A Great War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Serjeant J. Fearn, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment - later a prisoner-of-war of the Germans

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11118 Sjt., 1/N. & D.R.); 1914-15 Star (11118 L. Cpl., Notts. & Derby. R.); British War and Victory Medals (11118 Sjt., Notts. & Derby. R.); Defence Medal, unnamed, contact marks, good fine and better (5) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Medals to the Sherwood Foresters.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 26 September 1916. ‘For conspicuous gallantry. When an enemy rifle-grenade fell against the parapet and was sliding down into the sap, he caught it before it reached the ground, and threw it over the parapet, where it at once exploded. He has repeatedly displayed great pluck and resource.’

James Alfred Fearns was born in Chellaston, Derbyshire c.1880. A Farm Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters on 31 March 1909, aged 19 years, 2 months. He served in India, August-September 1914, before entering France on 17 December 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion in France, December 1914-August 1917 and again, December 1917-March 1918. He was captured on 21 March 1918 and remained a prisoner-of-war in Germany until 13 December 1918. He was discharged on 30 March 1919. After the war he worked as a Railwayman. James Fearns died on 17 March 1978. With copied research.