A Great War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant F. A. Elliott, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, late 20th (Central Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (766368 Cpl. F. A. Elliott, Can. M.G.C.); British War and Victory Medals (766368 Sjt. F. A. Elliott, 20-Can. Inf.), nearly extremely fine (3) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘Between the 26-28 August 1918, east of Cherissy, when his officer and all the sergeants of the section had been killed or wounded, he took command and led them to their positions in close support of the infantry. He himself took a gun, with three other men, and, crawling forward 300 yards, established himself in position in front of the infantry, whence he silenced the fire of an enemy machine-gun nest which was causing heavy casualties to our men. He showed a splendid example and complete disregard of danger throughout the operation’.

Frank Archibald Elliott was born in Guildford, Surrey, on 1 May 1895. Employed as an electrician in Toronto, he attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in December 1915 and was posted to the 123rd (Royal Grenadiers) Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Having then arrived in England in August 1916, he was taken on to the strength of the 20th (Central Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, and proceeded to France, where, in March 1918, he was absorbed into the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps. And it was in this latter capacity that he was awarded the D.C.M. for his bravery in action near Cherissy in August 1918. Elliott was discharged back in Toronto in May 1919; sold with copied service papers.