Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Battle of Cambrai’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private A. Snelgrove, 17th “Footballers’ Battalion”, Middlesex Regiment and Army Service Corps, for exceptional gallantry at Moeuvres on 1 December 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (92859 Pte. A. Snelgrove. 17/Middx: R.); 1914-15 Star (T3-025083 Dvr. A. Snelgrove, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (T3-025083 Dvr. A. Snelgrove. A.S.C.) light contact marks, good very fine (4) £800-1200

D.C.M. London Gazette 28 March 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When a strong enemy attack had driven back the company on the flank and when the enemy were endeavouring to work round to the rear of their own company, he, with another man, picked up a machine gun, rushed out with it across the open, and opened fire on the enemy on their flank and rear, remaining in this exposed position for two hours. This very gallant and courageous deed resulted in the enemy being driven back and the position restored.’

Alfred Charles Snelgrove was born in Walworth, London, on 31 January 1891, and following the outbreak of the Great War attested for the Army Service Corps. He served with the Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 3 August 1915, and after a few months was sent to Salonika where he contracted malarial fever and was invalided home. Recovering, he returned to France with the 17th (Service) Battalion (Football), Middlesex Regiment, a Pals battalion the core of which comprised professional footballers.

Battle of Cambrai
Having been reinforced following losses at Oppy during the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the 17th Middlesex was moved into the Cambrai Sector on 26 November 1917 with a view to consolidating captured positions, and by 30 November, when the Germans launched their great counterattack, the Battalion was based south of the village of Moeuvres in a reserve position. “A” Company of the Battalion, which included Snelgrove, was sent forward to support the 1st King’s and when, early on 1 December, the enemy advanced nearly 300 yards down a trench and endeavoured to cross a road to the rear of the Company, Private Snelgrove and Corporal Hammond picked up a Lewis Gun, the team of which had become casualties, and on their own initiative went out on to the road. In this exposed position they opened fire on the enemy on their flank and rear, and they maintained this position for the next two hours despite being under heavy machine gun and rifle fire throughout. This enabled the enemy to be driven back and the situation was restored. It was during this action that Captain McReady-Diarmid of “D” Company was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for successfully leading a bombing party and personally killing or wounding 94 of the enemy before he himself was killed. By the end of the battle the Battalion had suffered a further 187 casualties, including 42 officers and men killed.

For his gallantry at Cambrai on 1 December Snelgrove was recommended for the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal by Lieutenant-Colonel Stafford, the Commanding Officer of the 17th Middlesex. The Corps Commander, however, downgraded the recommendation to a Military Medal, but the Commander-in-Chief, in view of the exceptional gallantry shown, reversed this decision and Snelgrove was indeed awarded the D.C.M. Snelgrove was discharged to the Army Reserve on 9 March 1919, and subsequently served with the 24th London Defence Regiment and the 24th London Regiment, Territorial Army. He died in Lambeth Hospital, London, on 18 February 1938.

Sold with a Second Division Gallantry Card, dated 17 December 1917; two postcard photographs of the recipient; two original discharge certificates; a copy press cutting from the South London Press, dated 15 March 1918; and various other research.