Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of four awarded to Lieutenant W. Nodwell, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, who, having been wounded at Passchendaele while winning his M.M., stormed an enemy machine-gun emplacement in the following year, killing three of the crew and gaining the D.C.M.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (649121 Sjt. W. Nodwell, M.M., 4/Can. M.R. Bn.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (649121 Sjt. W. Nodwell, 4/Can. M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. Nodwell), good very fine (4) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Canadian Expeditonary Force 1914-1918.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a raid on the enemy trenches he led a party of ten men with great dash and gallantry. He cut through the wire under heavy fire of a machine-gun in a concrete emplacement and then surrounded it by skilful manoeuvre. He personally rushed the gun, bombing the detachment, of which three were killed and the fourth was made a prisoner, the capture of whom supplied identification which was urgently required.’

M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the action of 26 October 1917 near Passchendaele. Early in the attack, when his officers and senior N.C.Os had become casualties, and although badly wounded himself, he took charge of his platoon and successfully reached the objective. He then directed the consolidation, although suffering great from his wounds, and maintained his position until relieved on the night of 27-28 October, when he was at once evacuated to hospital. He set an example of bravery and fortitude which was responsible for holding his men together during the critical hours of the attack.’

William Nodwell, who was born in Nuwcumnock, Ayrshire, in January 1893, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in April 1916.

Embarked for France in April 1917, where he joined the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, he was advanced to Sergeant that October, in which month he also won his M.M. at Passchendaele, and, on recovering from his wounds, he added the D.C.M. to his accolades for the above cited trench raid in 1918. Commissioned in August of the latter year, he rejoined the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles back in France in the following month, and, on returning to England in early 1919, ‘retired to the British Isles’.

Sold with copied service record.