Lot Essay
M.C. London Gazette 26.5.1917 'For conspicuous gallantry and skill in supervising the burying of cables. He was out for nine nights in succession and, in spite of heavy shelling every night, he managed to get 30 pairs of armoured cables laid'.
Lieutenant William Durling, M.C., was born in St. Pancras, London in October 1892 and was educated at Margate College. A pre-War member of Queen Victoria's Rifles, he joined the Royal Engineers in October 1914 and was sent as a Sergeant in 11th Signalling Company, R.E. to Gallipoli in August 1915. Towards the end of the latter year he was recommended for an Officer Cadet's course back in the U.K. and was subsequently commissioned into the Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant in late May 1916. Durling was awarded the M.C. in May 1917, while attached to 19 Corps Signalling Company, but sustained 'gas poisoning' in July of the same year at Ypres and was posted back to the U.K. for extended leave. He was finally released from military service in January 1919.
Lieutenant William Durling, M.C., was born in St. Pancras, London in October 1892 and was educated at Margate College. A pre-War member of Queen Victoria's Rifles, he joined the Royal Engineers in October 1914 and was sent as a Sergeant in 11th Signalling Company, R.E. to Gallipoli in August 1915. Towards the end of the latter year he was recommended for an Officer Cadet's course back in the U.K. and was subsequently commissioned into the Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant in late May 1916. Durling was awarded the M.C. in May 1917, while attached to 19 Corps Signalling Company, but sustained 'gas poisoning' in July of the same year at Ypres and was posted back to the U.K. for extended leave. He was finally released from military service in January 1919.