A Great War ‘Trench Reconnaissance’ D.C.M. Group of 4 awarded to Sergeant Ralph Griffiths, 4th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who won his D.C.M. for gallantry on the Western Front for ‘crawling out alone’ towards a German position, under his own initiative, in order to reconnoitre the enemy position – resulting in a confrontation in which he killed one enemy soldier and put the other to flight. He later served in Salonika where he received a gunshot wound to the shoulder, comprising: Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (3167 Pte R. Griffiths. 4/Rif: Bde:); 1914-15 Star (3167 Pte. R. Griffiths. Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1919 (3167 Sjt. R. Griffiths. Rif. Brig.); Group loose, lightly toned, very fine to good very fine (4) D.C.M.: London Gazette: 23 June 1915 – ‘for conspicuous gallantry at St. Eloi on 1st March 1915, in crawling out alone from his trench towards a German sap head using an old disused French trench, he came upon two Germans, one of whom he shot. This reconnaissance was carried out on his own initiative. Later in the day, when accompanied by another man, he again went out to see if the sap was occupied and was immediately fired upon by the enemy.’Sergeant Ralph Griffiths (b.1890) was born in Wood Green, London, and in his early life he worked as a Grocer’s Assistant. He attested for service with the Rifle Brigade at Gosport in November 1908, and saw early service in India between 1913 and late 1914, being brought home to serve on the Western Front during the Great War.Serving on the Western Front between 20 December 1914 and 24 November 1915, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry while conducting two trench reconnaissance missions, the first of which resulted in his killing of a German soldier, while causing another to flee. He was soon after promoted to Corporal on 11 November 1915. Being sent for service in Salonika between 15 November 1915 and 8 January 1919, he was promoted to Sergeant on 29 March 1917, and was wounded in action with a gunshot to the shoulder on 8 September 1918. The timing of his wound suggests that he received it in the days following the offensive to capture the Roche Noir Salient. He was discharged from further service on 28 December 1919, residing at 30 Linacre Road, Cricklewood, London.Ex Buckland Dix & Wood, 27 July 1995

Estimate: GBP 800-1200