An exceptional Great War ‘Cambrai’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. M. Glasier, (Commanding) 1st/16th (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) London Regiment, killed in action at Arras, 2 June 1918, at the age of 28

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., in silver-gilt and enamels, obverse centre loose and reverse of suspension bar with old repair, with Garrard & Co. Ltd. case of issue; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., 16/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.) generally nearly extremely fine (4) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 4 February 1918 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. By his personal energy and leadership he succeeded in assembling his battalion in a shallow trench very close to the enemy. The subsequent attack was most successful, resulting in the capture of more than 70 of the enemy, three machine guns and a trench mortar. Prior to the attack he had, with persistence and recource, organised a series of most successful offensive patrols, in which prisoners were taken and serious losses inflicted on the enemy.’

Despatches three times London Gazette 4 January 1917, 21 December 1917 and 25 May 1918.

Philip Mannock Glasier was educated at Harrow School, and gazetted to the Queen’s Westminster Rifles in 1911, going out to France with the 1st Battalion as a Lieutenant in November 1914. He was wounded in the head and arm at Hooge in June 1915, but rejoined his battalion in October. He was again wounded in the arm and legs in July 1916, at Gommecourt, rejoining his battalion in the following November as Second-in-Command. In August 1917 he took over the command of his battalion. Lieutenant-Colonel Glasier was killed in action at Arras on 2 June 1918, at the age of 28, and is buried at Dainville British Cemetery, France.

The following detail is extracted from the regimental history: ‘...On June 2nd [1918], to the intense sorrow of all ranks, suffered a grievous loss by the death of its Commanding Officer, Temporary Lieut.-Colonel P. M. Glasier, D.S.O.’ The entry in the War Diary is as follows:-

“June 2nd.-At 11:00 p.m. the enemy put down a light barrage, soon after which an S.O.S. was sent up by the battalion on our left. No infantry action followed. The Commanding Officer went up the stairs of the headquarters dugout to discover the situation and was killed by a direct hit on the entrance by a 4.2 shell.”

...He commanded the battalion during the Battles of Ypres, 1917, the Battle of Cambrai, 1917 and at Gavrelle, 1918 (First Battle of Arras 1918); and no better tribute can be paid to his leadership than the story of the Queen’s Westminster during these battles, and also during the intervening periods of trench warfare...

“Phil” as he was affectionately called by his contemporaries, was the soul of kindness and chivalry. No commanding officer could have been more solicitous for the welfare of his men than was Phil Glasier, and he was trusted and loved by all ranks of the battalion.’