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The DCM group to Colour Sergeant W Whyman, KRRC.


Picture courtesy of the Green Jackets Museum

The pictures includes the binoculars he used in Mashonaland, his regimental cane and the flask from sergeants of the 15th KRRC with whom he served in the Great War.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DCM EdVII (R. Serjt:-Maj: H. A. Simmonds. 18th Hussars.);
QSA (5) Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing's Nek, Belfast (R: Serjt:Maj. H. A. Simmonds. 18th Hussars);
KSA (2) (R. Serjt:-Maj: H. A. Simmonds. 18th Hussars);
Army LS&GC EdVII (Sergt:-Maj: H. Simmonds. 18th Hussars)

DCM London Gazette 31 October 1902.

MID London Gazette 29 July 1902.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DCM VR (8360 L. Corpl: S. Fearnside. 2nd Scots Gds:);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (8360 L. Corpl. S. Fearnside. 2nd. Scots Gds:), with unofficially re-engraved naming;
KSA (2) (8360 Corpl: S. Fearnside. Scots Guards.), initial privately corrected

DCM London Gazette 31 October 1902.

MID London Gazette 29 July 1902.

The two DCMs sold at Spink this afternoon.

RSM Simmonds sold for a hammer price of £3,200. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £3,968. R74,900. Au$6,760. Can$6,370. US$4,990

Corporal Fernside sold for a hammer price of £1,300. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £1,612. R30,400. Au$2,750. Can$2,590. US$2,030

A miniature group from the next Noonan sale.


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

OBE, 1st, mil;
MC GV;
DCM EdVII;
IGS 1895 (1) Hazara 1891;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State;
KSA (2);
1914 Star, with clasp;
British War and Victory Medals with MID;
Coronation 1911;
France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm;
Order of Merite Agricole, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel

OBE London Gazette 1 January 1919.

MC London Gazette 18 February 1915.

DCM London Gazette 27 September 1901.

Edward Augustus Parker was born in Peckham, London about 1867 and enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in December 1886. Having then served with the 1st Battalion in the Hazara Expedition of 1891 (Medal & clasp), he was appointed Sergeant-Major in October 1898 and participated in the operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, including the action at Frederickstad on 20 October 1900. He was wounded on the latter occasion, mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901, refers) and awarded the DCM.

Subsequently commissioned as a Quarter-Master, with the honorary rank of Lieutenant, in the 1st Battalion in April 1904, he was a member of the regiment’s Coronation Contingent in 1911.

Advanced to Q.M. & Captain in April 1914, Parker joined the 1st Battalion in Flanders in early October and was consequently witness to the severe fighting that followed. Following an abortive attack on Menin on the 17th, the Battalion - numbering 1150 officers and men - took up positions on the Broodseinde Ridge: within three days, as a consequence of severe enemy shelling and numerous infantry assaults, the unit’s strength was reduced to 200 officers and men.

On the 29th, the Battalion was reinforced by 200 men and moved to new positions just east of the village of Zandvoorde. The Germans attacked in force on the following day, supported by 260 heavy artillery guns, and managed to get behind the Battalion’s line: it was all but annihilated, just 90 men answering the roll call on the 31st, among them Parker, the only surviving officer.

He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915, refers) and awarded the M.C., both distinctions undoubtedly reflecting his ‘gallantry in the Field’, as cited in a reference written by Major-General H. E. Holman at a later date. He was invested with his M.C. by King George V at Windsor Castle in April 1915, one of the first officers to be so honoured.

Parker was subsequently appointed to the Staff, initially serving as A.D.C. to the G.O.C. 7th Division (November 1914-May 1915), and afterwards as a Camp Commandant In IV Corps H.Q. (May 1915-February 1916), and Camp Commandant 4th Army (February 1916-March 1918). Then following a brief spell as Camp Commandant, Supreme War Council, he returned to his post in 4th Army and remained similarly employed until the war’s end.

He was awarded the OBE and five times mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 4 June 1917, 7 April 1918, 20 December 1918 and 5 July 1919, refer); in addition he was appointed a Chevalier of the French Order of Merite Agricole (London Gazette 7 October 1919, refers), and awarded the Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 24 October 1919, refers).

Parker, who had been advanced to Q.M. & Major on the recommendation of Lieutenant-General H. Rawlinson, G.O.C. IV Corps, in May 1915, was appointed Q.M. & Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1923, shortly before his retirement.

He died in December 1939.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DCM Ed VII (88540 Cpl. W. Cookney. R.A.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (88540 Cpl. W. Cookney. R.H.A.);
KSA (2) (88540 Cpl. W. Cookney. R.H.A.) all slightly later issues with small impressed naming.

DCM London Gazette 31 October 1902; Army Order 10 of 1903; Medal to GOC 1 Army Corps, Aldershot.

MID London Gazette 29 July 1902: “Pom Poms”, RHA.

William Cookney was born in Bermondsey, London, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Woolwich, on 19 January 1892. He transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery the following month, and was advanced to Bombardier in January 1894. He served in India from December 1892 to December 1897, and suffered a ‘wound right cheek (on duty) 8 September 1897’ (Service Papers refer).

Cookney initially served with ‘O’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery during the Boer War, before transferring to L/L Section Pom-Poms in February 1900. He was advanced to Corporal in May 1900, and returned to the UK in August 1902. He was discharged on 18 January 1904, after 12 years’ service.

The recipient’s original DCM was sold by DNW in March 2017.