Lot Archive

Lot

№ 558

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29 June 2006

Hammer Price:
£2,500

A good Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant J. Wreford, Monmouthshire Regiment, who was decorated for gallant rescue work at the Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915, although himself wounded

Distinguished Conduct Medal
, G.V.R. (838 A. Cpl. J. Wreford, 1/1 Mon. Regt. - T.F.); 1914-15 Star (838 Pte., Monmouth. R.); British War and Victory Medals (838 Sjt., Monmouth. R.), contact marks and polished, otherwise generally about very fine (4) £1000-1200

D.C.M. London Gazette 29 November 1915:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 13 October 1915, at Hohenzollern Redoubt. Although wounded himself, Corporal Wreford carried several wounded men to the dressing station under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. Regardless of his wound, he continued this gallant work until overcome by sheer exhaustion.’

John Wreford first went to France as a Private in the 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment in mid-February 1915. An Acting Corporal by the time of his gallant deeds at the Hohenzollern Redoubt that October, the serious nature of his wounds effectively curtailed his active service career, although he rose to the rank of Sergeant prior to being honourably discharged in June 1917.