A Great War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Corporal H. Holcroft, South Lancashire Regiment, originally recommended for the Victoria Cross, for gallantry at Festubert on 10 April 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (241694 Pte., 1/5 S. Lan. R.); 1914-15 Star (4152 Pte., S. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (4152 Cpl., S. Lan. R.); France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, bronze star on ribbon, good very fine (5) £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the South Lancashire Regiment.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918, ‘241694 Pte. (A./Cpl.) H. Holcroft, S. Lanc. R. (nr. Wigan)’. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While a platoon of his company was moving forward to counter-attack a party of the enemy on the right flank this man rushed out of a trench on his own initiative and single-handed attacked a machine gun and its crew which was checking the advance. He killed two, capturing the gun and four prisoners. He afterwards went out several times under heavy fire bringing in wounded’.

Croix de Guerre London Gazette 14 July 1919.

Harry ‘Mad Ginger’ Holcroft was born in Crawford Village, near Rainford. A miner by occupation, he volunteered for service in the Army at the outbreak of the Great War, giving a false date of birth, being 17 years of age at the time. He joined the 5th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 28 October 1915. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross and awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry at Festubert on 10 April 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘Rfn. Holcroft. H. is strongly recommended for reward for excellent work and devotion to duty throughout the last tour of duty in the line and particularly for his epic gallantry when during an enemy attack on Loisne Central Keep on 10th inst. he attacked single handed and on his own initiative an enemy machine gun and crew which was holding up and inflicting losses on our counter attacking platoon. He killed two and captured four others and the machine gun thereby facilitating the operations of the counter attack. Afterwards he repeatedly patrolled up to the enemy trench clearing our own dead and wounded and securing documents and identifications from the enemy dead. Also at great personal risk, locating the body of Lt. Dymond who was killed on the enemy wire whilst exploiting the success of the counter attack and securing from his person very valuable company documents’.

A further recommendation continues:

‘On the night of the 19 /20 June/18 while taking part in a raid on the enemy lines, the above (Holcroft) showed a great example to his comrades by his magnificent bearing throughout the operation. He also helped to get the wounded back to a place of safety under very heavy machine gun fire. Prior to the raid this man did good patrol work & brought back very useful information about the enemy ...’

For the above actions he was additionally awarded the French Croix de Guerre. Holcroft was discharged on 30 January 1919 and was awarded the Silver War Badge. After the war he was for some time the landlord of the Colliers Arms at Kings Moss, and was for a number of years employed by Pilkington Glass. He died in St. Helens, Lancashire, at the age of 92 years.

Sold with a folder of copied research including a photocopied photograph of the recipient; copied m.i.c., copied handwritten reports of his gallantry by his commanding officers; copied recommendations; copied gazette extracts; photographs of the recipient in later life and newspaper cuttings with his obituary.