A Collection of Medals to the 42nd Highlanders and 73rd Foot (Black Watch)

A Great War 1916 ‘Mesopotamian theatre’ D.C.M. pair awarded to Corporal D. S. Bell, 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1890 Pte. D. Bell. 2/R. Hdrs); British War Medal 1914-20 (1890 Cpl. D. S. Bell. R. Highrs.) suspension slightly loose on last, very fine (2) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 42nd Highlanders and 73rd Foot (Black Watch).

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D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry. When shell fire had buried five guns, L/Cpl. Blyth, and Ptes. Bell and McLeod dug them out and continued to serve, the one gun remaining uninjured. Later they dug out the guns of another unit and served them till they were destroyed by shell fire. Private McLeod was wounded.’

David Shaw Bell was born in Lochhead, Dunfermline, in May 1891. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders in the French theatre of war from 12 October 1914. He advanced to Corporal, and left France with the Battalion in November 1915. Bell served with the Battalion in the Mesopotamian theatre of war from January 1916. After the war he was employed as a Coal miner, and died in Edinburgh, 15 May 1938.

Sold with original copy of citation.