DELVILLE WOOD

MILITARY MEDAL

42 recommendations / 33 attributions

Private Victor William ALLEN

4th SAI, A Coy

Recommended for the DCM. On the 17th July, under heavy fire, he left his trench, recovered a Lewis gun whose teams were killed and work it again.

Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and commissionned. Awarded Military Cross.

Killed in action on the 9th June 1918 as Observer in the 103rd Squadron, RAF.

Rest in peace in Bouchoir New British Cemetery, Somme.

Private George F.  BAKER

1st SAI

Recommended for the DCM. Wounded during the rescue of  Lieutenant Craig on the 16th July 1916 with Faulds (VC), Estment (MM),

Killed in action on the 12th April 1917 during the battle of Arras as Lance Corporal.

Rest in peace in Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux, Pas-de-Calais.

Private George Thomas BAKER

1st SAI, C Coy

Wounded on the 19th July 1916.

Private William John Kekewich CALDER

2nd SAI

Recommended for the DCM as runner at Bernafay Wood, 11th-12th July 1916. Commissioned Second-Lieutenant in August.

Killed in action on the 12th October 1916 at the Butte de Warlencourt, Somme. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Lance Corporal John DINNES

3rd SAI

Recommended for a night reconnaissance of Trônes Wood on the 11th July 1916 with Lieutenant Robert Beverley (MC).

Corporal Charles DIXON

4th SAI, B Coy

Recommended for the DCM. Wounded at Delville Wood.

Private Robert DOWTHWAITE

2nd SAI

Recommended for the DCM for his action as Signaller at Bernafay Wood along with Fitz (MM)

Killed in action on the 12th April 1917 during the battle of Arras as Corporal.

Rest in peace in Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Pas-de-Calais.

Private Stanley Teetalper DUNSTON

2nd SAI, A Coy

Recommended for the DCM for his action with a Lewis Gun along with Private Grainger (MM)  Wounded in the foot on the 19th July 1916.

Private Alexander ESTMENT

1st SAI

Recommended for the DCM. Rescue of the Lieutenant Craig on the 16th July 1916 with Faulds (VC) and Allen (MM).

Private Edward Henry FITZ

HQ 2nd SAI

Recommended for the DCM for his action as Signaller at Bernafay Wood along with Dowthwaite (MM) and Mitchell (MM).

Wounded on the 17th July 1916. Mentioned in despatches twice during the War. Commissioned in March 1918.

Died in 1974.

Lance Corporal William Nicholas FLANAGAN

3rd SAI, C Coy

Recommended for the DCM. Wounded on the 18th July 1916.

Lance Corporal Frederick L. GARLAND

2nd SAI, B Coy

Recommended for the DCM for his action during the fighting in the northern part of the wood on the 15th July. Taken prisoner.

Private John Leslie GRANGER

2nd SAI, A Coy

Recommended for the DCM. Wounded on the 15th July 1916.

Lance Corporal John HALL

4th SAI, B Coy

Recommended for the DCM. Sergeant at the end of the War.

Private William Fairfield HARRIS

HQ 1st SAI

Recommended for gallantry at Longueval. Severely wounded late 1917 and discharged.

Private Andrew HOATSON

2nd SAI, C Coy - Wounded

Recommended for the DCM. Won a bar to the MM near Ypres on the 20th September 1917.

Transferred to the Railway Company in 1918.

Private William HOLDSWORTH

2nd SAI

Recommended for his action as streatcher-bearer at Bernafay Wood.

He dressed a number of wounded under fire and assisted to convey them to safety. He has seen to cover a wounded man with his own body when shells fell near. He continued tirelessly on his duty until himself wounded.

Private Thomas Herbert HOLIDAY

1st SAI, D Coy

Recommended for his action as runner and guide at Delville Wood. Wounded at the face on the 17th July.

Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and commissioned Lieutenant.

Private William Lloyd HOLLINGBERRY

3rd SAI, D Coy

Recommended for his action on the 15th July 1916 during the taking of Delville Wood.

