The emotive yet superb Great War German March Offensive Action near Sapignies 25th March 1918 and subsequent casualty and posthumous Distinguished Conduct Medal group awarded to Private W. Holliday, 6th Service Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Holliday from Hoxton, London, was present out on the Western Front from September 1915. It was during the German March Offensives on 25th March 1918 that Holliday, one of a Lewis Gun team posted in a gap in the front line about 800 yards east of Sapignies, won his Distinguished Conduct Medal over a period of 11 hours of continuous action, his award being gazetted to him posthumously, as he died of his wounds on 13th April 1918. Holliday’s team covered small parties of Highland Light Infantry who were withdrawing through the Sapignies line under very heavy machine-gun fire which caused heavy casualties. One wounded man of the Highland Light Infantry was abandoned about 200 yards in front of Holliday’s post, and he at once went out to him, dressed him, and carried him safely back to Behagnies under very heavy machine-gun barrage. He then rejoined the team again through heavy fire. For some 11 hours, Holliday’s team fought the gun, doing great execution from two positions and finally withdrew under orders from higher authority when the Germans were on three sides.
Group of 4: Distinguished Conduct Medal, GVR bust; (9-16760 PTE. W. HOLLIDAY. 6/S WALES BORD.); 1914-1915 Star; (1670 PTE. W. HOLLIDAY. S. WALES BORD:); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (16760 PTE. W. HOLIDAY. S. WALES BORD.)
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with an old photograph of the recipient in uniform, this cut out and pasted to a card display which also incorporates a hand coloured map that details where he won his award.
William Holliday, surname spelt Holiday on last two medals, was born in Hoxton, London, and having enlisted at Newport in Monmouthshire, then saw service during the Great War as a Private (No.16760) with the South Wales Borderers. Present with the 6th Service Battalion out on the Western Front from 24th September 1915, his battalion formed part of the 76th Brigade in the 25th Division.
His battalion first action was in defence of the German attack on Vimy Ridge in May 1916, and it then fought in the Battle of the Somme, making a costly attack near to Thiepval on 3rd July 1916, before seeing further action at Bazentin, Pozieres, and the Ancre Heights. In 1917 it fought at Messines, and then in the Third Battle of Ypres, before being back in action on the Somme during 1918.
It was during the German March Offensives on 25th March 1918 that Holliday, one of a Lewis Gun team posted in a gap in the front line about 800 yards east of Sapignies, won his Distinguished Conduct Medal over a period of 11 hours of continuous action, his award being posthumously published together with it citation in the London Gazette for 3rd September 1918.
The citation reads as follows: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when a member of a Lewis gun team he took a leading part in the action of enabling another unit to withdraw under heavy fire. He occupied successively two positions and only retired from the last under orders and with the enemy on three sides of him, showing magnificent courage throughout eleven hours continuous fighting.’
The 25th Division History however fills in the action with a bit more detail: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the morning of the 25th March, Pte. Holliday was one of a Lewis Gun Team posted in a gap in the front line about 800 yards east of Sapignies. Small parties of Highland Light Infantry were withdrawing through the Sapignies line under very heavy machine-gun fire which caused many casualties. One wounded man of the Highland Light Infantry was abandoned about 200 yards in front of Pte. Holliday’s post. He at once went out to him, dressed him, and carried him safely back to Behagnies under very heavy machine-gun barrage. Pte. Holliday rejoined the team again through heavy fire. Pte. Holliday’s team fought the gun, doing great execution from two positions and finally withdrew under orders from higher authority when the Germans were on three sides. Pte. Holliday showed magnificent courage and great coolness throughout 11 hours continuous action.’
It was soon afterwards on 13th April 1918 at the time of the Battle of Lys that Holliday died of his wounds, being buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.
