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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 223

A Battle of Festubert 1915 D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Captain H. Harris, South African Forces, late Private, 15th Battalion, London Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own Civil Service Rifles), Lieutenant, Liverpool Regiment and Captain, Indian Army

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2579 Pte. H. Harris. 15/Lond: Regt - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2579 Pte. H. Harris. 15-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. H. Harris.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21 (Capt. H. Harris. I.A.R.O.); War and African Service Medals 1939-45 (223699 H. Harris); Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., Union of South Africa (Lt. H. Harris - Dem. C.), mounted as worn, very fine (8)

D.C.M. London Gazette 5 August 1915:

'For conspicuous gallantry on the 24th and 25th May 1915 at Festubert, when assisting on a hostile trench by another Regiment who were short of bombers through casualties. A very fierce resistance was experienced, and out of eight men supplied, four were killed and two wounded.'

Harry Harris was born at Hoylake, Wirral, Cheshire and served in France with the 15th Battalion, London Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own Civil Service Rifles) from 17 March 1915. Shortly thrown into the fierce Battle at Festubert, further detail is given in The Civil Service Rifles in the Great War:

'The same night eight volunteers went to help the Post Office Rifles in their desperate extended struggle to clear the captured German trench opposite. The operation was successful, all the enemy occupants being killed, but the return was made under fierce fire. Of the eight bombers, only four got back alive, and two of these were wounded. Arthur Roberts wrote home: "Our bombers, boys all of them, were heroes and mostly died for it. They ran along the parapet chasing the Germans back with their bombs and when their bombs were done they took to their bayonets. When they were wounded they still went on." This incident led to the CSR's first gallantry awards, the four surviving bombers being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.'

With his links to the north-west, Harris was commissioned into the 16th Battalion, Liverpool Regiment on 18 May 1915, with whom he served as Lieutenant. Thence transferred to the Indian Army, he closed out the Great War as a Captain before going up onto the north-west Frontier of India with the 21st Cavalry. Latterly finding home in South Africa, his Great War Campaign Medals were issued to the Standard Bank of South Africa in Cape Town. He earned the Efficiency Decoration and served during the Second World War in Africa.

Sold together with original riband bars, silver engraved identity tag and cap Badges; for his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 310.

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Sold for
£2,400

Starting price
£950