Hammer

£3,800

WW1 1/4th Bn Seaforth Highlanders Distinguished Conduct Medal & Bar.

A rare group awarded to Sergeant Donald Gray DCM & Bar, who led his men in a bayonet charge overwhelming six times their number and taking a German strong point. . Comprising: Distinguished Conduct Medal & Bar “201290 SJT D GRAY 1/4 SEA HDRS TF”, 1914/15 Star, “4029 PTE SEA HIGHRS”, British War Medal, Victory Medal, “4029 SJT”. Group mounted for display, Star and Victory Medal appear to have been plated at some time. ... Accompanied by two original Gallantry on Active Service cards for the DCM’s, a small amount of original newspaper cutting and a quantity of research.

Citation for the DCM London Gazette 18th July 1917. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, when he led ten men to attack a strong point held by about sixty enemy with a machine gun and charged them at the point of the bayonet killing nearly half and taking the remainder prisoners.”.Citation of the Bar to the DCM London Gazette 6th February 1918.“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of the Company and led the attack on the furthest objective. Later when the enemy heavily counterattacked and broke through one position of the line he rallied men of his own and other units and leading them back repulsed the enemy with heavy losses”. Sergeant Donald Gray was a native of inverness and along with his brother were keen footballer. His brother “Willie Gray’ a professional footballer who had played for Partick Thistle Raith Rovers and Southampton, he died of wounds 18th November 1916. Donald also played for Partick Thistle. Volunteering for service he landed in France on the 29th September 1915. The DCM was awarded for gallantry on the 23rd April 1917, this was for an attack on Roeux and the chemical works. The Bar to the DCM won on the 20th September 1917, He survived the war and many years later on his death a comrade wrote “Let us hope he will be reunited with his brother Billy and the rest of our comrades, who we shared our biscuits and bully beef and our dreams of home”.