private Waghorn showed great courage and resource in organising the supply of bombs and assisting his officer when the enemy made a counter-attack.’

Despatches twice London Gazette 4 January 1917 and 4 April 1946.

The following extracts are taken from The History of The Lancashire Fusiliers 1914-1918 ‘A raid, under the command of Second Lieutenant D. L. Waghorn, tried on the night of 9th/10th July [1916] to enter the German lines in order to take prisoners and inflict casualties but with strict orders to avoid losses in view of the weak state of the unit; and, though it was not able to damage the enemy, it was successful in finding out how and in what strength the enemy was holding the remains of the line.’

‘At 5:30a.m. on 31 March [1918] the battalion co-operated in an attack by a brigade on its left to the extent of making a ‘Chines’ attack, that is, firing Lewis guns and rifles. During the afternoon of that day an enemy party about thirty strong advanced and entered a copse opposite ‘A’ Company (Captain D. L. Waghorn, DCM) from which the whole of the position was commanded. Waghorn promptly organized a counter-attack and, in spite of heavy machine-gun and trench-mortar fire, drove them out; killing six and capturing a machine gun.’ Captain Waghorn was awarded his Military Cross for this action.

Major Douglas Louis Waghorn first served in France with the 20th London Regiment, entering that theatre of war on 9 March 1915 and being awarded a D.C.M. whilst serving with the regiment. He was subsequently commissioned into the Lancashire Fusiliers on 4 March 1916, being promoted Captain in the 10th Battalion on 17 May 1917 and gaining the award of the M.C. and a mention in despatches. During the Second World War he received an Emergency Commission in his old regiment and was mentioned in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.