Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 T. W. Hart, 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (201392 C.S. Mjr. (A.R.S. Mjr.) T. W. Hart, 1/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (201392 W.O. Cl. 1 T. W. Hart, 1-Can. Inf.); Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, minor edge bruising, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £800-1000

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 16 January 1919:

‘During the attack on Upton Wood on 30 August 1918, when all the officers became casualties, he took charge of the Company and led them forward under very heavy enfilade machine-gun fire to the objective. He showed complete disregard of his own safety and his able leadership and cool gallantry at a critical stage of the attack was largely responsible for the successful result.’

Thomas William Hart, who was born in London, England, in November 1881, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Toronto in October 1915.

Embarked for France in September 1916, where he joined the 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry, he was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major and won the D.C.M. for the above cited deeds at Upton Wood in August 1918; so, too, the Belgian Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 18 January 1919).

Also a veteran of the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele operations, Hart was discharged in April 1919 and died in April 1922; sold with two original letters regarding the recipient’s investiture at Hamilton in October 1919, by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, together with copied service record.