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Distinguished Conduct Medal. GV first issue (630036 Sjt J.Conn, A.255/High Bde R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (256 Cpl. J. Conn, R.A.); British War Medal (256 Sjt. J. Conn, R.A.); Allied Victory Medal (256 Sjt. J. Conn, R.A.) This group of awards to a Highland Division Gunner represent an unocommonly well documented incident during the Battle of the Lys, in April 1918, when 'A' Battery of the 'Highland Gunners' (51st H.D.) temporarily stemmed the tide of the German Spring Offensive, by engaging the advancing enemy over open sights at only 300 yards distance. James Conn a native of Aberdeen Scotland, was a member of the 1/1st City of Aberdeen Battery Royal Field Artillery, which later became 'A' Battery, 1st Highland Brigade R.F.A. (in May 1916 becoming A Battery 255 Brigade R.F.A.). Throughout his period of service in France and Flanders - which theatre he entered on 2/5/1915, Segeant Conn and his battery served under higher formation with the famous 51st Highland Division. Sergeant Conn is believed to have fought with his Battery in all of the following battles of the Legendary 51st'; Festubert & La Basee, 1915; Beaumont Hamel, High Wood, Marne, Somme, 1916; Arras, Vimy Ridge, Ypres, Paschendale, 1917; Baupaume (21 March) and Lys Valley 1918. Evidently James Conn was a skilled artisan, in addition to being an accomplished volunteer soldier, as his medals repose within a magnificent bespoke gilt and wood frame measuring about 24 inches long by 18 inches wide, the sides surrounded by highly ornate and lavishly coloured cold enamelling and paint work on glass, upon which are inscribed all of the 'battles' he fought in - see aforelisted. The top of the glass surmounted with the legend France and Flanders and the dates 1914-18 - between which is a replica of the cap badge of the Royal Field Artillery. Below at the foot of the glass is the divisional patch/badge of the Highland Division. The frame is personally signed 'J.Conn, 1922'. The frame with the medals contained within, is of the highest rarity, as an example of veterans art-work. Nimrod Dix ,of leading auctioneers DNW who has examined the frame says it is one of only 2 or 3 frames of this genre that he has encountered in almost 30 years of medal dealing. The citation for Sergeant Conn's 'Immediate' award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was published in the London Gazette on 3/9/1918; 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy advance. When his gun was brought into action within 300 yards of a bridge in the open to hold a canal crossing, he acted as layer, and by his skillful shooting he knocked out three machine-guns, and caused heavy casualties to the enemy, and greatly helped his guns to be got safely away.' 51 Highland Division suffered approximately 2500 casualties during the battle of the Lys Valley in April 1918. Such was the importance of this action in which the 'Highland Gunners' fired over open-sights to halt the advance of the sweeping tides of the 'German Spring Offensive', that the incident during the Battle of the Lys, for which Sergeant Conn earned his DCM for gallantry was both sketched/painted and graphically 'written-up' in 'The 51st Division War Sketches (F. A. Farrell, 1920)'. The below following is the relevant text from the aforementioned source;Quote, A sudden attack just before dawn on the 12th April broke through the left centre of the 51st Division about Pacaut, arid but for the gallantry and resource of two batteries of the 255th Brigade, R.F.A., commanded respectively by Major T. Davidson, D.S.O., and Major F. C. Jack, M.C., might have enabled the enemy to cross the La Bassée Canal. About 5.30 a.m. word was sent to the batteries of the 255th Brigade that Headquarters were surrounded, and that batteries must look after themselves.' A' and ' B ' batteries decided to hold the bridgehead across the canal. Major Davidson met the last gun of each battery on the drawbridge, placing 'A' battery's gun under the command of Lieutenant Jenkins and ' B ' battery's gun under Major F. C. Jack.'A' gun was placed in action close to Mont Bernenchon, and covering the footbridges across the canal at that point. ' B' gun was placed immediately opposite to, and about four hundred yards from, the bridge which the remainder of the batteries had succeeded in crossing.Complete silence reigned for about a minute after the trails of the guns had been dropped, and it is this period which is illustrated. Major Davidson is seen consulting with Lieutenant Jenkins, acting as No. 2 of 'A' battery's gun, at the moment when the hedge had been cut, the gun laid, and the first round was coming up.The enemy were advancing less than eight hundred yards off, and Major Davidson's task was to hold the advance in that sector, at the same time reserving ten rounds until more ammunition should arrive. A patrol of the enemy did get to the bridge, but were dispersed by fire. It was upon the house on the left of the drawing that

what year would he have been born (approx)?

I am not sure if anyone can help me on here but i thought i would give it a try as you all seem so well informed and i feel so thick at times, as i am quiet new to this!! My father was adopted at 6 weeks old and about 5 years ago managed to trace his birth family sadly missing his birth mother as she has passed away 5 years previously. The family have been quiet helpfull in filling in gaps for my dad but seeing as they knew nothing of him until he traced them and they have really welcomed him and my mum into the family. We have a lot of family history going backwards from the 1800's but coming this way there are a few gaps. The family are the Conn family from Inverurie and it has been well looked into by other members of the family but recently i had a message from someone who told me of a Sgt or Cpl James Conn from Aberdeenshire serving with the Highland Regiment (I think) who won a bravery medal fighting in the Battle of Lys. As my dads birth mother had a brother named James it is possible that this Sgt/Cpl James Conn is my dads uncle and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to try and find out if he was i have tried various sites and have got nowhere. Any help would be appreciated. Many thanks Dee