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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 232

A fine Great War Palestine operations D.C.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant-Major W. C. Windows, Somerset Light Infantry, decorated for his gallantry in taking command of his Company during the attack on El Jib, 23 November 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (240116 C. S. Mjr: W. G. Windows. 1/5 Som: L. I.); British War and Victory Medals (240116 W. O. Cl. 1. W. C. Windows. Som. L. I.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (1246 C. Sjt. W. C. Windows. Som. L. I.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1246 Sjt. W. C. Windows. 5/Som: L. I.), gilding upon V.M. lacking to obverse, toned, very fine and a scarce combination (5)

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of his Company and led his men right up to the objective. Remaining in this position under heavy fire throughout the day, he, on the withdrawal being ordered, collected his remaining men and brought them back with great ability and coolness.'

William C. Windows, a native of Bristol, was awarded the T.F.E.M. in A.O.8 of January 1914 and served with the 1/5th Battalion in Palestine during the Great War. In respect of his D.C.M. action, the Regimental History states:

'After a bitterly cold night (it was the end of November, some 3,000 feet above sea-level and the men wearing khaki-drill shorts and tunics, with no blankets or greatcoats), the troops awoke on 23rd to the knowledge that El Jib was still to be taken. El Jib presented a formidable aspect. A natural stronghold, it stood upon a hill, about a mile to the east, with steep rocky terraces affording natural facilities for defence by enfilading machine-gun fire. This, then, was the position which the Somersets were asked to assault, with no other support than the light guns of a mountain battery, with its limited supply of ammunition, and a detachment of the Brigade Machine-Gun Company.

The Battalion was now reduced to an effective strength of about 400 men, and, apart from the C.O., the Second-in-Command, and the Adjutant; there were only four subalterns left to go into action with the companies; No. 3 Company, having no officers at all, was commanded by C.S.M. W.C. Windows.

The general plan was that the 1/5th Somersets would capture and hold El Jib, after which the 2/3 Gurkhas were to push on and take Bir Nebala, thus clearing the way for the advance to Bireh. The attacking lines moved forward with great coolness and precision, in spite of the intense machine-gun fire which opened on them as they came within range. No attack could live long under that fire. As one of the officers with the attack described it '...every other man seemed to be falling it was terrible, the lines just melted away.'

Nothing daunted, what remained of the attacking lines pressed forward under intense and continuous fire. The leading waves had now reached the foot of the rocky hill on which stood El Jib. Here they were faced by steep and almost unscaleable terraces which they endeavoured to climb. Three Lewis-gun sections managed to scale the terraces with their guns, and small parties of men actually reached the village itself. This was, perhaps, the most gallant fear of arms throughout the whole of the two-days' operation, but, unhappily, it was a forlorn attempt, and none of these brave fellows were seen again. When El Jib was ultimately captured by the 74th Division, identity discs of 27 men were recovered on the position.'

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