Orders, Decorations and Medals

An exceptional and rare Great War D.C.M., M.M. and 2 Bar group of six awarded to Corporal W.R. Peniston, King's Royal Rifle Corps, together with a gold cased presentation pocket watch

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.V.R. (A2273 L.Cpl., 9/K.R.R.C.); MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R., with Second and Third Award Bars (L.Cpl., 9/K.R.R.C.); 1914-15 STAR (Pte., K.R. Rif. C.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (Pte., K.R.R.C.); ST. JOHN SERVICE MEDAL, silver (22652 Sgt., No. 5 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1940) with extra long service bar; together with a fine 18 carat gold cased 'Ascot' pocket watch, the inner cover with inscription 'Presented to Lance Corporal W. Peniston, M.M., D.C.M., by the Staveley Wesleyan Friends, for Conspicuous Bravery in the Field 1918' generally nearly very fine (7)

The group is sold with a large quantity of original documents, mostly relating to Pensions and Gratuities, but including Divisional Certificates for the award of the D.C.M., M.M. and first bar to the M.M., and two original postcard photographs.

D.C.M., London Gazette, 26 January, 1918. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an action. His company came under enemy barrage fire which caused considerable casualties, and he remained behind under heavy shelling attending to the wounded, and helped to carry them to the aid post. He undoubtedly saved the lives of many seriously wounded cases by his prompt action, and set a fine example to the stretcher bearers under him.'

According to details extracted from the Regimental History Penistone won his first M.M. on 26 August 1916 at Delville Wood, the D.C.M. on 11 September 1916 at Woodlane, and bar to the M.M. on 15 September 1916 at Flers-Courceletre. The second bar to his M.. was gazetted on 6 January 1917. All awards were won on the battlefields of the Somme.