Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of Cambrai, Masnières’ November 1917 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant P. W. Easter, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (20764 Sjt: P. W. Easter. 1/Essex R.); 1914-15 Star (20764 Pte. W. Easter. Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (20764 Sjt. P. W. Easter. Essex R.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600

D.C.M. London Gazette 4 March 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading his platoon forward when the company was held up by machine-gun fire, turning the flank of the strong point and enabling the company to proceed. Later, he led his platoon across a footbridge under heavy fire, volunteered to establish a post in front of our line, and having done so, successfully commanded it until ordered to bring it back.’
Annotated gazette states: ‘Masnieres, 20 November 1917’.

The King’s Lynn News & County Press of 16 February 1919, announced: ‘A Bircham Totfts Medallist. Sergt. Percy Easter, Essex Regt., has been awarded the D.C.M. for bravery in leading his men during an attack. He joined the Army in Aug., 1914, and went through the Dardanelles campaign. Then he was sent to Egypt and later to France, where he was made a sergeant. In a charge at Cambrai his captain was killed and his lieutenant wounded, and the sergeant led the men. He was wounded by a bullet, but his tobacco pouch saved his life. After treatment in a base hospital he was sent to a private hospital in the West End of London. He is well again, and is expecting to rejoin his regiment in France.’ Another edition on 23 February 1918, carried a photograph of Sergeant Percy Easter.

Percy W. Easter served with the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, in the Balkans from 9 October 1915. He was discharged to Class “Z” Reserve on 26 April 1919.

Sold with copied gazette notices, D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards, together with copied press articles and several articles on the Camprai operations of November 1917.