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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 342

A Great War D.C.M. pair awarded to Corporal G. W. H. Wells, 172nd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, late East Surrey Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (79743 Cpl. G. W. H. Wells. R.E.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (821 Cpl. G. W. H. Wells. E. Surr. R.), very fine (2)

D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1920:

'For good work and devotion to duty displayed on many occasions since March, 1915, during the period at Kemmel, The Bluff and Vimy. Especially for good work done during November, 1918, in removing mines in the neighbourhood of Saultain and Sebourg.'

George W. H. Wells served in France from 4 December 1914 as a Private in the East Surrey Regiment. On 30 September 1915 he transferred to 172nd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, and served in operations around the mound known as 'The Bluff' which was created from a spoil heap during the digging of the Ypres-Comines canal before the war. The feature was repeatedly fought over in nine separate Allied and German attacks, British casualties from 19 December 1915 to June 1916 totalling 125,141 men, many of whom died following the detonations of mines and in the darkness of subterranean warfare.

Promoted Corporal, Wells would have moved with his unit to Neuville St Vaast and Vimy in April 1916. In March 1918 the Company were put to work on a new defensive line on the Somme near Bray St. Christophe. It fought as emergency infantry near Villecholles and carried out a fighting retreat during the Spring Offensive. Wells was finally discharged Class 'Z' army reserve at Chatham in 1919 and likely returned home to Hendon, London; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£320