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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 657

A Western Front D.C.M., M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant A. Parr, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was first wounded in action on just his sixth day in France


Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (265509 Sjt: A. Parr. M.M. 6/North'd Fus:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (2611. Cpl. A, Parr. 6/Nth'd: Fus:-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (6-2611 Pte. A. Parr. North's Fus:); British War Medal 1914-20, erased; Victory Medal 1914-19 (6-2611 Sjt. A. Parr. North'd Fus.); France, Republic, Croix de Guerre, reverse dated 1914-1918, mounted court-style, light contact marks, nearly very fine (6)

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a withdrawal. He commanded with courage and initiative a mixed force, and was instrumental in beating off four determined attacks by the enemy.'

M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916.

Croix de Guerre London Gazette 7 January 1919.

Arthur Parr was born in 1890 at North Shields, the son of Henry G. Parr, a sailmaker of 109 Howdon Road. Attesting for the 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, Parr served in France from 20 April 1915 and was present at Wieltje on the morning of 26 April 1915 when Brigadier-General James Foster Riddell, Officer Commanding the Northumberland Brigade, received orders from the G.O.C. 10th Sub. Brigade to make a counter attack on the enemy trenches. At 1.50pm the 6th Battalion rushed from their front line trenches and attacked with the Wieltje - St. Julien road to their right flank. Supported by the 4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, to their right and the 7th Battalion forming a second line behind, the advancing troops faced a barrage of enemy fire:

'At 2.5pm the leading Battalions reached the G.H.Q. in C22b and C23c and came under very heavy shell and rifle fire. The Battalions deployed on both sides of the Wieltje - St Julien [road] and lost very heavily by not having reconnoitred the openings to the wire entanglements in front of the line of trenches.' (The War Diary for 149th Brigade, refers)

At 3.10pm isolated parties of the 6th Battalion pushed forward about 250 yards in front of our first line trenches, but heavy shelling forced the survivors to dig in and attempt to remain in possession of the captured ground until dusk fell and they quietly returned to the British lines. Amidst the chaos, General Riddell, accompanied by his Brigade Officer left his Headquarters and proceeded towards Vanchule Farm for the purpose of getting in closer touch with his Battalion Commanders; he was shot through the head 150 yards to the south of the farm at 3.45pm.

Field-Marshall Sir John French afterwards addressed the Brigade, now depleted within a week of leaving England of more than half its officers and men, and speaking of the fallen Brigadier-General, he said:
'He fell at the head of his Brigade while leading you to attack the village of St Julien. I deeply deplore the loss of one of the most gallant officers that ever lived, and one of the best leaders.'

Among the wounded was Parr. He likely returned to England to recover before returning to the Western Front and being decorated with both the D.C.M. and M.M., ending his war serving with No. 1 Reception Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers; sold with copied research and MIC.

Further details on the failed attack of 26 April 1915 are available via:

http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=99&articleid=1421&displayorder=103


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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£700