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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 383

The superb and rare Great War ‘Ypres 1914’ D.C.M. and ‘First Day of the Somme’ Bar group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Class I (Regimental Sergeant-Major) C. E. Metcalfe, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, formerly Suffolk Regiment, who was killed in action in a daring raid on Pacaut Wood in July 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (9827 A.C.S.Mjr: C. E. Metcalfe. W. Rid: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (4505 Pte. C. E. Metcalf, 1st Suffolk Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4505 Pte. C. Metcalfe. Suffolk Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (9827 Sjt. C. E. Metcalfe. 2/W. Rid. R.); British War and Victory Medals (9827 W.O.Cl.1. C. E. Metcalfe. W. Rid. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (9827 C. Sjt: C. E. Metcalfe. W. Rid: R.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, second medal with tightened claw, otherwise very fine (8)

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1915:

‘For conspicuous gallantry, ability and resource on 8th November 1914, at Ypres. When our attack had failed and all the officers had fallen, he took charge of the company and counterattacked the enemy with complete success - he was himself wounded.’

Second Award Bar to D.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. Though wounded, he refused to leave the line, and continued to carry out his duties most ably. During the following nine days, while holding the front line trenches, he rendered invaluable assistance in reorganising the battalion. He set a splendid example to all ranks. (1 July 1916, Serre and Beaumont Hamel’

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918.

Cecil Edward Metcalfe was born and enlisted at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Having seen action during the Boer War with the Suffolk Regiment, he thence served in France and Flanders with the 2nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment from 14 August 1914. They were heavily engaged at Mons and especially on 24 August at Wasmes, when they greatly contributed to the slowing of the German 5th Division. They all but eliminated the Fusilier Battalion of the 2nd (Prussian) Guard Grenadier Regiment on 11 November 1914, but the campaign had cost the Duke of Wellington's some 400 casualites.

The following year threw them back into the heat of battle, especially around Hill 60, when on 18 April the Battalion took 421 casualties in taking the high ground. They were thrown off, under a ghastly chlorine gas attack by the enemy on 8 May, suffering some 350 further casualties in the process. One man who pulled through was the redoubtable Metcalfe, who again showed his true colours when adding the Bar to his D.C.M. for his gallantry during their attack on The Quadrilateral (Redan Ridge) on 1 July 1916, the First Day of the Battle of the Somme. Their actions over the course of those few months cost the Battalion no less than 256 killed in action, latterly attacking the Flers Line on 9 October and then the attack of Spectrum Trench on 12 October.

Metcalfe was never far from the action and had been promoted to Regimental Sergeant-Major by 1918. He was killed in action on 18 July 1918 in the daring raid on Pacaut Wood. This raid was undertaken by 5 Officers and 200 other ranks who were divided equally into four Platoons, including three Lewis guns and eight stretcher bearers. The original orders stating:

‘A detachment of the Battalion will carry out a raid on 18 July 1918 with the intention to clear a sector of Pacaut Wood in two phases, and capture the garrison, thus obtaining identifications and causing casualties. No titles, regimental patches, or other articles which might cause identification are to be worn by any of the party. Special raid identity discs are being issued. White bands will be worn on the left arm.’

The raid was ultimately successful with enemy casualties being estimated at between 30-40 men, as well as 29 prisoners captured, one machine gun captured and three destroyed. The British casualties in the raid were 5 killed, 25 wounded and 2 missing known to be killed. Metcalfe was one of the fallen, aged 39. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. His father applied for his Medals in December 1919.

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Sold for
£6,500

Starting price
£5800