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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 206

A 'Holnon 1918' D.C.M., 'Havrincourt 1917' M.M. group of four awarded to Serjeant W. Barker, 2nd/7th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (266240 Sjt. W. W. Barker. M.M. 1/W. York: R.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (266240 Pte W. W. Barker. 2/7 W: York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (3628 Sjt. W. W. Barker. W. York. R.), overall contact marks, nearly very fine (4)

D.C.M. London Gazette 10 January 1920, the original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Holnon on 19th September, 1918. He reorganised his men after they had suffered severely by machine-gun and shell fire. Later in the day he got two Vickers guns into position under very heavy fire. He showed coolness and resource during the day, exposing himself regardless of danger.'

M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1918.

Walter Wilson Barker was born at Leeds, Yorkshire in 1897. Entering the war with the 2nd/7th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, Barker was serving with this unit on 20 November 1917 when the Battalion was involved in a heavy attack to the east of Havrincourt. The objective was taken at little cost and on 15 December 1917 Barker was one of 16 N.C.O.s to be awarded the Military Medal as a result of the action.

The next year the Battalion was engaged in the capture of the village of Holnon on 19 September 1918. Facing heavy fire they managed to establish positions in the village and on the approaches to the secondary objective of Salency. It was here that Barker earned his D.C.M.; he was demobilised not long afterwards on 3 April 1919. Sold together with copied research including M.I.C., medal rolls and extracts from the London Gazette as well as further extracts from The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War, the absent voters list for 1919 and the Battalion War Diary.

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Sold for
£2,000

Starting price
£600