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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 227

A D.C.M. winner's British War Medal awarded to Private H. Ketteringham, 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, attached No. 17 British Field Ambulance, who died on 26 October 1916 having been taken prisoner-of-war at Kut-Al-Amara

British War Medal 1914-20 (7909 Pte. H. Ketteringham. Norf. R.), nearly extremely fine

[D.C.M.] London Gazette 3 June 1915, the original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Sahil (Turkey in Asia) on 17th November 1914, in rendering "first aid" to the wounded in the open, under shell and rifle fire. He rendered valuable service in the control of the stretcher bearer parties whilst under heavy fire, and thereby greatly facilitated the removal of the wounded.'

Note the recipient appears under the service number 7907 and 7909, the same name, unit and date of death appear for both records.

Harry Ketteringham was born at Wiggenhall St. Mary, Norfolk. He entered the Great War with the 2nd Battalion on 15 November 1914 (1914-15 Star), winning the D.C.M. just two days later at Sahil while attached to the 17th Field Ambulance. The Norfolks fought as part of the 18th Brigade, advancing against a Turkish army positioned between the old fort and the village of Sahil. The British advanced under the cover of naval guns but still came in for stiff resistance with heavy losses incurred. They managed to drive the defenders from their trenches and- as they withdrew- hammered them with artillery fire.

Ketteringham had re-joined his Battalion for the Siege of Kut, being taken prisoner of war with them there upon the fall of the city on 29 April 1915. He was taken to the Afton Kara Hissar camp and it was here that he died on 26 October 1916. The reason for his death is not given but conditions at the camp were often very variable and the conditions of the Siege had weakened a great many men; sold together with copied including M.I.C., Medal rolls, Registry of Effects, Commonwealth War Graves certificate, D.C.M. citation and Soldier Died in the Great War entry as well as extracts from The History of the Norfolk Regiment and The Royal Norfolk Regiment.

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£30