Medals (4) of 16212 Private William Marshall D.C.M. Distingu...

Hammer

£1,200

Medals (4) of 16212 Private William Marshall D.C.M. Distinguished Conduct Medal GV, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920, and Allied Victory Medal 1914. A resident of Yeadon, Leeds. He enlisted into the 8th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), formed in Halifax on the outbreak of war in August 1914. First saw action at Gallipoli after his arrival on 24th November 1915. Subsequently served in the 9th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) in France, and by 1918 was serving with the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The award of his Distinguished Conduct Medal was recorded in the battalion war diary on 11th August 1918 and was published in the London Gazette on 30th October 1918. 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He came upon a post containing eight of the enemy, one of whom fired and wounded him in the nose and shoulder, causing him to drop his rifle. He then threatened them with a grenade and caused them to surrender, and although suffering great pain and having no arms except a grenade and a billhook, he marched them back, single-handed, to our lines through the enemy barrage. This incident was observed by an officer and men of his own battalion holding the front line.'18th General Hospital R.A.M.C. records show he was admitted on 23rd July 1918 with a shrapnel wound to his left shoulder, and he was discharged to a convalescent depot on 2nd August 1918.  He was finally discharged to the Reserve on 15th February 1919.