8
A Great War D.S.O. group of four attributed to Captain R. C. Dunford, Northumberland Fusiliers,
Description
A Great War D.S.O. group of four attributed to Captain R. C. Dunford, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was recommended for the V.C. on the occasion that he was fatally wounded on the Somme in September 1916
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. C. Dunford, North’d Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Captain R. C. Dunford); renamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. R. C. Dunford), good very fine (4) £800-1000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. For three days prior to the attack he directed the digging of assault trenches under heavy shell fire. During the attack his personal direction of his company resulted in heavy losses to the enemy and the capture of 150 prisoners. Finally he was shot through the body whilst organising the defences.’
Roy Craig Dunford was born at Kirkcudbright, Scotland in June 1881 and was educated at Richmond Grammar School, Yorkshire. Articled to the Chartered Accountants Messrs. J. M. Winter & Sons, he subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1904 and established his own practise at St. Nicholas Chambers, Newcastle.
An old volunteer, he was commissioned in the 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and went out to France in the following year. Wounded in September 1915, he returned to France in the new year and was, as cited above, fatally wounded on the Somme on 15 September 1916 during the battle of Flers-Courcelette. As verified in The V.C. & D.S.O., he was recommended for the V.C. on the same occasion.
Evacuated to the U.K., Dunford died of his wounds a few weeks later, on the 15th November, and was buried in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Old Jesmond) General Cemetery. On 18 October, his Adjutant sent the following congratulatory message:
‘I had the extreme pleasure to read aloud to Assembly at Battalion Headquarters’ the announcement of your award (D.S.O.). Dawson is now dictating the award to appear in Orders. Our hero! The man the 6th are proud of, not only because of his decoration, but because of his sterling qualities as a man and soldier.’
A photograph of his widow, Helen Walker Dunford, being presented with his D.S.O. by King George V at St. James’s football ground, Newcastle on 19 June 1917 survives in the Conquest Collection, part of the Picture Stockton Archive. The photograph first appeared in the Daily Mirror two days later and includes the Queen about to greet the late Captain’s toddler son; Dunford’s campaign medals were forwarded to Helen at 9 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh in May 1923; sold with copied research.
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. C. Dunford, North’d Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Captain R. C. Dunford); renamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. R. C. Dunford), good very fine (4) £800-1000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. For three days prior to the attack he directed the digging of assault trenches under heavy shell fire. During the attack his personal direction of his company resulted in heavy losses to the enemy and the capture of 150 prisoners. Finally he was shot through the body whilst organising the defences.’
Roy Craig Dunford was born at Kirkcudbright, Scotland in June 1881 and was educated at Richmond Grammar School, Yorkshire. Articled to the Chartered Accountants Messrs. J. M. Winter & Sons, he subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1904 and established his own practise at St. Nicholas Chambers, Newcastle.
An old volunteer, he was commissioned in the 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and went out to France in the following year. Wounded in September 1915, he returned to France in the new year and was, as cited above, fatally wounded on the Somme on 15 September 1916 during the battle of Flers-Courcelette. As verified in The V.C. & D.S.O., he was recommended for the V.C. on the same occasion.
Evacuated to the U.K., Dunford died of his wounds a few weeks later, on the 15th November, and was buried in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Old Jesmond) General Cemetery. On 18 October, his Adjutant sent the following congratulatory message:
‘I had the extreme pleasure to read aloud to Assembly at Battalion Headquarters’ the announcement of your award (D.S.O.). Dawson is now dictating the award to appear in Orders. Our hero! The man the 6th are proud of, not only because of his decoration, but because of his sterling qualities as a man and soldier.’
A photograph of his widow, Helen Walker Dunford, being presented with his D.S.O. by King George V at St. James’s football ground, Newcastle on 19 June 1917 survives in the Conquest Collection, part of the Picture Stockton Archive. The photograph first appeared in the Daily Mirror two days later and includes the Queen about to greet the late Captain’s toddler son; Dunford’s campaign medals were forwarded to Helen at 9 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh in May 1923; sold with copied research.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
A Great War D.S.O. group of four attributed to Captain R. C. Dunford, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was recommended for the V.C. on the occasion that he was fatally wounded on the Somme in September 1916
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. C. Dunford, North’d Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Captain R. C. Dunford); renamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. R. C. Dunford), good very fine (4) £800-1000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. For three days prior to the attack he directed the digging of assault trenches under heavy shell fire. During the attack his personal direction of his company resulted in heavy losses to the enemy and the capture of 150 prisoners. Finally he was shot through the body whilst organising the defences.’
Roy Craig Dunford was born at Kirkcudbright, Scotland in June 1881 and was educated at Richmond Grammar School, Yorkshire. Articled to the Chartered Accountants Messrs. J. M. Winter & Sons, he subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1904 and established his own practise at St. Nicholas Chambers, Newcastle.
An old volunteer, he was commissioned in the 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and went out to France in the following year. Wounded in September 1915, he returned to France in the new year and was, as cited above, fatally wounded on the Somme on 15 September 1916 during the battle of Flers-Courcelette. As verified in The V.C. & D.S.O., he was recommended for the V.C. on the same occasion.
