The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A good Great War posthumous 1914 ‘Neuve Chapelle’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Private J. W. Otton, 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, for his heroism in attempting to rescue a wounded comrade from an enemy trench, an act of gallantry immortalised in Deeds that Thrill the Empire; Otton had previously been taken Prisoner of War whilst serving with the Mounted Infantry in South Africa during the Boer War, and was one of just 33 other ranks from the Regiment to serve in Somaliland

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6003 Pte. J. W. Otton. 4/Middx: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6003 Pte. J. W. Otton. Middlesex Regt.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (6003 Pte. J. Otton. Middlesex Regt.); 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (L-6003 Pte. J. Otton 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-6003 Pte. J. Otton. Midd’x R.) number and name unofficially re-impressed on both Star and VM, contact marks between QSA and AGS, these nearly very fine, the Great War awards generally very fine and better (6) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: J. B. Hayward, April 1968.

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1915, citation published 1 April 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry on 5 November 1914 near Neuve Chapelle, in attempting to rescue an N.C.O. from in front of the enemy’s trenches. He was killed in the attempt.’

John W. Otton attested for the Middlesex Regiment, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War. He was taken Prisoner of War whilst serving in a Mounted Infantry Company near Utrecht on 1 February 1902, when his patrol under Lieutenant J. Whiteman was ambushed about five miles from Knight’s Farm, and was subsequently one of just 33 other ranks of the Battalion who served in Somaliland with No. 3 Company, Mounted Infantry.

Otton served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from October 1914, and along with Privates H. G. F. Mead and A. S. S. Spencer of the 4th Battalion was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his heroism near Neuve Chapelle on 5 November 1914, an act of gallantry recorded in Deeds that Thrill the Empire:

‘At about 6 o’clock in the evening, Private Mead heard a man crying for help and water. The cry came from the direction of a German trench which earlier in the day had been taken by the 1st Connaught Rangers who, however, had subsequently had to abandon it. Private Mead immediately left his trench and ran across the open to the spot whence the cry had come, and found Lance-Corporal Ely lying badly wounded in the German trench. He raised the wounded man’s head and poured some water down his throat, and then finding that he could not lift him over the parapet alone, he went back and fetched two of his comrades, Privates Otton and Spencer. They succeeded in carrying Ely to within a few yards of the British trench when they were seen by the Germans. Both Mead and Otton were killed instantly, but Spencer succeeded in dragging the wounded man into safety, though not before his clothes and equipment had been almost riddled with bullets. This gallant deed was recognised by the award of the DC.M. to each of the three men.’

Otton has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.