Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Part 7

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Private T. Bytheway, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, attached 178th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for great gallantry in rescuing several men underground on two separate occasions 1914-15 Star (11209 Pte. T. Bytheway. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.) nearly extremely fine £80-£100 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 29 November 1915: 11209 Pte. T. Bytheway, 2nd Bn., Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, att. 178th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers ‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 20 October 1915. After the Germans had exploded a mine in front of our trenches, damaging our galleries, Private Bytheway, without hesitating and with great courage, went down one gallery and and rescued three men who had been gassed. He then carried out underground explorations at great risk, and ascertained that there was no one in the galleries. On the second occasion he was severely burnt by a tongue of blue flame, which shot along the gallery from the enemy’s side, and he was also gassed. Nevertheless, he continued his hazardous duties till overcome, when he had to be hauled unconscious to the surface. On 10 October, on a similar occasion, he rescued two men who were gassed in a gallery, saving their lives.’ Thomas Bytheway was born in 1885 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 31 August 1914. He served with the Second Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 April 1915, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal whilst attached to the 178th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. He was discharged due to sickness, as a result of chronic bronchitis from the effects of gas inhalation, on 15 May 1916 and was awarded a Silver War Badge, no. 13322.