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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 159

A Great War D.C.M. group of five to Sergeant W. Pitt, Worcestershire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (240457 Sjt: W. Pitt. 1/8 Worc: R. - T.F.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902, neatly erased; 1914-15 Star (2369 Pte. W. Pitt. Worc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2369 Sjt. W. Pitt. Worc. R.) very fine (5)

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His platoon commander was wounded early in the attack and he led his platoon against the enemy, drove them from their position and consolidated and organised his men for the defence. He was twice wounded but remained in command.'

William Pitt was born at Kidderminster in Spring 1898, he was one of four brothers, all of whom were to serve in the Worcestershire Regiment. Pitt appears to have volunteered to serve in the band of the Worcestershire Regiment as a very young boy, initially as a Bugler at the age of 12 ½ and shortly afterwards, serving in the Boer War, as a Drummer in 1902 in the Cape Colony theatre of operations. He was probably one of the youngest boys to have served in the Boer War (Queen's Medal & 2 clasps).

On the outbreak of the Great War, Pitt enlisted on 5 September 1914 (No. 2369, 1/8th (Territorial) Battalion). On 19 September 1914, the 1/8th Battalion moved to Essex where they remained throughout the winter months of 1914, quartered in good billets at Maldon. During that period the Territorial Battalions were reorganised, adopting the four Company organisation of the Regular Army instead of the old organisation in eight small Companies which the Territorial Battalions had hitherto retained.

By the spring of 1915 the Territorial Battalions of the 48th Division were ready in all respects to take the field, and on 30 March 1915, the move to France began. They bade farewell to their billets of the winter, entrained at Maldon East station after dusk and began their journey to the Western Front. The Battalion embarked at Folkstone on the Invicta and sailed to Boulogne. The Division concentrated on Cassel and on 15 May 1915, the formation was renamed the 144th Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division.

By mid April, they were entrusted with a section of the front line covering Ploegsteert Wood and experienced enemy fire for the first time. In July 1916, the Battalion moved forward from the reserve position during the Battle of the Somme on the evening of 2 July and finally held shattered frontline trenches littered with the dead on 3 July, overlooking Serre. On 19 July, whilst digging new communication trenches along the La Boisselle road in front of Pozieres at 2100hrs, the Battalion was subjected to a gas attack. Shelling began and the Battalion lay flat and took cover as best they could as the shells dropped near, but then a few shells landed with a thump, but did not explode and were regarded a "duds". A new and strange smell developed, which the troops were unfamiliar with and which was initially disregarded as gas - it was a sickly smell that soon became overpowering and troops began to retch and vomit. However, the casualties were not too high and it was decided that work should continue. By 0200hrs, their work was completed and the Battalion made their way back to their billets. 7 had been killed and 7 wounded by shellfire ; 36 had required help to withdraw due to the effects of gas. Later that day, the effects of the gassing had become far more pronounced and out of the Battalion fighting strength, only 18 men were fit for duty. As the days progressed, even more men were hospitalised and adversely effected by the gassing and what remained of the Battalion were sent to a rest area well away from the front at Houdencourt, to recuperate.

On 26 August 1916, after a period of rest at Houdencourt and even on the coast at Cayeux, with fresh sea air, a medical inspection found that 400 men were still unfit for duty and the Battalion was supplemented with new men from a draft. The reformed Battalion then went into the line in trenches facing Beaumont Hamel. In the first few months of 1917, they were in the area of Peronne and pushed forward during the great German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Gillemont Farm - 24 April 1917

Gillemont Farm was strongly held by the Germans in an advanced position in front of the Hindenburg Line. Two previous attempts to capture it having failed, the unit were ordered to capture it, on the morning of 24 April. In conjunction with an attack by another Battalion of the Brigade upon a hill, situated to the North of Gillemont Farm and commanding it. Only three Companies were available for this operation, for 'B' Company being required to hold our front line. 'A' Company, less two Platoons, was ordered to carry out a subsidiary attack on the right flank. This left two Platoons of 'A' Company, plus 'C' and 'D' Companies available for the main attack on the farm, under the Command of Captain Flemming.

At Zero Hour, 0345hrs, both attacks were launched, but the subsidiary attack on the right was soon held up by superior forces and was not pressed home. The main attack, in spite of the distance - 800 yards from the front line to the Farm - and under a very heavy fire from machine guns and rifles, was successful, and the Farm was captured by the leading Platoons of 'C' and 'D' Companies, led by Captain Plaistowe. Pitt's Platoon Commander was badly wounded and he took over command, led his Platoon forward in the attack, assisted in capturing the objective, then consolidated his position for its defence. During the advance the supporting Platoons had suffered severely from the hostile barrage and from machine gun fire from the left flank, where the 6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment had failed to enter the German trenches on the Hill, which was their objective. Captain Hemming led his left supporting Platoon in gallant attempt to deal with these machine guns, but was killed while leading his men, with nearly all his N.C.O.'s, and the few survivors of the supporting platoons were compelled to fall back upon our original front line. Here they were ultimately joined by the remnants of the two Platoons of 'A' Company, who had lost their Officers - Lieutenants Clutterbuck and Potter - and had been held up in their advance towards the Farm by the heavy fire from the left flank. The result of this was that Captain Plaistowe, with 'D' Company and two Platoons of 'C' Company, were left without support in the captured position, behind which a heavy hostile barrage was now put down, making communication almost impossible, and breaking the telephone wire which had been gallantly run out from Battalion Headquarters. Sergeant Pitt, despite being twice wounded, remained in command of his Platoon. It was 0645hrs before the situation as regards the failure of the supporting Platoons to continue their advance was realised. Gilbert was then despatched to reorganise the survivors and support Captain Plaistowe, but, owing to the heavy barrage and the loss of all leaders, it was found impossible to do more than hang on in the original front line. Meanwhile, at 0715hrs, a hostile counter-attack developed from North and South-East of the Farm. This was successfully repulsed with heavy loss, but was followed an hour later by a heavier attack from North, North-East and South-East of the Farm.

Owing to the failure of the Battalion on the left, and to the retirement of the remainder of the supporting Platoons, Captain Plaistowe's men were practically isolated, and after a very gallant resistance, in which every officer was killed except Lieutenant Pittard, who, though badly wounded, reorganised and extracted the survivors, who fell back on our original Front Line, where they successfully maintained themselves until relieved after dark.

In the light of the Battalion's experience that day, it was obvious that the Farm could not be held unless the high ground to the North was taken. The attack of the leading Platoons was brilliantly carried out and the position maintained to the last. No troops could have done better. Casualties were 6 officers and 78 other ranks killed and missing, 2 officers and 70 men wounded. One German machine gun and 1 unwounded prisoner were brought in.

At 2300hrs that same day (24 April), the 1/7th Battalion launched a second attack on Gillemont Farm under a heavy covering artillery barrage and this time successfully captured the position. A heavy German counter attack and barrage was launched at dawn and was beaten off with heavy losses, but the Farm remained in British hands.
Pitt took the D.C.M. for his part but his wounds had been serious, for he was discharged on 23 April 1918 - no longer fit for active service. After the Great War, he settled down in Worcester and became an Omnibus Cleaner and took up residence at 89 Blakefield Road, St John's, Worcester. He died of heart disease on 22 April 1957.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£1000

Sale 24002 Notices
The Date of Birth of Sergeant Pitt was 24 September 1887, not as previously erroneously stated.