The Battle of Loos D.C.M. group to Warrant Officer 2nd Class Frederick Winters, 5th (Pioneer)

The Battle of Loos D.C.M. group to Warrant Officer 2nd Class Frederick Winters, 5th (Pioneer) Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment: Distinguished Conduct Medal, George V (7474 SJT: F. WINTERS. 5/NORTH: REGT); 1914-15 Star (7474 C.S. MJR. F. WINTERS. NORTH'N. R.); British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal (7474 W.O. CL. 2 F. WINTERS. NORTH'N. R.), BWM with light contact marking to the edge, otherwise all good very fine. [4]

Noonans, lot 525, 16th September 2010

D.C.M. London Gazette 29/11/1915

Frederick Winters was born in London in 1885, and he attested for the Northamptonshire Regiment on the 23rd of June 1904. He served in various stations at home and in India, and entered France with the 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (Pioneers) on the 31st May 1915, twenty-one days after his marriage to Jane (nee Stoneham). In the latter stages of the Battle of Loos, his Battalion attacked the German position at The Quarries near Vermelles on the 13th of October 1915. It was for his actions on this and subsequent days that Winters was awarded the D.C.M.

"For conspicuous gallantry on the 13th Oct. near Vermelles. He was detailed, with eight men, to block a communications trench. The party rushed up the trench for 90 yards in rear of a bombing party of another battalion. A strong party of enemy bombers was met with who drove in our bombing party. Sgt Winters with great bravery promptly engaged the enemy, drove them back and successfully blocked the trench, losing three men killed. Later in the day he again successfully blocked another communication trench under heavy fire. On the evening of the 15th he was again conspicuous in collecting parties to repair a trench which was being heavily shelled and on digging out dead and wounded men.".