Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

A Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Serjeant A. Wagstaffe, Machine Gun Corps, late King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (15482 Sjt., 30/M.G.C.); 1914-15 Star (16631 Pte., K.O. Sco. Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (16631 Sjt., K.O.S.B.) mounted court style for display

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (173 Cpl. J. E. Wagstaffe, 6/Ches. Regt.) this last with edge bruise, good very fine (5) £1200-1400

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. was serjeant of a section of guns which took part in two heavy days’ fighting. He started by long range fire on the enemy advancing over a ridge, but soon had to shift, two guns having to be left behind owing to the violence of the barrage. In the evening he took out a party, and fetched in these two guns and ammunition. Shortly after the section officer was severely wounded, and, owing to heavy casualties, only one gun could be manned. The next day after further heavy bombardment, the enemy again attacked, and he kept his gun in action till they were within fifty yards when he got his gun away, the company officer being killed.’

Alfred Wagstaffe was born in 1894, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Wagstaffe of 17 Croft Street, Hyde, Cheshire; educated at Hyde Lane Day School. He enlisted into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers on 9 November 1914 and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 9 July 1915. Wagstaffe was wounded at the battle of Loos, 25 September 1915 - receiving a bullet in the thigh but was able to return to France in February 1916. Being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, Wagstaffe was rewarded for his courage in action with 30th Division M.G.C. on 25/26 April 1918, near Ypres, with the award of the D.C.M. It is believed that Corporal J. E. Wagstaffe, Cheshire Regiment was the son of Sergeant A. Wagstaffe, D.C.M., King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

With a copied photograph of the recipient and copied research including m.i.c., war diary extracts and a number of copied newspaper articles.