Description
Physical description
medal, ribbon and safety pin
History note
First World War Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to Staff Sergeant C Sanders (134th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps). Medal notification: the recipient's name and unit details (''72297 S./Sjt. C. Sanders, R.A.M.C.') are recorded in the following London Gazettes: 29 December 1916, Issue 29886, p.50 and 13 Feb 1917, p.1565.
Staff Sergeant C Sanders won this DCM on Sunday 3 September 1916, almost certainly during an attack in the Somme area around Thiepval or north of the Ancre. He was wounded by a shell after organizing stretcher parties. The details of the circumstances of the award are set out in a letter to Sergeant Sanders' wife from his officer at the time, Lieutenant R Harris, RAMC.
'France, Sept. 6 1916.
Dear Mrs. Saunders (sic)
You will have been informed by this time of your husband's being wounded in action on Sept. 3. I cannot let the occasion pass without writing you a few lines in sympathy and appreciation.
You may well be proud of him for he is the bravest of the brave. He does not seem to know what fear is. All the morning he worked like a slave setting the bearers off and superintending the evacuation, the whole time under the heaviest shell fire. When he was wounded he and I had just started off two stretcher cases. A shell burst in the midst of us. I think every one of us was hit more or less. Even then he did not lose his cheerfulness, and courage.
I dressed his wounds and made him comfortable. I do not think they are serious although I could only examine them hastily. His convalescence may be somewhat long but he'll be all right and safe and sound in the end. His last request to me was to write to you and assure you he was all right. So you must not worry for him.
I am forwarding to you some of his personal kit. It was left behind in the rush.
Will you please let me know his address when you hear from him. I want to write to him myself.
Assuring you of my sympathy and appreciation of his bravery and devotion I am
Yours sincerely
R. Harris, Lieut. RAMC'
A typed letter from the Lt. Col. commanding the FA is also included, offering congratulations on the award of the DCM, dated 17 January 1917.
A letter of 24 September 1919 from the Royal Hospital Chelsea refers to the refund by Sjt. Sanders of a £20.00 gratuity, apparently in exchange for an additional 6d per day pension in respect of the DCM. (This is torn and mended with sellotape).
History note
Recipient's date of birth not known but was born in Wellingborough, Northants. and died aged 75.
Engraved on rim of medal
72297 S.SJT. C. SANDERS. 134 F.A. R.A.M.C.