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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 165

A ´1915 St. Eloi´ D.C.M. Group of Four to Sergeant J. Clarkburn, Northumberland Fusiliers a) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7387 Cpl. J. Clarkburn. 1/Nth´ld Fus.) b) 1914 Star, with Bar (7387 Pte. J. Clarkburn. 1/North´d Fus.) c) British War and Victory Medals (7387 A-Sjt. J. Clarkburn. North´d Fus.), slightly worn throughout, naming details slightly rubbed on last, therefore nearly very fine (4) Estimate £ 1,400-1,600 D.C.M. London Gazette 30.6.1915 7387 Sergeant J. Clarkburn, 1st Btn., North´´d Fus. ´´For conspicuous gallantry at St. Eloi, on the night of 14th April, 1915, when, after extricating himself from the ruins of a fortified house which had been blown up by a mine, he assisted to extricate his men and restored order with great coolness.´´ 7387 Sergeant John Clarkburn, D.C.M., enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 22.12.1900; transferred to the Army Reserve, 1913, before re-engaging for active service during the Great War with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 9.11.1914; Corporal 20.3.1915; on the 14th April 1915, Clarkburn´´s Battalion were holding the trenches at St. Eloi Craters, Vourmezeele. "Y" Company, of which Clarkburn was a part, was occupying the part of a trench that ran through a large fortified house, ´´the enemy shelled the support trenches again in the afternoon after which all was quiet until 11.15pm (when opposite Q1) the enemy suddenly opened rapid rifle fire. After about 5 minutes they also opened with shrapnel on the trench which was held by a portion of "Y" Company under Captain Roddam... but shortly after the enemy´´s artillery started, a mine was exploded... the latter was completely wrecked by the explosion and a large portion of the parapet was shaken down blocking the way to the communication trench running from here to the house.´´ (Battalion War Diary, for 14.4.1915, refers) 5 men were killed, and 38 wounded during the attack. Clarkburn was wounded two months later, when he received gun shot wounds to his chest, arm and leg. He was discharged 26.3.1919. 1914 Star Bar unconfirmed.

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