MORE
THE MILITARY MEDAL

In March 1916, King George V. instituted a new medal to be awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the Army for individual or associated acts of bravery brought to notice by the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief in the field. The medal, which is silver, is designated "The Military Medal", and bears on the obverse the Royal Effigy, and on the reverse the words "For Bravery in the Field", encircled by a wreath and surmounted by the Royal Cypher and Crown.
RIBBONS AND MEDALS,
by Captain H. Taprell Dorling, D.S.O., R. N., 1940



THE FIFTH BATTALION
THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY
1914 - 1918
By Major A. L. Raimes, D.S.O., T.D.
CHAPTER XI    The Retreat of the Fifth Army, March 1918.
4th Phase, The Final Stages of the Retreat March 28th
page 140,
"The 5th Durham Light Infantry at Rosiéres received no orders. Major Blumer quickly perceived that his left was "in the air" and that on his right, groups of men were retiring. (The retirement of the 8th Division began about 9-0 a.m.) He ran across to one of these groups, and a sergeant of the 8th Division told him that his Division had been ordered to withdraw. Major Blumer, being without information or orders, decided to withdraw down the railway line past Harbonniéres. Fortunately, he ordered the companies to move in a series of groups with intervals between them. When the head of the Battalion reached the railway bridge near Harbonniéres, it came into contact with strong forces of the enemy, and Captain L. W. Taylor, who was leading, was wounded and captured, and there were several other casualties. The loss of Captain Taylor at so critical a time was a serious one. The rest of the Battalion quickly left the railway line, and moved in the direction of Caix. During this movement Second-Lieutenant H. Lines was also wounded. He was unable to walk, and Lance-Sergeant G. Graham gained the Military Medal by carrying him on his back to Caix, a distance of 800 yards, under fire, being slightly wounded himself in doing so. The 5th Durham Light Infantry found other units of the 50 Division at Caix, and was placed in support behind the village."