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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 215

A good 1940 D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant A. J. Dyer, The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment)

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (5568172 A-L-Cpl. A. J. Dyer. Wilts. R.); 1939-1945 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6)

Just 8 awards of the D.C.M. to the unit for the Second World War.

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940, the original recommendation states:

'On 23 May 40 his company was on the bank of the River Scarpe in front of Reux. During the night the village was subjected to considerable artillery bombardment for some hours.

Pte Dyer, although the only man left in his section position, which was crushed by shell fire, was still holding it by himself. He collected men from other positions and formed a section which continued to hold on under considerable fire. Later, when the enemy reached a wood on his flank, he patrolled into it with his section, and acting under orders, held another position to cover this wood, which although in the open and under shell fire, he held.

On 25 May 40, when his company went forward over the river Scarpe, although most of his platoon became casualties, he brought a report of the situation over open country under heavy shell and machine gun fire to the Company Commander. He showed similar bravery when his company occupied a position at Wambeke near the Ypres-Comines Canal.'

Arthur John Dyer enlisted at Taunton on 21 April 1931 and served with the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment in Shanghai, Singapore and India prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. He was released to the Reserve on 28 April 1938 but was recalled for service with the 2nd Battalion in August 1939. Following the action during which he was awarded the D.C.M., he returned to England via the Dunkirk beaches.

During the Second World War he saw further service in Madagascar, India, Iraq, the Middle East, North Africa, Italy, and back to the Middle East before returning to the Western European theatre on 6 March 1945. Once again released to the Reserve on 23 February 1946 he was finally discharged on 15 September 1957; sold together with a good archive of original material including Regular Army Certificate of Service, Discharge Certificate for 1938, Field Service postcards to Mrs A. Dyer at Buckham Weston, Gillingham, Dorset and several original photos of the recipient.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2400