Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private A. Cresswell, 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was decorated for marked zeal and bravery as a stretcher-bearer at the First Attack on Bellawarde, 16 June 1915

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (13985 [sic] Pte. A. Cresswell 1/Linc: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (13859. Pte. A. Cresswell. Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (13859 Pte. A. Cresswell. Linc. R.); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse numbered ‘B171659’, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 6 September 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 16th June, 1915, near Hooge. During the whole course of a very heavy bombardment by the enemy, Private Cresswell, on his own initiative, moved from trench to trench dressing the wounded of all regiments, and at the greatest risk to himself, being continually exposed to the enemy’s fire. His zeal and bravery were very marked.

Albert Cresswell, a native of Sheffield, was born in 1892 and was employed as a miner at Warsop Main Colliery, Shirebrook at the outbreak of the Great War. He enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in September 1914 and proceeded to the Western Front on 16 April 1915, acting as stretcher-bearer to his regiment. He distinguished himself on 16 June 1915 when the 9th Brigade, of which the 1st Lincolns were in the second line, suffered under very heavy and accurate German artillery fire after their dawn attack on the German trenches at Bellawarde near Hooge. It was for his work during this heavy bombardment that Private Cresswell earned his D.C.M.

The Regimental History, in detailing the circumstances of the award, emphasises just how well earned it was by quoting Brigade Major E. O. de C. Boys: ‘Private A. Creswell and an officer of the Liverpool Scottish were the bravest individuals I saw in action during this war.’

Cresswell was to be later wounded and transferred to the Labour Corps. He was discharged on 4 February 1919, surplus to military requirements (having suffered impairment since entry into the service), and was awarded a Silver War Badge.