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Auction: 5005 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 558

A Great War Western Front D.C.M., M.M. Group of Five to Corporal S.E. Nightingale, Essex Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (3-2274 Pte. S.E. Nightingale 9/Essex R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (Cpl. D.C.M. 9/Essex R.); 1914-15 Star (Pte.); British War and Victory Medals (Cpl.), good very fine or better (5) Estimate £ 1,800-2,200 D.C.M. London Gazette 26.6.1918 3/2274 Pte. E. Nightingale Essex R. (Southend) ´For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the enemy attacking an isolated front line post he at once took charge of the defence after ten of the garrison had become casualties. With the assistance of the remaining two men he repulsed the enemy, who thus were prevented from obtaining an identification. He displayed the most marked courage and determination.´ M.M. London Gazette 17.6.1919 Cpl. D.C.M., 9th Bn. (Southend) Corporal Sidney Elton Nightingale, D.C.M., M.M., entered the French Theatre of Operations with the 9th Battalion of his regiment 28.8.1915. On the night 18/19 March, 1918 at 03 20hrs the post was heavily shelled, 10 out of 13 of the garrison becoming casualties; "Private Nightingale, a young soldier, took charge and pluckily held off all attempts at their capture." [Regimental History refers]. This incident was obviously one of the many enemy fact finding expeditions a prelude to the German Spring Offensive which broke on the Somme two days later where 60 Divisions attacked the British Third and Fourth Armies on a 50 mile front.

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£2,500