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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 646

A 'Mesopotamia 1917' D.C.M. pair awarded to Private T. Fairbank, 6th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (22179 Pte. T. Fairbank. 6/L. N. Lanc: R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (22179 Pte. T. Fairbank. L. N. Lanc. R.), light contact wear, very fine (2)

D.C.M. London Gazette 29 August 1917, the original citation states:

'For marked gallantry and devotion to duty as a stretcher-bearer throughout the operations. He has always shown great coolness and perseverance under fire.

Note the recipient's M.I.C. states that the Victory Medal was returned in 1924, there is no record of it being re-issued.

Thomas Fairbank served with the 6th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and entered the war on 15 August 1915 at Gallipoli. The Battalion was first posted at Anzac Cove although they later transferred over to Suvla Bay.

After the evacuation of the Peninsula the Battalion was posted to the Tigris Corps to take part in the relief of Kut. They saw particularly heavy action at Battle of Fallahiya and Sanniyat in the Spring 1916 and were in on the action the next year during the crossing of the Diyala River in March 1917. 100 men of the Battalion managed to get a foothold across the river and held their ground there for some time until eventually the Turks withdrew.

Fairbank served with this unit until he was demobilised on 17 May 1919; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£520

Starting price
£420