A scarce '1914 Royal Visit' Western Front D.C.M. group of six, awarded to Corporal, later...

‘There can be no greater honour bestowed upon a soldier than to have his award pinned on his war torn breast by his King/Emperor on the field of battle and within sound of the enemy’s guns; the entire spectacle being witnessed not only by his Commander-in-Chief, but his Corps, Brigade and Divisional Commanders. The field investitures carried out during this first Royal Visit established a precedent that proved immeasurable in its impact on those who witnessed them, and the awards so presented gained even greater value in the eyes of the recipient’. A scarce ‘1914 Royal Visit’ Western Front D.C.M. group of six, awarded to Corporal, later Battery Quartermaster Sergeant, W. F. Deag, 60th (Howitzer) Battery, Royal Field Artillery, for his gallant conduct whilst in charge of the Battery telephones between August and November 1914: he was one of only 32 Warrant Officers, N.C.Os., and Men who were personally presented with an unnamed D.C.M. by H.M. King George V at Hazebrouck Railway Station on 3 December 1914 during the Royal Visit to France and Flanders, and was subsequently awarded an ‘Immediate’ M.S.M. For services in Mesopotamia Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (46797 Cpl. W. F. Deag. 60/Bty. R.F.A.); 1914 Star (46797 Cpl. W. F. Deag. R.F.A.) last letter of surname officially corrected - see Footnote; British War and Victory Medals (16797 B.Q.M. Sjt. W. F. Deag. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1043673 B.Q.M. Sjt. W. F. Deag. R.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (46797 B.Q.M. Sjt. W. F. Deag. D.C.M. R.F.A.) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (6) £1,200-£1,600 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 17 December 1914: ‘Has frequently laid and repaired telephone wire under heavy fire, and has been in charge of battery telephones since commencement of the campaign. He has always performed his work very satisfactorily.’ M.S.M. London Gazette 22 September 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the British Forces in Mesopotamia.’ William Frederick Deag was born at Aldershot on 4 September 1892 and attested for the Royal Field Artillery as a Boy Soldier on 1 May 1907, aged 14. He served with 60 Battery, 44th (Howitzer) Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1914, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallant conduct between August and November 1914. Of historical importance is the fact that Deag was one of the 32 Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Men who were personally presented with a ‘blank’ (i.e. unnamed) D.C.M. by H.M. King George V at Hazebrouck Railway Station on 3 December 1914, during the Royal Visit to France and Flanders from 29 November to 5 December 1914. A footnote to the 17 December 1914 Supplement to the London Gazette required ‘Any recipient of the Distinguished Conduct medal whose name appears in the foregoing list should forward the decoration by registered post to the Deputy Director of Ordnance Stores, Woolwich Dockyard, for the engraving [sic] to be made thereon, if the number, rank, name, and corps have not already been inscribed.’ Transferring with his Battery to the 3rd (Lahore) Division, Indian Corps, on 23 June 1915, Deag saw further service in Mesopotamia, and for his services there was awarded an Immediate M.S.M. Remaining in the Army, he was advanced Battery Quartermaster Sergeant, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1928. He was finally discharged on 30 September 1931, and died in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1959. Note: The recipient’s Medal Index Card for the 1914 Star originally gave his name as Deay; this has been corrected to Deag, with the annotation that ‘1914 Star returned for adjust.’