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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 277

A 1917 D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private F. L. Pelling, Sussex Yeomanry, attached 209th Company, Machine Gun Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (56087 Pte F. L. Pelling. 209/Coy M.G.C.); 1914-15 Star (2225 Pte. F. L. Pelling. Suss. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (2225 Pte. F. L. Pelling. Suss. Yeo.); Defence Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, very fine (5)

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918.

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 6.11.1917. On the capture of the first objective the attack was held up by hostile machine gun and rifle fire in some new enemy works. On his section being ordered into action his section officer became a casualty, and one gun was put out of action. He, although wounded, immediately brought his gun into action, with the assistance of another man, and kept it in action until another two guns were in position and the enemy finally overpowered. It was largely due to his courageous and gallant action that the remaining guns were enabled to get into position and the enemy's fire beaten down, thus enabling the infantry to continue the advance.

Frederick Louis Pelling was born on 7 August 1795 and entered the war in the Balkans on 7 October 1915, he was attached to the Machine Gun Corps with which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal whilst with the 209th Company. This Company was formed by the 3rd Dismounted Brigade in March 1917 and joined the 230th Infantry Brigade of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division on 6 April 1917, it further merged into the 74th Battalion on 11 March 1918. Pelling was disembodied on 22 February 1919. After the Great War he worked as a diamond polisher with B.Oppenheimer & Co, Lewes Road, Brighton and by 1939 was a chartered surveyor's clerk. With the outbreak of the Second World War Pelling joined the Home Guard serving as an officer between 24 May 1940-31 December 1944, he died in 1953.

Sold together with the following archive:

i)
Original typed citation for the D.C.M..

ii)
Certificate for Home Guard service.

iii)
A modern copied photograph of Home Guard officers with Pelling identified wearing his battledress with medal ribands attached.

iv)
Sussex Yeomanry cap badge.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£900