A Bradford Sergeant's Distinguished Conduct Medal group of 4, to a pre-war regular decorated for gallantry at Vermelles (Battle of Loos) twice wounded-in-action & later Prisoner-of-War: Sergeant George Green D.C.M., 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

DCM is an award for Conspicuous gallantry displayed near Vermelles (Battle of Loos), France, 29 September 1915

The East Yorkshire Regiment - all battalions - were awarded 130 x DCM's & 4 x Bars 1914-1920

- Distinguished Conduct Medal. GV 1st issue (9027 Sjt: G. Green. 2/E. York: Regt.)
- 1914-15 Star (9027 Pte. G. Green. E.York:R.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (9027 Sjt. G. Green. E.York. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (9027 Sjt. G. Green. E.York. R.)

Sold together with:

- 4 x space silk medal riband row. Ribands stitched on buckram and removed from a uniform tunic
-10 x pages typescript 'Diary of Sergt. G. Green DCM' . 11/1914 (Bombay) - 01/ 1916 (Salonica) 

Conspicuous Gallantry: The official published citation for the D.C.M. (published in London Gazette on 16 November 1915) states:

Quote,

9027 Sjt. G. GREEN. 2nd Bn

For conspicuous gallantry on the 29th September 1915, near Vermelles, when, with great bravery, he led his men forward against German bombers who had seized a trench on the left of our line, and succeeded in driving them back out of the trench. On the following day Serjeant Green again showed conspicuous bravery and powers of leadership during an action in which he was severely wounded

Unquote 

2nd /East Yorks 1914-15: At the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment was stationed at Kamptee Cantonment, near Nagpore, Central Provinces, India. The battalion was embarked for return to England, where it was posted to 83rd Brigade, 28th Division. The battalion, first entered theatre of war, France, 16 January 1915. The battalion remained in France through to 26 October 1915, when it embarked at Marseilles for Salonika (via Egypt).

At dawn on 29th September the Battalion was in the trenches near Vermelles when the German forces launched a heavy bombing attack. 2 x squads of bombers from the East Yorkshires went to reinforce the South Staffords and beat off the attack. 2 hours later the Germans broke through the line to the left of the Battalion and once again the bombing squads went forward and broke up the attack and reoccupied the vacated trenches. The fighting continued all day long and during the afternoon the enemy made a heavy attack on the trenches held by the Middlesex Regiment, once again the bomber of the East Yorkshires went into action and drove the enemy back retaking all the captured line allowing the Middlesex Regiment to reoccupy their former positions. German attacks carried on through to the 30th but made little progress. In September the Battalion suffered casualties of 24 x Other Ranks killed, 90 x wounded and 6 x missing. The following month the Battalion moved out to Salonica

Portrait Photograph in Uniform: The Bradford Daily Telegraph newspaper issue of 19 November 1915, contained a captioned portrait of George Green in Field Service Order uniform wearing the badge of the East Yorkshire Regiment  on his cap, together with below following article:

Quote,

A BRADFORD D.C.M.

Sergt. George Green of 12 Raglan Terrace, Thornbury, has won the Distinguished Conduct Medal whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. The award was made for conspicuous gallantry on the 29th September, near Vermelles, when, with great bravery, he led his men forward against German bombers who had seized a trench on the left of our line, and succeeded in driving them back out of the trench. On the following day Serjeant Green again showed conspicuous bravery and powers of leadership during an action in which he was severely wounded 

Unquote.

