A Great War 'Boesinghe, July 1917' D.C.M. and 1916 M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant T....

A Great War ‘Boesinghe, July 1917’ D.C.M. and 1916 M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant T. C. M. Phippin, Grenadier Guards Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11467 Sjt: T. C. M. Phippin. 1/G. Gds:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (11467 Cpl. T. C. M. Phippin. 1/G. Gds.); 1914-15 Star (11467 Pte. T. C. M. Phippen. G. Gds:) note spelling of surname; British War and Victory Medals (11467 Sjt. T. C. M. Phippin. G. Gds.) medals unmounted, light contact marks and polished, otherwise nearly very fine (5) £1,800-£2,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917; citation published 26 January 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In spite of constant shelling, by which the cable was frequently broken between Brigade and Battalion Headquarters, he personally organised a party and laid five lines himself, maintaining communications at a critical time by his gallant and prompt action. On the following day he displayed similar initiative and skill in connecting up the forward companies with their Battalion Headquarters.’ Annotated Gazette states: ‘Boesinghe 30 July 1917.’ M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916. Thomas Charles Moore Phippin was born in 1885 in the Parish of Cwmburla, Swansea, and enlisted into the Grenadier Guards at Swansea on 25 April 1904, aged 18 years 7 months, a warehouse man by trade. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on the expiration of his Army Service, 25 April 1907, and was mobilised at London on 5 August 1914. He served in France with the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, from 4 January 1915, was promoted to Corporal in July 1916 and to Sergeant in April 1917. He was admitted to hospital having been gassed on 9 April 1918, and convalesced in the U.K. from 11 April to 1 August, 1918, before returning to France. He returned Home on 25 January 1919, and was demobilised on 31 March 1920, returning to his position as a Police Constable in the Prison Service. He died at Somerton, Somerset, on 19 March 1955, aged 69. Sold with copied discharge papers, Battalion War Diary extracts and other research.