A superb Great War 'German Spring Offensive' D.C.M. group of ten awarded to Sergeant C. Hack...

A superb Great War 'German Spring Offensive' D.C.M. group of ten awarded to Sergeant C. Hackey, 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards, late 6th (The Carabiniers) Dragoon Guards, an experienced cavalryman who was severely wounded in action whilst attempting to lead his men and stem the enemy advance Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (D-20306 Sjt. C. Hackey. 3/D. Gds.); 1914 Star, with clasp (4014 Sjt. C. Hackey. 6/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (6DG-4014 Sjt. C. Hackey. 6-D. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (390553 Sjt. C. Hackey. 3-D. Gds.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze Palme; Romania, Kingdom, Cross of Military Virtue, Second Class, bronze, very fine and better (10) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919; citation published 11 March 1920: 'For consistent gallantry and devotion to duty, and especially for his courage and resource at Noreuil on 23rd March, 1918, when as senior non-commissioned officer of headquarters, after the enemy had broken through on the left of the sector held by his regiment, he organised and led the men of headquarters. He was severely wounded, but continued fighting till he was hit the second time.' Romania, Kingdom, Cross of Military Virtue, Second Class, London Gazette 20 September 1919: 'At Norieul [sic] on March 23rd 1918 he was senior N.C.O. with Regimental Headquarters. About 11.am the Germans made a heavy attack breaking through the infantry on the left of the sector held by the Regiment, thus threatening the Flank. Sergt. Hackey was with men of Regimental Headquarters who were hastily collected and put in the line. He displayed marked bravery and initiative and, although badly wounded, remained on fighting till knocked over by a shell.' France, Croix de Guerre, London Gazette 14 July 1919. Charles Hackey was born at Sialkote, India, in 1881, the son of Bolton-born Corporal Charles Hankey of the 6th Dragoon Guards. He witnessed extensive service overseas in India and South Africa from 27 September 1902 to 11 January 1913, before finding himself in the thick of the action as the British Expeditionary Force desperately attempted to stem the tide of the German advance. The Bolton Evening News of 13 November 1914 describes his early experiences of war: 'Saved by the London Scottish Another of Bolton's hero soldiers in the person of Sergt. Charles Hackey, of the 6th Dragoon Guards, has returned to England from France. Sergt. Hackey, who is at present at Bristol Hospital suffering from an attack of rheumatics, writes home to his mother at 143, Cannon-St., stating that since the beginning of the campaign he has been in eight engagements and a number of skirmishes, and although the fighting has been very severe he has escaped unwounded. At one period he was in the trenches for four days, and again when they were surrounded they were in grave danger of being wiped out, when they were saved by the dashing charge of the London Scottish. "I thank the Lord," he writes, "that I am safe and sound. The fighting last Saturday and Sunday was awful. They rushed the trenches last Sunday morning, and we were surrounded, but we charged again and again. We were split up, and it was a case of killing everything in front of you and get back as best you could. Sixty of our poor chaps were killed and wounded."' Transferred to the 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards, Hackey returned to the Western Front from 30 March 1917 to 26 March 1918. Wounded in the head during the action at Noreuil in the Pas-de-Calais, he spent nearly three months in recovery before returning to France for a third time from 17 June 1918 to 21 March 1919. Awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1921, he was discharged at Canterbury. Sold with the original Certificate of Award relating to the Romanian decoration, dated 5 February 1920, this in relic condition, together with copied research.