Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M. pair awarded to Serjeant J. H. Halligan, 29th Co. Labour Corps, late 20th (Labour) Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (16806 Sjt., Lab. C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (48154 Sjt., Notts. & Derby. R.) edge bruising, very fine (2) £700-800

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 1 January 1919; citation: 3 September 1919. ‘16806 Sjt., 29th Co. Labour Corps (Louth)’ ‘For conspicuous devotion to duty and courage in the face of the enemy. On 22nd March 1918 at Le Transloy, he took a party of 120 men to work on defences 900yds. in front of Velu Wood. They dug the trenches under shell fire, and before they were completed they were occupied by infantry. Again on 27th May 1918, near Fimes he displayed great courage and coolness in assisting his Officer to withdraw a platoon from camp under shell and machine gun fire and personally aided in getting wounded men away. He set a very fine example to those under him.’

John Robert Halligan came from Louth, Lincolnshire. He enlisted on 11 December 1915, initially posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment. On 14 May 1916 he was transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment and two days later to the 20th (Labour) Battalion Sherwood Foresters. This battalion eventually became 28th and 29th Companies of the Labour Corps. It was in the 29th Company that Halligan won the D.C.M. He was transferred to Class ‘Z’ Reserve in February 1919. His home address was ‘Spring Cottage, Louth, Lincolnshire’.

With copied research.