Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War ‘Gallipoli Mining Operations’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private Thomas Wilkinson, 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1381 Pte. T. Wilkinson. 4/E. Lanc.: Regt.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (1381 Pte. T. Wilkinson. E. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (20014 Pte. T. Wilkinson, E. Lan. R.)medals unmounted, light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (4) £2,000-£2,400

Dix Noonan Webb, March 2008.

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 November 1915:
‘For conspicuous bravery on the 14th September, 1915, on the Gallipoli Peninsula. During mining operations, Private Wilkinson remained at his post in a mine gallery where the enemy’s shaft was expected to break through. When they succeeded in doing so, he shot the first Turk who appeared, and then assisted a Non-Commissioned Officer to lay and fire the charge, so destroying the enemy’s gallery. This was done at great personal risk’.

Thomas Wilkinson landed with the 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (T.F.) at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9 May 1915, and went into the line to the south-west of Krithia. There followed a period of routine trench warfare before the Battalion took part in the battle of Krithia on 4 June, suffering 212 casualties in killed, wounded and missing. During 6-13 August the battalion took part in the battle of Krithia Vineyard, suffering further heavy casualties before being withdrawn to re-organize.

Much like the Western Front, Gallipoli saw mining and counter-mining operations by both sides and the 42nd Division formed a Mining Company, to which Private Wilkinson volunteered, being granted extra pay for this duty. September 1915 was a particularly active month for mining operations, with the Turks exploding mines on the 3rd, 15th, 18th, 21st, 22nd and 29th, all opposite an area of trenches on the Division’s right known as the ‘Gridiron’. On the left, at Fusilier Bluff, the Mining Company successfully put out protective galleries which negated the Turkish miners. Wilkinson was awarded the D.C.M. for services during these mining operations, possibly the only Gallipoli D.C.M. award to the the 4th Battalion.

The battalion was withdrawn to Mudros on 17 October, returning to the Peninsula on 2 November, landing at W Beach and taking up positions at Y Ravine. The battalion remained on the Peninsula until the evacuations on 29 December, when they embarked on the Princess Alberta. They went on to serve in Egypt and Palestine in 1916, taking part in the battle of Romani, before moving, along with the rest of the 42nd Division, to the Western Front in March 1916, where they served for the remainder of the war.

Sold with brass shoulder title and copied research.