A Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant A. E. Cribbes, Seaforth...

A Great War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant A. E. Cribbes, Seaforth Highlanders Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (25561 Sjt: A. E. Cribbes. 6/Sea: Highrs:); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (10190 Pte. A. Cribbes, 1st Bn. Sea-Highds.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (10190 Cpl. A. Cribbs [sic]. 1/Sea. Highrs.); British War Medal 1914-20 (10190 Sjt. A. E. Cribbes. Seaforth H.) mounted court-style with an erased Victory Medal, very fine (5) £700-£900 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 5 December 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This NCO was in charge of a patrol sent forward by day to reconnoitre. In the face of heavy machine-gun fire and sniping, he captured an advanced post consisting of five men and a machine-gun. Sending back the prisoners, he continued the reconnaissance until he had established beyond doubt the line was held by the enemy on force.’ The Battalion War Diary for 2 September 1918 records: ‘Right Plouvain Sector... A daylight patrol of A Coy. under 2 Lt. Gerry and consisting of two parties of 1 Sergeant and 6 other ranks, left CLIFF TRENCH at 4 P.M. for the purposes of reconnoitring the FRESNES-ROUVROY line and of obtaining identification. The patrl proceeded along CRIB TRENCH to the light railway; thence by ROEUX-PLOUVAIN road through PLOUVAIN. No. 1 patrol then worked up the road running up to the railway, but were held up by machine-gun fire and sniping from COB TRENCH. No. 2 patrol worked along the road leading to the south end of COB and took 5 prisoners and one machine-gun from an enemy post about 150 yards in front of the South end of COB. These prisoners belonged to the 222nd Regiment and gave information that the enemy had 2 companies in COB and WHALE TRENCHES, and 2 companies in support at BLACHE. The enemy started to shell PLOUVAIN with 5.9’s, and the patrols were ordered to return, entering CRIB about 6 P.M.’ Albert Edward Cribbes was born in Kensington, London, in 1887. He served in France with the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, from 12 October 1914, and was afterwards attached to the 6th Battalion. Later promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant, Cribbes died in Belgium on 7 March 1919, at 30th C.C.S. and is buried at La Louviere Town Cemetery. Sold with copied research including portrait photograph and War Diary entries.