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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 392

A posthumous 'Stormtrooper Raid' D.C.M. awarded to Serjeant H. B. Parkin, 2nd/6th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, for holding his post against a raid by the feared German shock troops despite being wounded and alone

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (20184 Sjt: H. B. Parkin. 2/6 W. York. R.-T.F.), good very fine

D.C.M. London Gazette 25 March 1918, the original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a very heavy bombardment of the line, followed by a raid of storm troops. Though wounded during the bombardment he refused to leave his post, and though all his men were eventually killed or wounded he succeeded in holding out single-handed and in killing an officer and two men who had penetrated the post. He was again severely wounded, and on arrival of reinforcements was found propped against the trench in a pool of blood. But for his courage the enemy would have succeeded in effecting a lodgement in our line.'

Harry Benfield Perkin was born at Mirfield, Yorkshire in 1890, the son of Albert and Louisa Perkin of 20 Stocks Bank, Mirfield. Working with the North Eastern Railway, in their Sack Department prior to the war he joined the Territorial Force prior to the war and was called up in July 1915. Entering the conflict in France as a Sergeant with the 2nd/6th Battalion he fought with them until September 1917. A successful raid by British troops bought about retaliation in the form of a German raid, the battalion war diary takes up the story, stating:

'At 4 a.m. this morning, after a very quiet night, the enemy put down a heavy barrage of all calibres up to 8 inch on the Battalion Front Line and on Pudsey Support. On the right Company front, this continued until 5-15 a.m. on the left Company front it lifted at 5 a.m., and the enemy attacked the line in considerable strength - approximately 100 men. The attack commenced between the left post of the right front Company, and the right post of the left front Company. Every man in the right post was either killed or wounded. They put up a very fine fight and bayoneted 1 German Officer and 2 men.'

It seems likely given the similarity with the citation that Parkin was in this forward post although another report has him with Captain Turner. This extremely Gallant Officer was recommended for the Victoria Cross by his Colonel for his actions during the Battle, though it was not awarded much to the chagrin of the Colonel 'I tried to get him a V.C., having previously tried for the M.C., in each case without success'. Parkin was certainly with Turner for some of the engagement with the History of the 2/6th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment stating:

'Capt. Turner was splendidly supported by Sergt. H. B. Parkin, this gallant N.C.O. was recommended by the divisional commander for the D.C.M., but did not live long enough to receive it.'

Parkin died of his wounds on 18 September 1917, having lived long enough to receive the thanks of his Divisional Commander. The full recommendation for his award reads:

'For splendid courage and devotion to duty on the morning of September 13th, in the line opposite Riencourt, during a very heavy bombardment of the line and a subsequent raid by storm troops, sergt. Parkin was in charge of one of the posts on which the brunt of the attack fell, and was wounded during the bombardment. He refused, however, to leave his post, and continued to encourage his men, all of whom were eventually killed or wounded in the bombardment, or by hostile bombers. When the post was attacked in front and in the flank this very brave N.C.O. fought single-handed with his back to the wall, and succeeded in holding out and in killing an officer and two men who had penetrated the post. He was very severely wounded in this hand-to hand fight, and displayed indomitable courage and self-reliance until the arrival of reinforcements, when he found propped against the trench in a pool of blood.'

Parkin is buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas de Calais; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., census data, Commonwealth War Graves details and North Eastern Railway Roll of Honour as well as extracts from the Battalion War Diary and History and a number of photographs, both copied and original, of the recipient's home and gravesite.

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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£350