A magnificent group to WO J Home, Dorset Regiment.
Picture courtesy of DNW
DCM, G.V.R. (5655 C. S. Mjr: J. Home. MM 1/Dorset R.);
MM GV, with Second Award Bar (5655 Sjt: J. Home. 1/Dorset: R.);
QSA (2) CC, Laing’s Nek (5655. Pte. J. Home. 2/ Dorset: Rgt.);
1914 Star, with clasp (5655 L.Sjt. J. Home. Dorset R.);
BWM and VM (5655 W.O. Cl Feb J. Hime. Dorset R.);
Defence Medal;
Army LS&GC GV 1st issue (5655 W.O. Cl.II J. Home. DCM MM Dorset R.)
DCM LG 1 October 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid in leading the men of his company to their objectives. On reaching the first objective he reorganised a platoon and led it forward to fill a gap in the line. On the withdrawal he remained behind, and was instrumental in bringing in a number of wounded men. His gallantry was most marked.’
MM LG 11 November 1916. MM Second Award Bar LG 24 January 1919.
John Home was born at St. Pancras, London, in 1880, and attested for the Dorset Regiment in London on 20 January 1898, having previously served in the Militia. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he joined his new Regiment at Shorncliffe two days later, he served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa from 7 March until 5 August 1900, where he was present during operations in the Cape Colony, and in the operations around Laing’s Nek, 2-9 June 1900. Proceeding with the Regiment to India on 22 December 1900, he spent the next eleven years on the subcontinent, re-engaging at Madras on 8 April 1909 to complete 21 years with the Colours. A keen sportsman, he won Regimental trophies in rugby, football, and cricket, and was also a committed member of the temperance movement. Promoted Corporal on 16 November 1909, he transferred to the 1st Battalion on his return from India on 2 November 1911, and was appointed Lance Sergeant on 25 January 1913.
On the outbreak of the Great War Home went to the Western Front with the British Expeditionary Force on 16 August 1914, and was swiftly promoted to Sergeant on 25 August 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Battle of the Somme, where he was wounded by a gun shot to the right hand on 2 July 1916, after his battalion had been in fierce action in the vicinity of Authuille Wood and suffered 501 casualties, including Home, over the first two days of the battle: ‘On the 1st July advancing from the Wood, and encouraged on by Drum-Major Kerr who was out in the open playing the Regimental March-Past on his flute, the 1st Dorsets suffered high casualties before reaching the British front line (about 100 yards away). Relieved to Authuille, the following day they made a further attempt, and having made it back in the front line by night fall were relieved and withdrawn to Senlis’ (British Battalions on the Somme refers). It is probable that it was for this action that he was awarded the Military Medal - his first medallic gallantry award of the Great War. Promoted Colour Sergeant and appointed Company Sergeant Major on 14 December 1916, he was wounded a second time, this time severely, by gun shot to the left thigh on 3 October 1918, on the very same day he learnt of the award of his Distinguished Conduct Medal, and after a spell in a French Field Hospital was repatriated to England on 25 October.
Awarded a Second Bar to his Military Medal in 1919, and awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal the same year, Home was discharged on 8 March 1919, after 21 years and 48 days’ service. Retiring to Harlesden, Middlesex, he subsequently served as a Commissionaire at the British Museum.