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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 686

A fine Great War D.C.M. group of five to Acting Warrant Officer Class One J. W. Pierce, 1st Dragoon Guards, late Seaforth Highlanders, a long-serving soldier who was much in the thick of the fighting on the Western Front and ultimately discharged due to a dangerous wound

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (S-43210 A.R.S. Mjr: J.W. Pierce. 1/4 Sea: Hdrs-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (5975 Cpl. J.W. Pierce, 1-D.Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (5973 A.W.O.Cl.1. J.W. Pierce 1-D.Gds.); Delhi Durbar 1911 (Cpl. J.W. Pierce. K.D.Gds.), last with impressed naming, mounted for wear, minor pitting to first from Star, very fine (5)

D.C.M. London Gazette 6 February 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was wounded early in the attack, but carried on until the company had advanced well beyond its objectives. He then did excellent work in organising the company and directing the work of consolidation.'

James William Pierce was born in about 1886 at Bermondsey, London, and attested with the British Army in February 1905. Initially serving with the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, by the time of the Great War he had risen to the rank of Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major and was with the regiment in France from December 1914. They saw action at the Battle of Festubert, Second Battle of Ypres (both May 1915) and the Battle of Morval in September 1916, but in October 1917 the regiment was ordered back to India.

Pierce transferred to the 1/4th (Ross Highland) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders- possibly around this time- seeing further hard service and receiving a dangerous wound (a machine-gun bullet to the abdomen) soon after being previously wounded on the occasion in which he won his well-deserved decoration.
Consequently discharged (with entitlement to Silver War Badge No. B67902) he died in Ealing, London, in October 1962.

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Sold for
£900

Starting price
£420