A good Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Captain A. G. Davidson, 10th (Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse neatly inscribed ‘Capt., Liverpool Scottish, 3.6.16’, in case of issue; 1914 Star (2975 L. Cpl., 10/L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with corresponding miniatures, extremely fine (8) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin.

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M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

Captain Alexander Gifford Davidson was born in Rock Ferry in 1885, the brother of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir J. R. Davidson (C.O., Liverpool Scottish 1914-17). Prior to the war he worked as a partner in a firm of Liverpool accountants, volunteering for service in the ranks in August 1914. He was admitted to 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne on 15 March 1915, suffering from a gun shot wound to his index and middle fingers inflicted at Ypres, and was evacuated to the U.K. the next day. Davidson was commissioned on 18 March 1915, and was wounded for a second time on 9 August 1916 near Guillemont (machine-gun bullet wounds to neck and shoulder). As a result he was evacuated again to the U.K. and given four weeks leave.

The following are extracts from The Liverpool Scottish 1900-1919, by A. M. McGilchrist:

‘In the early morning of 15 March [1915] Lance-Corporal B. L. Rawlins, the very capable N.C.O. in charge of the Battalion Engineering Section, was out in front of the trenches on the right of the sector putting out barbed-wire. At this point the enemy’s trenches were only about 80 yards away and he was seen and mortally wounded by a sniper. Captain Ronald Dickinson, O.C. “X” Company, in front of whose trench Rawlins was lying, wished to go out himself to bring him in but was forcibly held back by his men, who would not allow him to take the risk. Four men, Lance-Corporal A. G. Davidson, Privates W. W. Howarth and J. L. Wallace of “X” Company and Private S. G. Gibson of the Engineering Section, at once went out and under heavy fire brought Rawlins in. Private Howarth was selected for special recognition and received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallant action. He was the first member of the battalion to be so decorated...

... The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Davidson, went on short leave to London on the 4th [November 1915] and during his absence his brother, Captain A. G. Davidson, assumed command. Did Brigadier-General Douglas-Smith then perhaps recall an incident of nearly a year before when, at Westoutre, he said to the Colonel, “Davidson, I can’t understand your battalion, the men are such a curious mixture. Most of them are obviously gentlemen, but you seem to have a number of absolute toughs as well. Now look at this ruffian.” Indicating a Lance-Corporal in a goat-skin walking towards them, mud to the eyes and with a three weeks’ growth. “I shouldn’t care to meet him alone on a dark night. Do you know who he is?” “Yes Sir” said the Colonel, “He’s my brother!..”

... Epehy provided a novelty in the owl which settled on a Lewis gun one night. This was an opportunity which Captain A. G. Davidson could not let pass and his intelligence report the following day read: “Last night the enemy’s trained observer flew over to our lines and alighted on my No. 1 Lewis gun. After a careful scrutiny of his surroundings and listening for some time to the conversation of the men he offered a triumphal hoot and flew back to his own lines with the information obtained!”