Multiple Wounds: George Green was wounded-in-action at least on 2 x occasions by Gunshot & ShraPnel Wounds while serving in France & Flanders as under:

- 30/09/1915: Severely wounded-in-action Battle of Loos - the day after his DCM deeds
- 07/08/1917: France & Flanders received Gunshot & Shrapnel Wound to right knee (service papers refer) 

Prisoner-of-War: 27/05/1918 while serving with East Yorkshire Regiment in France, he was posted 'Missing' and subsequently reported Prisoner-of-War in Germany. Was repatriated back to England on 08/12/1918 (service papers refer)

Service Papers Extant: A very good set of his service papers are extant and accessible at The National Archives

Medals Verification: All medals confirmed as entitled per the referenced London Gazette issue and medal rolls of the East Yorkshire Regiment below:

- Distinguished Conduct Medal: London Gazette 16 November 1915 - for France & Flanders
- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2659. Entered theatre of war 'France & Flanders' 15/01/15 as 'Private'
- British War Medal. Silver: WO 329/918 (Sergeant served 2nd, 1st & 1/4th East Yorkshire Regiment)
- Interallied Victory Medals: WO 329/1918 (Sergeant 2nd, 1st & 1/4th Battalions East Yorkshire Regiment)

George Green, second son of George Edward Green (described in 1911 Census as 'Storekeeper for Joiners Works') and Florence Aurilla Green (nee Garnett), was a native of Bradford, Yorkshire, England, where he was born on 11 December 1889. At the time of the compilation of the 1901 National Census for England & Wales, George was living with his parents and  - at the time - 4 x siblings comprising elder brother Charles Green, and younger siblings, sister Annie Green, and brothers Jason Green & Willie Green (another brother Harry Green was born after the 1901 Census), at the family residence located at, 67 Napier Street, Bradford, Yorkshire. George, described as a 'General Labourer' attested for the British Army at Bradford on 13 October 1908, and 2 x days later on 15 October 1908 was posted to Victoria Barracks, Beverly, Yorkshire which was the Regimental Depot of the East Yorkshire Regiment. His terms of service were to be 7 years 'With the Colours' and 5 years on the Army Reserve. On completion of his basic training he was on, 5 January 1909 posted to the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, then on 2 February 1910 was transferred to 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. George Green subsequently went on to complete his 12 years with the British Army, and took his final discharge from the British Army on 12 October 1920, on which date he had accumulated 10 years 171 reckonable service towards pension. He served his entire military career with the East Yorkshire Regiment, in various battalions of the regiment. George's impressive record of service is summarised below:

- Home: 13/10/1908 - 31/02/1910
- India: 01/03/1910 - 21/12/1914
- Home: 22/12/1914 - 14/01/1915
- BEF France: 15/01/1915 -24/10/1915
- MEF (Salonica): 25/10/1915 - 11/10/1916 (contracted several bouts of Malaria)
- Home: 12/10/1916 - 13/04/1917
- France (inc POW in Germany): 14/04/1917 - 07/12/1918 (served 1/4 East Yorks)
- Home: 08/12/1918 - 01/04/1919
- Reserve Section B: 02/04/1919 - 12/10/1920

Shortly after his return to the United Kingdom in 1919, George returned to his native roots in Bradford, where he married Hannah Allison on 15 January 1919. At the time of the compilation of the 1921 National Census for England and Wales, George is recorded employed as a 'Tram Conductor, Bradford Corporation', working at the 'Thornbury Depot', and living with his wife Hannah at their residence located at, 86 Back Tamworth Street, Tyersal, Bradford, Yorkshire.  Latterly George Green became a 'Publican', and at the time of the compilation of the National Register for England & Wales in 1939, he is shown living with his wife at the 'Quarry Gap Hotel' located at, 250 Dick Lane, Bradford. George Green is recorded to have  died at Bradford, Yorkshire, England,  on 14 April 1946. At death he left an estate of value £222.5s and was succeeded by his widow Hannah Green  

The medals mounted in the swing style, on original thread stitched ribands. The contemporary white metal mounting bar retaining its long hinged pin and clasp fittings. The medals mounted in irregular order as illustrated in the attached images

An outstanding regimental gallantry group to an exemplary pre-1914 'Regular Army' soldier of the East Yorkshire Regiment

Condition: Mostly VF & better

Code: 26036