Beschreibung:

The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection A remarkable Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Captain E. C. Lance, Somerset Light Infantry, late King Edward’s Horse and West Yorkshire Regiment, who was twice honoured by Franco for his part in rescuing a hundred nationalists in the Spanish Civil War: high on the republicans’ wanted list as “The Man in the Tartan Jacket”, Lance was eventually captured by them and sentenced to death, but ultimately lived to tell the tale after 15 months of hellish imprisonment - an extraordinary story vividly retold by C. E. Lucas Phillips in The Spanish Pimpernel Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (17929 L. Cpl. E. C. Lance, W. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. E. C. Lance); Russia, Order of St. Anne, Third Class breast badge, with swords, 35 x 35mm., bronze-gilt and enamel, unmarked; Spain, Order of the Yoke and Arrows, fascist regime issue, breast badge, gilt and enamel, with clasp, ‘Christopher Lance’, in its case of issue; Spain, City of Madrid, Presentation Gold Medal, in its fitted Juan Feu, Madrid case of issue, together with related miniature dress medals (7), including Russian Order of St. Anne, with swords, in silver-gilt and enamel, generally good very fine, the fascist piece extremely rare, so, too, the D.S.O. to such a junior officer (14) £6000-7000 Footnote D.S.O. London Gazette 26 September 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was the only officer left of his battalion when the final objective was reached. Both flanks of his battalion were exposed and they were almost surrounded by the enemy. Thereupon he skilfully withdrew his men from a difficult position to a strong one 200 yards in the rear, checked the advance of the enemy, and held on under intense artillery fire until relieved two days later. The sound tactics, cool judgement and the daring example which he set his men undoubtedly secured a very important position.’ Edwin Christopher Lance was born in Taunton, Somerset in June 1893, and was educated at Lancing College prior to enlisting in King Edward’s Horse in December 1912. Advanced to Corporal in January 1915, he deserted shortly afterwards, his father later stating in a letter to the authorities that he did not wish to disclose the reasons for his son’s sudden departure - instead he confirmed that Lance had enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment at York a few days later, which, after further investigation, proved entirely true. Active service in France and Russia Embarked for France with the 2nd Battalion in March 1915, the ex-deserter quickly made up for his past misdemeanours, being awarded a commission in the Field that September, when he joined the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, as a 2nd Lieutenant. And he remained actively engaged in that capacity until the end of hostilities, winning his D.S.O. for the the above cited deeds in the attack on Inverness Copse on 22 August 1917, during the battle of Ypres, a desperate engagement in which the 6th Battalion took heavy casualties - so heavy, in fact, that Lance, serving as a Temporary Captain and O.C. No. 3 Company, was the only officer left standing after the initial advance. The action is described in detail in the regimental history, including the text of the field messages sent by Lance to his C.O.: ‘9.30 a.m. Arrived eastern edge of Copse with few oddments, about 70 men in all. We were being surrounded so had been forced to withdraw. Both flanks in air. We must have reinforcements.’ This was followed by a pigeon message: ‘9.55 a.m. Have arrived. Strength 2 platoons east of edge of Copse. Am being surrounded so we must fall back. No further supports have arrived.’ The next message was timed 10.05 a.m.: ‘Pushed back from east edge of Copse. More reinforcements required. Lees (10th D.L.I.) unable to give me any more. Am still holding largest part of Copse.’ A message which followed gave the dispositions of the S