Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Great War ‘Western Front’ posthumous D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private C. Ponder, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, for his gallantry in rescuing a wounded officer at St. Eloi on 15 February 1915. Killed in action later on the same day, Ponder’s D.C.M. was the Battalion’s first gallantry award of the Great War: reputedly the original recommendation, made by Lieutenant E. H. Carkeet-James, the wounded officer in question, was for the Victoria Cross

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8959 Pte. C. Ponder. 2/D.C.L.I.); 1914-15 Star (8959 Pte. C. Ponder. D. of Corn: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8959 Pte. C. Ponder. D. of Corn. L.I.) extremely fine (4) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 1 April 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry near St Eloi on 15th February 1915, when he rushed forward at great risk under heavy fire and dragged back to his trench a seriously wounded Officer.’

Charles Ponder was born in Stoke in 1889 and attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at Warwick on 20 April 1908. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 December 1914, and by February 1915 the Battalion were in the trenches near St Eloi. This was a period of extremely cold weather and the troops spent only two days in the line with one in support and two in reserve. Mud and water caused many problems and the enemy was active with rifle grenades and shell fire. There was also the ever present threat of snipers.

On 14 February 1915, during a period out of line, the 2nd Battalion D.C.L.I. was ordered forward to counter attack after the Germans had launched a strong assault on the trenches occupied by the Leinsters. The assault was to take place at 4:00 a.m. the following morning, on 15 February 1915. The attack went forward after a short Artillery bombardment, and was a qualified success, although heavy casualties were sustained, amongst them Lieutenant E. H. Carkeet-James, who was leading ‘C’ Company, and was seriously wounded. Realising that he was hit, Carkeet-James turned and attempted to return to the trench.

Seeing that his officer was hit, Ponder leapt from the trench and rushed forward under heavy fire, being heard to shout ‘Come on Jimmy Sir, you can’t stay there’. The officer’s reply was ‘Go back, or you’ll get hit’, to which Ponder replied ‘I’m not going back without you Sir’, and he managed to drag his wounded officer to safety. Despite the severity of his wound (the lower bone in his left arm was shattered and the artery severed, and amputation was ultimately necessary), Carkeet-James then remained in the trench, being the only surviving officer, and refused to be moved even when four bearers and a stretcher came. It was only after he had been evacuated to hospital that he recommend Ponder for, if contemporary accounts are correct, the ‘Victoria Cross.’ However, tragically, events were to overtake the recommendation.

For the rest of 15 February 1915, the 2nd Battalion, D.C.L.I. came under repeated enemy sniper fire, and further casualties were sustained. Amongst these were Private Ponder, who was killed in action. He was 26 years old. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Posthumously awarded the D.C.M. for rescuing the wounded Lieutenant Carkeet-James, in what was the Battalion’s first attack upon enemy trenches, his was the first gallantry award the Battalion received during the Great War. For his conduct that day Carkeet-James was awarded the Military Cross, and later commanded the 2nd Battalion D.C.L.I. during the 1930s.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient, and copies of the Battalion War Diary for the action.

Note: Under the statutes in force at the time, the Distinguished Conduct Medal could not be awarded posthumously, although in cases of exceptional gallantry which just fell short of the requirement for the Victoria Cross this was often overlooked, especially if it could be claimed (as in this case) that the act of gallantry had finished prior to the recipient’s death.