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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 350

(x) The stretcher-bearer's D.C.M., 'Great War' M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal W. J. Barltrop, 17th (British Empire League) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (C-3553 L.Cpl W. J. Barltropp. 17/K.R.R.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-3553 L.Cpl W. J. Barltrop. 17/K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (C-3553 Cpl. W. J. Barltrop. K.R.Rif.C.), some light edge wear, minor contact marks, overall very fine (4)

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917, the original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as stretcher bearer. He worked untiringly for six days, dressing the wounded under fire with admirable skill and disregard of personal danger. During this time he carried a wounded man, who was in need of immediate medical treatment, over ground which was swept by enemy snipers; they had already that day accounted for four runners who were using the same road. No praise can be too great for his courage and devotion.'

M.M. London Gazette 6 January 1917.

William James Barltrop, sometimes spelled Barltropp, was born near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire around 1886. He appears on the 1901 census living at Henham Hall Cottages, near Stansted, Saffron Walden. Enlisting with the 17th (British Empire League) Battalion Barltrop entered the war in France with them at some stage after 1916.

The Battalion entered the war in April 1916 and saw action during the Somme Offensive starting at Ancre in September before moving to support the attack on the Schwaben Redoubt in October. Given the date of Gazette for Barltrop's M.M. it is quite likely that his medal was related to these actions.

The 17th Battalion saw out a gruelling Christmas and New Year in the Ypres Salient suffering a constant attritional stream of losses. They were back in the action proper at the start of the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilckem Ridge and saw continual fighting through July, August and into September. It was very likely during the early engagements of that Offensive that Barltrop won his D.C.M.

The Regiment was seriously mauled during the German Spring Offensive of early 1918 and as such they were amalgamated into a composite Brigade. After the Offensive was halted they went into the reserve as a training cadre. Barltrop appears to have taken his pension from April 1919, his death was registered in 1925; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800