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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 582

A Good 1916 ´Battle of the Somme´ D.C.M. Group of Four to Sergeant M. Taylor, 1/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2571 L. Cpl. M. Taylor. 1/5 Glouc: R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2571 Sjt. M. Taylor. Glouc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2571 Sjt. M. Taylor. Glouc. R.), extremely fine, with photographic image of recipient (3) Estimate £ 1,200-1,400 D.C.M. London Gazette 22.9.1916 2571 L. Cpl M. Taylor 1/5 Glouc. R.-T.F. ´For conspicuous gallantry during operations. His bombing party suffered heavily and was reconstructed several times with fresh men, but L/Cpl Taylor remained in charge during the whole action, which lasted over three hours, and contributed largely to the success of the attack.´ The 1/5th Gloucesters War Diary records the incident for which Taylor was awarded the D.C.M. in greater depth, ´27.8.1916. Trenches. 7pm The battalion was ordered to attack Trench from position R32. E50-33. C. Coy. attacked on the right and B Coy on the left, both in two lines across the open. A Coy 2 platoons advanced up communication trench x2 a 19-R32 E31. Intense barrage for three minutes. Right company entered trench in their own barrage and left company at the moment of lift, both with few companies. The bombing platoons met with considerable opposition in the communicator and a large party of Germans held out between points 31 & 51 but were ultimately forced to retire across the open when our Lewis guns accounted for all but 3 of them. Several dug-outs were bombed and the trench was consolidated and held. About 50 prisoners were taken and the enemy´s other losses were estimated at about 200 killed or wounded. One machine gun captured. Casualties: Killed Lt. L.W. Moore, Lt. C.W. Winterbottom, 2 Lt. A.L. Apperly. Missing 2 Lt. C. Brien. Wounded 2. Lt. N.H. Graves-Smith, 2 Lt. W.F. Bigger. O.R. Killed 14, wounded 84, missing 10. The trench and Communicator were heavily shelled during the night. 28.8.1916 Battalion was relieved by 2 companies of 9th Lancashire Fusiliers and move to bivouac N.W. of Bouzincourt....... The C. in C. under authority awarded the D.C.M. to the following No. 2571 Corporal Taylor M.´

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