Evacuated to the U.K., Dunford died of his wounds a few weeks later, on the 15th November, and was buried in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Old Jesmond) General Cemetery. On 18 October, his Adjutant sent the following congratulatory message:
‘I had the extreme pleasure to read aloud to Assembly at Battalion Headquarters’ the announcement of your award (D.S.O.). Dawson is now dictating the award to appear in Orders. Our hero! The man the 6th are proud of, not only because of his decoration, but because of his sterling qualities as a man and soldier.’
A photograph of his widow, Helen Walker Dunford, being presented with his D.S.O. by King George V at St. James’s football ground, Newcastle on 19 June 1917 survives in the Conquest Collection, part of the Picture Stockton Archive. The photograph first appeared in the Daily Mirror two days later and includes the Queen about to greet the late Captain’s toddler son; Dunford’s campaign medals were forwarded to Helen at 9 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh in May 1923; sold with copied research.
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. C. Dunford, North’d Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Captain R. C. Dunford); renamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. R. C. Dunford), good very fine (4) £800-1000
---
D.S.O. London Gazette 14 November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. For three days prior to the attack he directed the digging of assault trenches under heavy shell fire. During the attack his personal direction of his company resulted in heavy losses to the enemy and the capture of 150 prisoners. Finally he was shot through the body whilst organising the defences.’
Roy Craig Dunford was born at Kirkcudbright, Scotland in June 1881 and was educated at Richmond Grammar School, Yorkshire. Articled to the Chartered Accountants Messrs. J. M. Winter & Sons, he subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1904 and established his own practise at St. Nicholas Chambers, Newcastle.
An old volunteer, he was commissioned in the 1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and went out to France in the following year. Wounded in September 1915, he returned to France in the new year and was, as cited above, fatally wounded on the Somme on 15 September 1916 during the battle of Flers-Courcelette. As verified in The V.C. & D.S.O., he was recommended for the V.C. on the same occasion.
Evacuated to the U.K., Dunford died of his wounds a few weeks later, on the 15th November, and was buried in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Old Jesmond) General Cemetery. On 18 October, his Adjutant sent the following congratulatory message:
‘I had the extreme pleasure to read aloud to Assembly at Battalion Headquarters’ the announcement of your award (D.S.O.). Dawson is now dictating the award to appear in Orders. Our hero! The man the 6th are proud of, not only because of his decoration, but because of his sterling qualities as a man and soldier.’
A photograph of his widow, Helen Walker Dunford, being presented with his D.S.O. by King George V at St. James’s football ground, Newcastle on 19 June 1917 survives in the Conquest Collection, part of the Picture Stockton Archive. The photograph first appeared in the Daily Mirror two days later and includes the Queen about to greet the late Captain’s toddler son; Dunford’s campaign medals were forwarded to Helen at 9 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh in May 1923; sold with copied research.
Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
16 Bolton St
London
London
W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Buyers Premium: 20%
Other Information: Please visit www.dnw.co.uk for more information
Viewing times:
Weekdays, Monday 13 April to Wednesday 22 April
Viewing is strictly by appointment only. Appointments MUST be made by telephoning 020 7016 1700 or by email to viewing@dnw.co.uk. Please note that if you do not make a prior appointment during this period, viewing will NOT be possible.
Thursday and Friday, 23 and 24 April, 10.00 to 17.00 Public viewing days. No appointment necessary, but early arrival is advised.
Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 April Public viewing at the Paper Money Fair, Valkenburg, Holland (Lots 364-672 only)
Monday 27 April, 09.00 to the end of the Sale Public viewing day. No appointment necessary.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL BUYERS
All lots in DNW auctions are automatically reserved at the bid step which reflects 80% of the lower estimate figure, unless otherwise instructed by the vendor.
All multiple lots (lots containing two or more items) with the exception of designated sets of notes, are sold as viewed and not subject to return. Buyers are recommended to view such lots.
Lots marked ‘x’ in dark blue are subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the EU.
Important Notice Advance Bidding Facility
Please note that our easy-to-use advance bidding facility, which replaces the ‘old-fashioned’ commission bid system, provides all bidders with total control over their bids right up to the point that the lot is offered for sale.
Bids made online cannot be seen by others and do not go live until the actual moment that the lot in question is being offered for sale. All bids can be easily altered or cancelled by the bidder prior to this point. An automated confirmatory email will be sent confirming all bids and alterations.
Anyone with a valid email address can easily register to bid online.
There is no additional charge for online bidding and it is not necessary to pre-register a payment card in order to do so.
It is recommended that all bidders execute their own bids, either prior to the auction by using this facility or live as the auction is taking place.
Whilst we are still happy to execute all bids submitted in writing or by phone, fax or any other method, it should be noted that all bids left with us will be entered at our offices using the same bidding facility to which all our clients now have access. There is, therefore, no better way of ensuring the accuracy of your advance bids than to place them yourself online.
For any support queries please contact: Ian Anderson ian@dnw.co.uk (+44) 20 7016 1751
