Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An exceptional Second World War ‘North West Europe’ Immediate D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant R. A. Clark, 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, whose gallantry in the attack on Cahier in July 1944 was recommended for the Victoria Cross

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (5379128 Sjt. R. A. Clark. Oxf. & Bucks L.I.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, neat solder repair to scroll suspension at one side, otherwise nearly extremely fine (5) £5000-6000

Provenance: Hayward & Hall, August 1969.

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 October 1944: ‘5379128 Sjt Roland Clark, 1 Oxf Bucks.’ The original recommendation for the Victoria Cross states:

‘On 16 Jul 44 near Cahier 9062, Sjt Clark took part in his Coy in Operation “Villa” in an artificially illuminated night attack on a small copse full of dense undergrowth. When just short of the objective a German MG 42 opened on the Coy and pinned it to the ground. Sjt Clark, without hesitation, went fwd alone and without orders over a distance of fifty yards and disappeared into the wood which was the Coy’s objective. He re-emerged a few moments later carrying the German MG 42 on his shoulder and driving a German prisoner before him. Sjt Clark had killed the remaining members of the team. By this remarkable action his Company was able to reach its objective. Thereafter in spite of a GSW in the leg which he persisted in describing as a “twisted knee” Sjt Clark showed a coolness and courage beyond all praise during some three hours of hand to hand fighting. The intensity of the fighting was such that one Offr, eight effective NCOs and eighteen privates were killed and eighteen wounded in his Company.’

The Regimental Newsletter for 1986 stated that Sergeant Clark had died at Watlington on 25 March 1986.

From an analysis of The Register of the D.C.M. 1920-1992, by Philip McDermott, just 31 DCMs were awarded to Commonwealth Forces as a result of an original Victoria Cross recommendation, including 20 awards to the British Army.