George V WWI Distinguished Conduct Medal, Mons Star, War and Victory Medals Awarded to C.Q.M. Sjt. George Downs of the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, service no. 7948, Mons Star with '5th Aug. - 22nd Nov. 1914' bar, all on ribbons and presented with corresponding miniatures as well as photocopied excerpts reporting the events that won Downs the D.C.M.
C.Q.M. Sjt. George Downs won the D.C.M. at the first Battle of Ypres during a trench evacuation, summarised in Deeds that Thrill the Empire and illustrated by W. S. Bagdatopulos: 'When, under the pressure of overwhelming numbers, the British had been obliged to evacuate the trenches on his left, and the Cheshires' machine-fun section, after sticking to their work with dogged courage, had been nearly all killed or wounded, Downs continued to work his gun alone, and poured so accurate and deadly a fire into the advancing Germans that he succeeded in holding them in check until reinforcements could be hurried up and the trenches reoccupied. The official announcement of the distinction conferred upon him states that by his "conspicuous gallantry" he had "secured the general line from being broken."'. Downs is credited with training the 1st Cheshires in machine-gunning and became known for his skill with the weapon even prior to the events that won him the D.C.M.
Dimensions: Flat 30x20cm wallet
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Sold for £3,700
Auction: Two Day Firearms, Shotguns, Airguns, Arms and Militaria, 28th Jan, 2026
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