A fine Great War Gallipoli operations D.S.M. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant E. C....

A fine Great War Gallipoli operations D.S.M. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant E. C. Bonnett, Royal Marine Light Infantry, attached Royal Naval Division, who was three times wounded in action before being commissioned, and was killed in action at Passchendaele Ridge in October 1917 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (CH.15161 Sergt. E. C. Bonnett, R.M.L.I. PO. Bn. R.N. DIV.); 1914-15 Star (CH.15161, Sgt. E. C. Bonnett, R.M.L.I.)); British War and Victory Medals (CH.15161 Sgt.. E. C. Bonnett. R.M.L.I.) nearly extremely fine (4) £1,400-£1,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 19 November 1915: ‘For services in the Gallipoli Peninsula.’ The recommendation states: ‘For gallant conduct during an assault on the enemy’s trenches on 23 June at Cape Helles. He was conspicuous in the advance and in encouraging the men and later carried a wounded officer into shelter under heavy fire.’ Edgar Cyril Bonnett was born in Gillingham, Kent on 24 October 1888, and joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Chatham as a Bugler in April 1903. By the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was serving as a Sergeant in the cruiser H.M.S. Euryalus, and he remained likewise employed until coming ashore in the New Year. His next appointment was of rather a different nature, for in May 1915 he was drafted to the Portsmouth Battalion in the Royal Marine Brigade, Royal Naval Division and embarked for the Dardanelles. Of his subsequent D.S.M.-winning action in Gallipoli, the official history of the Royal Marines states: ‘On 23rd June 1915, a very gallant and daring night advance was made by ‘A’ Company, Portsmouth Battalion, Royal Marines, under Major J. Grover, opposite the centre section of the Royal Naval Division front, at a section called the Rectangle. The object was a Turkish trench which was considered to be an excellent jumping off position for the next attack on Krithia. At 10 p.m. on June 23rd, the attacking party carried the trench at the point of the bayonet in spite of heavy casualties. As the enemy position was secured Major Grover was killed by a grenade explosion which also wounded Sergeant E. C. Bonnett, senior N.C.O. of the company. They were then counter-attacked by a very considerable force of Turkish infantry but were held by the gallant conduct of Sergeant Bonnett for one and a half hours until at length the Marines were forced to withdraw under extremely heavy pressure. Sergeant Bonnett himself carried Major Grover’s body back to the lines of the Royal Naval Division upon the withdrawal. ‘A’ Company of the Royal Marines suffered the loss of both officers, Major Grover and 2nd Lieutenant Jermain, 31 N.C.O.’s and men killed or wounded, and 22 missing. For this action Sergeant E. C. Bonnett was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his gallantry and coolness under fire. Sergeant Bonnett had previously participated in the landings at ANZAC Cove in support of the Australians and was present during Mustafa Kemal’s third attack on Australian positions at Lone Pine Plateau and northwards to Courtenays Post, on 30th April and 1st May 1915.’ Bonnett’s wound was caused by a gunshot to his left foot, his service record further noting that he was again wounded, in the buttocks, by bombs on the 6 June 1915, likely while being treated at a Casualty Clearing Station. And on being deployed to France on his recovery, he collected a third wound, in his right leg from shellfire, on 13 November 1916. He was afterwards posted to the 2/28th Artists Rifles as an officer cadet and consequently gazetted on 26 April 1917, as 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Marines, and attached to the Howe Battalion, 188th Brigade, Royal Naval Division, then serving in France. Second Lieutenant Bonnett was killed in action on 26 October 1917, during the famous attack of the 63rd R.N. Division on Passchendaele Ridge. He is buried in St Julien Dressing Station Cemetery, Langemarck.