The
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Instituted in
1854 at the time of the Crimean War, the Medal was seen as a “near miss” for a
Victoria Cross, The Commissioned Officer equivalent being the Distinguished
Service order.
17th
Battalion
The 18 Soldiers
of the Battalion to be Awarded the,
DISTINGUISHED
CONDUCT MEDAL
Pte. R. Allen 27318.
Place and date of deed.
Spoil Bank,
Gazetted 03/09/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty when acting as a stretcher bearer. He managed to
bring a wounded man back successfully from a front position under full fire
from an advancing enemy. During the following week he repeatedly brought in
wounded men under heavy machine-gun fire. He was eventually wounded while
attending to a case. (03/09/18)
C.S.M. H. Bingham 8066
Place and date of deed.
Heninel, 23/04/1917
Gazetted 04/06/17
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations he assumed command of his
company, and carried out his duties with great courage and ability. (09/07/17)
Sgt W. Brookes 11760 (
Place and date of deed.
Spoil Bank,
Gazetted 03/09/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty at a critical moment, when the enemy attempted
to surround his flank. This NCO collected a mixed party of men and with a Lewis
gun rushed to the threatened position, exposing himself fearlessly throughout
the action and inspiring the men with confidence. His prompt and gallant action
undoubtedly saved the situation and all the time under very heavy machine-gun
fire. (03/09/18)
L/Cpl C. F. Carter 17/9323
Place and date of deed.
Guerville 31/05/18
Gazetted 03/09/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty in action. On one occasion he took an important
message to a neighbouring Battalion. The trench was blown in and he had to go
in full view of the enemy. On the information obtained, his company was able to
proceed to that part of the line where it was most urgently needed. His
attitude under fire was remarkable. This NCO showed an extraordinary example of
courage, which had a wonderful effect on his comrades and infected them with
his own spirit of determination. (03/09/18/)
Sgt. F. Cowman 17/8501 (
Place and date of deed.
Gazetted 22/10/17
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty in getting men forward and organising the firing
line under intense artillery and machine-gun fire. At a moment when it was
necessary to send a report of the situation to Brigade headquarters and after
two members killed in attempting to do so. He volunteered and successfully
accomplished the task himself under heavy fire of every description. (26/01/18)
Sgt. J. Curran 38544 M.M (
Place and date of deed.
Not known 05/06/18
Gazetted 03/10/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward with two men and surprised and
captured an enemy post of one officer and six men, in broad daylight. Later he
assumed command of his platoon and under heavy barrage held an isolated
position till relieved. His conduct throughout was splendid and inspired his
men. (03/10/18)
Pte. P. Duffy 28259 (
Place and date of deed.
Gazetted 22/10/17
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty in taking charge of a section and rushing an
enemy trench, capturing there a machine-gun and five trench mortars. Although
wounded in the he declined to leave the Battalion until it was relieved. He was
conspicuous throughout for his pluck and devotion to duty. (26/01/18)
Pte. J. Dunn 24357 (
Place and date of deed.
Not Known 03/06/18
Gazetted 21/10/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. As a runner he has done excellent work.
Volunteering to take messages through heavy on many occasions, setting a fine
example to his comrades and keeping up most important communications at
critical times. (21/10/18)
Pte. T. Dunn 33875 (
Place and date of deed.
Gazetted 22/10/17
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. Accompanied by another man he went out some 200
yards to a detached post to bring in a wounded man. They dressed and carried in
the man 700 yards across the open in broad daylight in spite of rifle,
machine-gun fire and sniping, machine-gun fire from an aeroplane and it the
later stages very heavy shell fire. Had the wounded man been left until night
he would undoubtedly have died. He set a splendid example of courage and
devotion to duty. (26/01/18)
Pte. W. Flaherty 2729
Place and date of deed.
Heninel, 23/04/17
Gazetted 18/06/17
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great promptness and initiative in
the newly captured position. He caused a block to be made and brought a
machine-gun into action against enfilade fire, inflicting a large number of
casualties. He set a splendid example throughout. (18/06/17)
C.S.M. B. Green 51920 (Bedlington)
Place and date of deed.
Guerville
Gazetted 03/09/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty through active operations, when he set a
splendid example to the men going along the line and firing first with one
section, then with another. Encouraging them to risk the incessant machine-gun
fire. His energy and courage did much to raise the men’s moral and inspire them
to further efforts when almost at the limits of their physical endurance.
(03/09/18)
Pte. A. Hall 17/1686
Place and date of deed.
Not Known
Gazetted 26/09/16
For conspicuous
gallantry. When an enemy shell set fire to a bomb and ammunition store. He
assisted an officer, although they had both been knocked over by the explosion
of the shell, to organise a party for the removal of the ammunition. They
carried out their work under the continual explosions of bursting bombs.
L/Cpl J. Jones 302534 (Hengoed,
Place and date of deed.
Not Known
Gazetted 01/01/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. He volunteered to swim across a river to obtain
information and although he encountered an enemy patrol and a working party, he
successfully returned with the information required (17/04/18)
Pte. C.E. Overton 8781
Place and date of deed.
Not Known
Gazetted 17/04/18
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. He went out under the most intense fire and
succeeded in rescuing a wounded man. He has at all times set a splendid
example. (26/05/17)
Sgt. E. Wallwork 17/8323
Place and date of deed.
Not Known
Gazetted 26/09/16
For conspicuous
gallantry during operations. He has been in charge of stretcher-bearers and has
repeatedly done fine and gallant work bringing in the wounded under heavy fire.
(26/09/16)
Pte. C.F. Pascoe 43143 (Ventnor)
Place and date of deed.
Gazetted 22/10/17
For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. Accompanied by another man he went out some 200
yards to a detached post to bring in a wounded man. They dressed and carried in
the man 700 yards across the open in broad daylight in spite of rifle,
machine-gun fire and sniping, machine-gun fire from an aeroplane and it the
later stages very heavy shell fire. Had the wounded man been left until night
he would undoubtedly have died. He set a splendid example of courage and
devotion to duty. (26/01/18)
Sgt G. Royle 17/9014 (
Place and date of deed.
La Douve and
Gazetted 03/09/19
Since November 1915 he
has acted as a signal Serjeant. In addition to his technical skill, which is of
the best. He has proved himself in action to possess cool courage and devotion
to duty. Notably when mending lines in the Douve and Menin Road sectors and
maintaining communications during the battle of St Quentin in March 1918. From
April until July 1918, he performed the duties of signal officer most successfully.
(03/09/19)
C.S.M. J. E. Young 43403
Place and date of deed.
Not Known
Gazetted 31/05/18
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, although badly
shaken and partially buried by a shell which killed the man next to him, he
remained at duty and together with a serjeant reconnoitered a communications
trench leading to a bill box from which our men had been driven. His report was
of great assistance to the attacking party which captured the pill box. His
example and cheerfulness are always inspiring. (21/10/18)