Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 661

(x) A fine 'Siege Battery' D.C.M. group of four awarded to an Irishman, Gunner P. Burke, Royal Garrison Artillery, a Regular artilleryman who survived the duration of the war and likely returned home to Cork following the cessation of hostilities

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (22458 Gnr: P. Burke. 62/Sge: By. R.G.A.); 1914 Star (22458 Gnr: P. Burke. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (22458 Gnr. P. Burke. R.A.), wear and contact marks, scratch to reverse of second, good fine (4)


D.C.M. London Gazette 21 October 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While the battery was being heavily shelled, this man assisted an officer to move ammunition and stores to prevent an explosion. He has always shown courage and coolness.'

Patrick Burke, a resident of the village of Drinagh, County Cork, Ireland, was part of the first draft of the 4th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery posted to France on 17 September 1914. Equipped with heavy howitzers, he acted as a Gunner tasked with deploying large calibre high explosive 6-inch, 8-inch and 9.2-inch shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. As artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often deployed in destroying enemy artillery as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, stores, roads and railways.

The 4th Siege Battery participated in the Battles of Neuve Chapelle and Loos in 1915, but their 9.2-inch guns were particularly welcome by Allied infantry at Vimy Ridge in the spring of 1917 where the right section served alongside the Canadian Heavy Group behind Mount St-Eloi - not to be confused with St Eloi located south of Ypres. Meanwhile the 4th Siege Battery's left section deployed farther north on the old Festubert battlefield at La Couture:

'At every new location, 4th and 6th Siege Batteries' left sections blasted off plenty of rounds to make two guns appear to be four. They fired at every kind of target: German command posts, machine-gun posts, artillery batteries, trench mortars, trench junctions and even a distillery' (Loyal Gunners: 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (The Loyal Company) and the History of New Brunswick's Artillery, 1893-2012, refers).

Transferred to 62nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, Burke was awarded the D.C.M. in the closing stages of the war during the Hundred Days' Offensive; sold with copied MIC.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£750

Starting price
£320