Coins & Banknotes Public Auction 361

Australia: 1914-18 Distinguished Conduct Medal to Wounded in Action, 13th Bn Lewis Gunner, DCM. GVR, impressed officially: '3930 L.CPL. C. FINCH, 13/AUST. INF.' Charles Finch, born Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland, enl Sydney 31/12/1916 aged 44 years and 5 mths, to UK with 1st PNR, BN, to 13 BN. AIF 17/Sep 1917, WIA (GS. left thumb), DCM recommended for action 8/8/1918, returned to Aust July 1919, died 5/9/1935. A Lewis-gunner with the 13th Bn, real fighting citation & who on the 8th August 1918, fought alongside Gerald Sexton, (real name Maurice Buckley & would later in the war win a VC as a Lewis Gunner). Both men were awarded the DCM on this day as Lewis-gunners with 13th Bn. In the unit history of the 13th Bn, 'The Fighting Thirteenth' Finch is mentioned on page 151 describing the battle of Hamel, 'In all of this great advance into the unknown, from the time we crossed the Green Line, our scouts & Lewis-gunners were naturally the first to come onto the enemy or under their fire, & without exception, they were wonderful, over and over again rushing posts, or drawing enemy fire while their mates did so. The Lewis-gunners generally fired from their hips as they rushed ahead in order to get better shots at runaway bodies of enemy, or at machine-guns holding up any part of the advance. Corporal Gerald Sexton (real name Maurice Buckley, who later won the V.C.) saved many lives by the almost incredible, even uncanny, promptness and skill with which he used his Lewis-gun, quickly silencing enemy opposition on four occasions. While advancing through crops south of Morcourt a hidden gun fired into the Bn and caused several casualties. Sexton stood up in full view of the enemy, calmly noted the position of the gun from the flashes & still standing, fired a magazine at the flashes and put the gun out of action. He received his DCM for the day's work. Pte. C. Finch vied with Sexton in this Lewis-gun work. Recommendation for DCM 'During the advance near MORCOURT east of CORBIE on the 8th August 1918, Pte Finch was No,. 2 of a Lewis gun crew of one of the leading companies. Early in the action the whole of the crew except Private Finch became casualties. Finch then took charge of the gun & carried it and the spare parts bag, in addition to this panniers, right to the final objective. On more than one occasion during the advance he brought his gun into action most effectively, and when assisting to cover the consolidation, he continued to use his gun in a most aggressive manner. Observing an enemy machine gun in action on his flank he promptly engaged it. The enemy gunners immediately took cover but moving their gun to a better position, again opened fire upon our men digging in. Finch then, without regard to his own danger, rushed the gun killed two of the crew with a bomb, and took the remaining five prisoners, these & the gun; he brought to our lines single handed. Private Finch's great courage & fighting qualities cannot be too highly recommended.' Official citation states: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At the commencement of the attack he was No.2 of a Lewis gun section. Early in the advance the whole crew except this man became casualties. He took charge of the gun and carried it and the spare parts, in addition to his panniers, to the final objective, several times bringing it into action with great effect, and covering the consolidation by this fire. Finally he rushed out & bombed a machine gun killing two and capturing five of the crew, bringing them and the gun back with him single handed.' gVF. Scarce DCM, to the 'Fighting 13th' with a VC connection. (P)