A Great War 'Western Front' D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant C. Davies, Royal Fusiliers, for his...

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant C. Davies, Royal Fusiliers, for his gallantry under heavy fire during a night-time reconnaissance patrol at Kruisstaat, Ypres on 25 February 1915; subsequently wounded and repatriated to England, he drowned on 17 November 1915 when H.S. Anglia struck a mine in the English Channel en route to Dover and sunk with the loss of 152 lives Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (4594 Sjt: C. Davies. 6/R. Fus:) extremely fine £700-£900 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 9 July 1915: ‘For conspicuous devotion to duty, notably at Ypres on 25 February 1915, when under heavy fire he volunteered and carried out a difficult and dangerous reconnaissance. He has frequently patrolled to the German lines.’ Charles Davies was born in Chelsea and attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Fulham. Posted to the 6th Battalion, he served attached to the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry at Kruisstaat, Ypres on 25 February 1915; according to the 4th Battalion’s War Diary, they relieved the 5th Fusiliers in the trenches that evening, and so presumably Davies’ ‘difficult and dangerous reconnaissance’ was a night-time patrol. He was presented with his D.C.M. in the field by the Divisional Commander, Major-General Haldane, C.B., D.S.O. Subsequently wounded, Davies was repatriated back to England in the Hospital Ship Anglia, and drowned when the Anglia struck a mine and sank in the English Channel on 17 November 1915, whilst en route from Calais to Dover with 390 injured Officers and Other Ranks. Despite the assistance of nearby ships, 152 lives were lost. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton.