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Auction: 9024 - The Property of a Gentleman Orders, Decorations and Campaign Medals
Lot: 735

A Great War ´1915, Battle of Aubers Ridge´ D.C.M., ´1916, Somme´ M.M. Group of Five to Company Sergeant Major W.H. Simmer, Royal Irish Rifles a) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7095 C.S.Mjr: W.H. Simmer. 1/R.Ir:Rif:) b) Military Medal, G.V.R. (7095 Sjt: W.H. Simner [sic]. 1/R.Ir:Rif:) c) 1914 Star, with Bar (7095 Sjt. W.H. Simmer. 1/R.Ir:Rif.) d) British War and Victory Medals (1-7095 W.O.Cl.2 W.H. Simner R.Ir.Rif.), BWM officially renamed, generally very fine, mounted as originally worn (5) Estimate £ 1,200-1,600 D.C.M. London Gazette 5.8.1915 7095 Company Sergeant-Major W.H. Simmer, 1st Bn., R.Ir.Rif., ´´For conspicuous gallantry on the 9th May 1915, near Rouges Bancs, when he, with great courage and determination, captured a German machine gun, thereby materially assisting to repel several counter-attacks.´´ M.M. London Gazette 1.9.1916 7095 Sjt. (Act. Coy. S./M.) W.H. Simner [sic], R.Ir.Rif. 7095 Company Sergeant Major W.H. Simmer, D.C.M., M.M., served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers on the Western Front from, 6.11.1914; on the 9th of May 1915 Simmer´´s Battalion were heavily engaged in the Battle of Aubers Ridge (see citation) and formed part of the assault on the German positions, ´´On the left a distance of four hundred yards separated the two assaults of the 25th Brigade. In front of the right column composed of the 2/Rifle Brigade (Lieut.-Colonel R.B. Stephens) and 1/Royal Irish Rifles (Lieut.-Colonel O.C. Baker) the wire had been well cut, and the hundred yards of No Man´´s Land was covered at a rapid pace in lines of platoons at thirty paces´´ distance. In spite of heavy losses, the leading companies stormed the German breastwork, though it was practically undamaged, and, after capturing a number of the 16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment, pressed on to their first objective, the bend of the Fromelles road, two hundred yards beyond. The supporting companies, following closely, also reached the German line, and the 2/Rifle Brigade, by bombing, was able to extend the front it had captured to 250 yards.´´ Despite several groups being dug in the attack came to a standstill when the next wave of troops failed to catch up with the progress of the initial assault, and as a consequence the enemy started to re-group and chaos ensued, ´´The British front and communication trenches-converted almost into obstacles by the remains of broken ladders and light bridges - were blocked with dead, wounded and leaderless men, the congestion being constantly increased by the endeavours of the rearmost waves to reach the front. Movement forward, rearward or lateral became impossible, except over the open, and the Germans in the unattacked portions of the front were able to prevent not only substantial support, but even individuals from crossing No Man´´s Land. It was clear that the men who had formed the lodgements were cut off..... Every effort was made to reinforce the 2/Rifle Brigade and 1/R. Irish Rifles; the 15th Field Company R.E. dug a communication trench towards them, and a few small parties with bombs and ammunition reached them during the night. This assistance was inadequate and, after a strong German attack about 2.30am on the 10th, the survivors, some two hundred in all, were withdrawn.´´ (Official History of the War, Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915, refers). In less than 24 hours Simmer´´s battalion had lost 23 officers and 454 other ranks. The divisional losses for the attack were calculated at 458 officers and 11,161 other ranks. Simmer´´s battalion as part of the 25th Brigade 8th Division was engaged during the Battle of the Somme from the first day when they were part of the attack on Ovilliers and suffered 446 casualties. The 1st Battalion also took part in the attacks on Rainbow and Spider Trenches and on Zenith Trench, 24.10.1916, when the Regimental History records that within seconds the assault force was ´´simply swept away´´.

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£4,500