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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 421

A Great War ´1917 Messines´ M.C. Group of Five to Captain R.W. Dewson, Australian Army Service Corps, Late Warwickshire Regiment, Wounded at Gallipoli 1915, and on the Western Front 1917, Killed in Action in May 1918 Military Cross G.V.R., reverse engraved ´Captain R.W. Dewson. Schnatzel Farm. Messines, 7/8 June 1917´, in Royal Mint case of issue; Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, seven clasps, Cape Colony, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg, Wepener, Diamond Hill, Belfast, the last six are privately made larger copy clasps (6951 Pte. R. Dewson. Rl: Warwick: Regt.) suspension slack, contact marks to obverse; 1914-15 Star (501 W.O. (Cl.1) R.W. Dewson. 2/A.S.C. A.I.F.); British War (Captain R.W. Dewson A.I.F.); Victory Medal (Capt. R.W. Dewson. M.C.3-Div. Train. A.I.F.), very fine or better, with a Great War appreciation medal from the Corporation of West Bromwich, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1918), reverse engraved ´Cpt. W.R. (sic.) Dewson M.C., D.C.M.´, with a number of buttons, cap badges and shoulder titles for Warwickshire Regiment, Australian Commonwealth Forces, Army Service Corps and the Derwent Regiment (Australian Forces); identity disks (2); compass by H. Hughes & Son Ltd, directional dial broken, in leather carrying case; whistles (3); wrist watch, sterling silver, reverse neatly engraved ´To Lieut. Dicky Dewson from Intsructional Staff Claremont 1916´; full Hunter pocket watch, gold plated, by Thos. Russell & Son, Liverpool, inside of case engraved ´Cptn. R.W. Dewson. M.C. D.C.M. Adjutant 3d Div. Train. Melbourne Australia 1919 (sic.)´; concertina trench periscope; regimental photographs, an official copy of the recipients Will from his paybook, dated 7.6.1918, and other personal effects and artifacts (Lot) Estimate £ 800-1,200M.C. London Gazette 25.8.1917 Capt. Richard William Dewson, [A.]A.S.C. ´For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in personally taking a convoy of ammuntion to its destination under exceptionally difficult and trying circumstances. In spite of intense gas shelling and having to deal with an almost impassable river, trenches, wire and other obstacles, he brought his convoy through with the greatest skill and initiative, setting a splendid example to his men.´ Captain Richard William Dewson, M.C., born Newton-Le-Willows, Warrington, Lancashire; joined Warwickshire Regiment, 1899; Lance Corporal 1.2.1902 (entitled to Q.S.A. with 6 clasps, Belmont, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony and Orange Free State); Sergeant 15.6.1904; enlisted at Kensington, New South Wales, as Warrant Officer Australian Commonwealth Forces, 22.8.1914; received shrapnel wound to knee at Gallipoli, 5.9.1915; Second Lieutenant Australian Army Service Corps, 22.2.1916; Lieutenant 1.4.1916; Acting Captain Officer Commanding 869th Company A.A.S.C., 1.5.1916; received gun shot wound to neck, chest and left arm, in Belgium, 30.6.1917; killed in action 27.5.1918, and is buried in Longueau British Cemetery, France. Although references to a D.C.M. are made, including entries in Australian services papers, no confirmation of this award has been found from British official sources.

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