This is Great War Trio inc. Distinguished Conduct Medal with Dress Medals and National Rifle Association Rife Shooting Medal (1928) to 8/13804 Sergeant S. Neal – B Company South Staffordshire Regiment. 8th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment were part of Kitcheners 2nd New Army They joined 51st Brigade Northern Division and subsequently went to south Ypres in January 1916 On Feb. 14th 1916 they were under intense artillery assault from German positions This was followed by an enemy infantry attack. This was the point that Corporal S. Neal was badly injured in his left hip by shrapnel yet still saw action that resulted in an act of bravery that led to his award of the D. Conferment of the D. Gallantry award was announced in the London Gazette and accompanied by a citation. The Bluff – 14/02/1916. The Bluff – On 8th February 1916, 17th (Northern) Division had taken over a sector of V Corps front, from near St Eloi to the Ypres-Comines Railway at Zwarte Leen (Zwartelen). The operations in the area of the Bluff from the start of the enemy attack to noon on 17 February cost the British 1,294 casualties. Which included a large mound on the north bank of the canal, known as The Bluff. A spoil heap from the construction of the canal, The Bluff had excellent views over both the British and the German lines and control of it was crucial to control of the area. The Ypres-Comines canal, running south east from the town, cut through the front lines about 3 miles from the Cloth Hall. This was the position at the end of the First Battle of Ypres and it was much the same by 1916, the Second Battle having not altered things. Facing the British, the village of Hollebeke; on the left was the hotly-contested ground of Hill 60 and Zwarteleen, and on the right the hotspot at St Eloi. On the northern embankment of the canal, a curious mound a spoil-heap, created when the canal was excavated gave the British front an unusual observation advantage over the enemy. If the enemy held it, the view across the rear areas of the Salient to Hill 60, towards Ypres and down to Voormezele would have made the Salient very difficult to hold. The position just had to be held. On 14th February, the front was being held by 52nd Infantry Brigade on the right, south of the Ypres-Comines Canal and 51st Infantry Brigade on the left, north of the Canal. 52nd Infantry Brigade had responsibility for defending the Canal itself and it’s right flank battalion, 10th Lancashire Fusiliers was on both banks of the Canal and the right of The Bluff…. This is an historic set of medals awarded to a very brave man… This is a good investment as their value will only increase as the years go on… The item “WW 1 DCM TRIO FULL SIZE w DRESS MEDALS + NRA S. STAFFS REG. YPRESCOMINES 1916″ is in sale since Sunday, April 7, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War I (1914-1918)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “carartandstuff” and is located in Torrington. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
- Country/ Organization: Great Britain
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Type: Medals & Ribbons
- Conflict: World War I (1914-1918)
- Service: Army
- Era: 1914-1945