Died of wounds on the 31st July 1916.

Rest in peace in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, Somme.

Private Ernest Evelyn HOLLINGTON

4th SAI

Recommended for the DCM for his action as gunner of Lewis gun on the 17th July.

Private Richard James HOLMES

Brigade HQ

Mentioned in despatches and recommended for his action as signaller along with Private Smuts at Delville Wood. The two men were sent into the wood as linesmen to establish communications. Throughout the whole time the wood was occupied they attended to their duties under fire. Holmes was wounded by a shell splinter but remained at his post.

Lance Corporal George Arthur HORT

1st SAI

Recommended for his conduct in Delville Wood. He displayed utter fearlessness in removing wounded men from in front of the front line trenches under a severe rifle and machine-gun fire. Thereafter he assisted in evacuating the wounded from the wood. Wounded on the 17th July.

Sergeant William Simpson McDONALD

3rd SAI, D Coy

Posthumously recommended for his action on the 15th July 1916 during the taking of Delville Wood.

Wounded then missing in action on the 15th July 1916.

Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme.

Lance Corporal F. MITCHELL

2nd SAI HQ

Recommended for the DCM for his action as Signaller at Bernafay Wood along with Dowthwaite (MM) and Fitz (MM).

Private Francis Gustav MONERON

3rd SAI

Recommended for the DCM for his action as stretcher-bearer.

Private Walter PRENTICE

4th SAI

Recommended for his action as runner between the Brigade and battalions headquarters. He repeatedly went through zones swept by shell fire and exhibited great eagerness in keeping up communications.

Killed in action on the 6th July 1918.

Rest in Peace in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, Nord, France.

Private Marcel Raffard SMUTS

Brigade HQ

Mentioned in despatches and recommended for his action as signaller along with Private Holmes at Delville Wood. The two men were sent into the wood as linesmen to establish communications. Throughout the whole time the wood was occupied they attended to their duties under fire.

Private Walter Arthur STEWART

3rd SAI, D Coy

Recommended for the DCM for his action as stretcher-bearer at Delville Wood, where he showed outstanding heroism. Despite being bruised and exhausted, he insisted on going through a hail of fire to bring a wounded man. On two occasions he made a tour of all the company's lines, bringing back wounded and rendering a report regarding unatended wounded. Stewart saved many lives by risking his own. Slightly wounded on the 17th July.

Mortally wounded on the 13th October 1917.

Rest in Peace in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres.

Lance Corporal Gerald Constantine STRICKLAND

3rd SAI, attached to the Trench Mortar Battery

Recommended for the DCM. He showed conspicuous gallantry in keeping his men together in the wood and repelling an ennemy bombing party after his NCOs had been wounded.

Corporal Horace Lawrence SUMNER

4th SAI

Recommended for the DCM.

"For his ability, initiative, coolness and the way he handled the men under him while with the Trench Mortar Battery in Delville Wood... Through determination and coolness this NCO held strong points in Princes Street and Delville Wood... under very trying conditions (18th-20th July)"

Commissioned later and awarded the MC in March 1918. Served in North Africa during the Second World War as Commanding Officer of the Cape Town Highlanders.

Private Harold Montague TAYLER

2nd SAI

Recommended for his conduct at Bernafay Wood. He acted as an orderly, carrying despatches to all parts of the line. Wounded and shell-shecked, he continued in his duties.

Transferred later to the Royal Flying Corps, flying as observer-gunner in DH4 in the 18 Squadron. The 15th July 1917, the following day of his commission, he was shot down, wounded and taken prisoner. Rapatriated on the 15th January 1918, his right leg was amputated a week later.

Private George THOMAS

1st SAI

Corporal Geoffrey Watkin WILLIAMS

3rd SAI, C Coy

Recommended for the DCM for his conduct at Delville Wood. On the 20th July, he commanded a strong point in Princes Street and showed a great determination and coolness in handling his men under fire.