Beschreibung:

A fine Victorian D.C.M. for hand to hand combat in Afghanistan awarded to Colour Sergeant John Woods, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross and later fought with the Grenadier Guards at Abu Klea, at which battle Colonel Burnaby fell, mortally wounded, into his arms Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (2027 Cr. Sergt. J. Woods, 1/5th Foot 19th May 1880); Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (2027 Colr. Sergt.J. Woods, l.B. 5 Foot); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (9034 L/Corp. J. Woods, 1/Grenr. Gds.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, reverse of lower arm impressed (9034, IGG) considerable contact wear and edge bruising therefore fine and better (4) £8000-10000 Footnote Previously sold by D.N.W. in October 1993 and June 2007. D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen, 4 June 1881. The following details were published in the despatch from Brigadier-General J. Doran, dated, Besud, 27 May 1880 (G.G.O. 383/2 July 1880): ‘... a desperate hand to hand fight ensued, in which three Afghans were killed... as soon as the conflict in the courtyard had ended Co. Sergeant Woods with dashing gallantry rushed up the debris and disappeared into the tower, closely followed by Captain Kilgour, and there these two found and slew five desperate men at bay. A finer display of courage cannot well be imagined.' John Woods was born in the Parish of Benow, Cork, in 1852, and enlisted into the 5th Fusiliers in Glasgow on 18 June 1870, aged 18 years, a carpenter by trade. He was promptly sent to India to serve with the 1st Battalion where he rose to the rank of Sergeant in May 1877. The battalion was engaged during the Afghan War of 1878-80, taking part in various small actions during 1879. On the 18 May 1880, Head-quarters and 200 men of the 5th Fusiliers, with other details, crossed over the Kabul River into the Besud district, and forming part of the force commanded by Brigadier-General Doran, were engaged in the defeat of the Safis near the village of Beninga on the following day. Twenty-five of the enemy shut themselves up in a tower, and resisted to the last. Several of them made a sortie but were met hand to hand by Col. Rowland, Capt. Kilgour, Colour-Sergt. Woods, and Private Openshaw, and were killed; and five who still remained alive were subsequently despatched, after a desperate encounter in the fort itself, by Capt. Kilgour and Colour-Sergt. Woods, who had charged in to close the conflict. In this affair Colonel Rowland and three men of the regiment were wounded. In a communication of Major-General R. O. Bright, C.B., Inspector General of Communications Khyber Lines, from Colonel H. C. Wilkinson, Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief’s office, dated the 29th July 1880, he was notified that Kilgour and Wood had been recommended for the Victoria Cross, and Openshaw and Longworth for the Distinguished Conduct Medal. However, the Commander-in-Chief refused to confirm these awards. Captain Kilgour received the Brevet of Major and Colour-Sergt. Woods was awarded the D.C.M., as also were privates Openshaw and Longworth. Woods received his medal at a presentation by the Queen at Osborne House on 17 August 1881. Because of the Victoria Cross recommendation Colour-Sergeant Woods was required to make a statement of his part in the action at Besud which he described in his own words: ‘At the taking of the tower, on the 19th May 1880, myself and Pte Openshaw charged into a small place at the foot of the tower - Pte Openshaw shot one and before he had time to recover himself another of the enemy attacked him and gave him a severe wound on the wrist. Col Rowland got wounded at this time. ‘I also noticed Pte Longworth of the 12th Regiment on my right engaged with the enemy. I saw one of the enemy making a severe cut at him with one of those long knives, and saw he could not parry it. I tried to do so but failed as the knife gave him a severe wound on the shoulder. My sword had got bent a few seconds before