The Keep Military Museum urgently needs your support to raise funds to purchase a Distinguished Conduct Medal group at auction on Wednesday 13th September 2023.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to Ernest Stockman of the 2nd Battalion The Devonshire Regiment "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer" at the famous Battle of Bois des Buttes in 1918.
Ernest was a Devon man through and through, being born and raised in Ivybridge. After joining the army in 1917, Ernest soon found himself on the battlefields of France with the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment in early 1918. He became a Company Stretcher Bearer and was first mentioned for his heroism near Villers Bretonneux on 24th April 1918, being awarded a Divisional Commanders Parchment Certificate. The citation read: "Private Stockman carried out his duties in the open for many hours under heavy fire. When returning from the Regimental Aid Post, though he was cut off from his Company, he at once reported for duty to the nearest Company and carried on his work as stretcher bearer with untiring zeal and determination".
A month later, and the 2nd Devons with Ernest amongst them were plunged into action at Bois des Buttes, where they fought a fierce German attack off at great cost. By the end of the day, they had lost killed, wounded or prisoner - 552 men of the approximate 677 men they had started with. For Ernest Stockman, the battle had been about saving lives, not taking them. His citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the battle read - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer. Seeing a man hit between the enemy’s line and our own he rushed out in broad daylight to within 100 yards of the enemy, picked him up and, followed by a hail of bullets, carried him back to the aid post. On many other occasions he has saved lives by his coolness and devotion to duty".
Countless men of the 2nd Devons owed their lives to the efforts of Ernest throughout 1918, and the museum is passionate about telling these individual stories, and the links they have to wider events. We would therefore be delighted to acquire the Distinguished Conduct Medal group to Ernest Stockman and tell his story, enhancing our display and knowledge of the Battle of Bois des Buttes. The auction for the medals takes place on 13th September 2023, so we ask that all donations are made as early as possible to give us the best chance of success.
If the museum is unsuccessful in bidding for the medals at auction, or if a surplus is raised, the funds will be added to the museum acquisition fund, allowing us to make similar purchases in the future and enhance our collection.
