Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ 1918 D.C.M. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class II E. S. Ralfs, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, who was badly gassed in France, and was awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry at Monchaux on 24 October 1918; he subsequently served with the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish Rebellion

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5756 C.S. Mjr: E. S. Ralfs. 1/Hamps: R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (5756 Corpl: E. Ralfs. Hampshire Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (5756 W.O. Cl.2. E. S. Ralfs. Hamps. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5756 C.S. Mjr: E. S. Ralfe. Hants: R.) suspension claw of QSA re-riveted, contact marks throughout and edge bruising to QSA, nearly very fine and better (5) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 12 March 1919; citation published 2 December 1919:
‘For marked gallantry, initiative and skilful leadership. At Monchaux on 24 October 1918, he was among the first to reach the river; here, under heavy machine-gun fire, he assisted in the attempt to bridge the river. When this proved unsuccessful, he collected a party, and running down the bank, came across an old bridge wired up. He rushed across, followed by his men, knocked out a machine-gun post, and formed a bridgehead which enabled the remainder of his company to cross. He did fine work.’

Ernest Samuel Ralfs was born in 1877 and attested for the Hampshire Regiment in 1899, serving with them in both the Boer War and with the 1st Battalion in the Great War (not entitled to a Star). He was badly gassed in France, and for his gallantry at Monchaux on 24 October 1918 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1918, he was discharged in 1920, after 21 years’ service, and subsequently served with the Royal Irish Constabulary in Ireland during the Irish Rebellion with the rank of Sergeant. Re-enlisting in the Hampshire Regiment in 1923, he was appointed Instructor to the Cowes Company, Princess Beatrice’s Isle of Wight Rifles. He died on 10 August 1936.

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