Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Gunner F. Ideson, Royal Horse Artillery, who was discharged on account of wounds

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (45919 Gnr: F. Ideson. ‘N’ By: R.H.A.); 1914 Star, copy; British War and Victory Medals (45919 Gnr. F. Ideson. R.A.) mounted court-style for wear, light pitting from Star, VM officially re-impressed, nearly very fine and better (4) £400-£500

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the battery was in action, supporting a counter-attack, this man for some time served his gun alone, thereby keeping it in action at a very critical time. The battery was under heavy shell fire, and had suffered several casualties.’

Frank Ideson was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, around 1889 and enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery on 21 November 1906. Posted to France as Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery on 5 October 1914, Ideson’s name was later listed in the Bradford Daily Telegraph of 6 October 1915 as one of 3000 ‘gallant sons’ of Keighley who answered the call. Transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery, he was awarded the D.C.M. in 1918 whilst serving with “N” Battery; this unit of 6 guns later claimed the highest number of shells discharged in a single month by one battery during the Great War, firing 115,360 shells in August 1917 in support of the Canadian Corps on the Western Front. Discharged from 5th Army Brigade and awarded a Silver War Badge in consequence of wounds on 28 August 1919, it is possible that Ideson witnessed his former comrades of “N” Battery bear the coffin of the Unknown Soldier to Westminster Abbey on 11 November 1920.

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