Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant W. E. Large, Cheshire Regiment, late Grenadier Guards
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11330 C.Q.M. Sjt. W. E. Large, 9/Ches. R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (2477 Corpl. W. Large, Gren. Gds.); 1914-15 Star (11330 Pte. (A. Sjt.) W. E. Large, Ches. R.); British War and Victory Medals (11330 C. Sjt. W. E. Large, Ches. R.), generally good very fine (5) £1200-1400

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to for over two years. He has always rendered invaluable services during many active operations in personally supervising the taking up of rations, often under very adverse conditions, and has set a fine example to all ranks.’

William Edward Large was born at Davenham, Northwich and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards direct from the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in June 1890, aged 18 years. Gaining steady advancement to Lance-Sergeant in July 1895, he was convicted of drunkenness in at a District Court Marshal in the following year and reduced to Private, but had regained a Lance-Corporal’s stripe by the time of being transferred to the Army Reserve in June 1897.

Recalled on the outbreak of the Boer War, he served in the 3rd Battalion in that theatre of war from April until July 1902, gaining entitlement to the above described Medal & clasps (accompanying roll verification refers), and was discharged on his return to the U.K.

But with the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he re-enlisted, and was posted to the Cheshire Regiment and, having been advanced to Acting Sergeant that October, went out to France in 9th (’Butterfly’) Battalion in mid-July 1915. Confirmed in his rank at the end of the year, he would have been present with the Battalion on the Somme in July 1916, when it was engaged in heavy fighting around La Boiselle on the 2nd-4th, actions that resulted in casualties in excess of 300 men. This then one of the chapters of his wartime career reflected in his D.C.M. citation, although regimental records state that he was decorated for a specific act of bravery on 10 July 1917. Be that as it may, Large, by now a Company Quarter-Master Sergeant, remained on active service until the War’s end, a period encompassing the award of the V.C. to 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Colvin for gallant deeds with the “Butterflies” on 20 September 1917.

Large was demobilised in March 1919 and in later life a resided in Northwich, Cheshire and and was the recipient of a Chelsea Pension. He died in October 1938; sold with research.