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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 683

A Great War 1918 D.C.M. awarded to Corporal R. S. Blake, Machine Gun Corps, who was a taken a Prisoner of War on 5 May 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (31266 Cpl R. S. Blake. 14/M.G.C.), good very fine

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When surrounded by the enemy and endeavouring to reach his own lines, he noticed the enemy using a Lewis gun, and collecting a few bombs, he went forward and, single-handed, bombed this gun out of action and effected his escape. A fine performance.'

Robert Sidney Blake was born in 1891 in Canterbury, Kent, one of eight children to William Blake, a grocer's assistant, and his wife Emily. He worked as a printer in New Barnet prior to his enlistment at North Finchley on 6 November 1915 with the Royal East Kent (The Buffs) Regiment. However, Blake transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 11 April 1916 and was posted to Europe as part of the British Expeditionary Force on 6 August. Blake spent time at a General Hospital in Rouen being treated for dysentery ahead of returning to England on 14 November 1916, upon which he was immediately admitted to 3rd General Hospital, Oxford for 77 days to continue to be treated for dysentery. Not long afterwards, he again found himself in Hospital for dysentery for 22 days in February 1917. Blake stayed at home a while longer until returning to Europe with the 224th Company, British Expeditionary Force on 12 November 1917.

Blake was promoted Corporal on 30 December 1917, in which capacity he was posted to the 25th Battalion on 20 April 1918. He was serving with the 25th Battalion, 'C' Company, when he was marked as 'Missing' on 5 May 1918. He had been taken P.O.W. in France by the Germans that day and was imprisoned at an unknown German camp until the end of the War. During his imprisonment Blake was gazetted for his D.C.M., received for an act of gallantry performed before his capture.


He was finally repatriated at Dover on 29 November 1918 and later proceeded to the No. 1 Dispersal Unit at Crystal Palace in February 1919. Blake was then posted to the Reserve Battalion and later transferred to the Class 'Z' Army Reserve on 15 March upon demobilisation. His permanent address was recorded at 80 Broad Street, Canterbury; the same house in which he grew up.

The February 1919 edition of the Typographical Circular records Robert Sidney Blake, 27 years old from Canterbury, as a new member, perhaps indicating a continuation of his pre-War printing profession. He is further entitled to a British War and Victory Medal pair.


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Sold for
£580

Starting price
£400