Lot Essay
D.C.M. London Gazette 1.4.1915 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Festubert from 28-31 October 1914. When his Battalion was hard pressed and the situation had become critical, he carried messages fearlessly on numerous occasions under heavy fire after the telephone communications had been destroyed'.
Private Walter Bernard Worsfold, D.C.M., who was born in Pulborough, Sussex and enlisted at Exeter, Devon, first entered the French Theatre of War with the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in the latter half of August 1914. Going into action in positions on the Vailly-Jouy Road in the middle of the following month, when a fierce enemy assault was repelled at the cost of some 100 casualties, the Battalion next saw action at Givenchy, having moved forward to trenches on the eastern side of a wood to the South-East of that place on 15.10.1914. Over the next two weeks a series of hotly contested attacks and counter-attacks resulted in heavy casualties, Worsfold gaining distinction for his good work as a runner - at least two enemy assaults were driven back during the period referred to in his D.C.M. citation.
In July 1916, the 1st Devonshires arrived on the Somme and were employed in the operations around Longueval and Delville Wood from the 15th to the end of the month, their casualties amounting to some 250 men. Back in action in positions near Guillemont in early September, the Battalion sustained another 190 casualties, the gallant Worsfold coming through these ordeals to fall in action on 11.9.1916, on which date the Devonshires were moved up to positions in "Leuze Wood" from "Angle Wood". He is buried in Flat-Iron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, France.
Private Walter Bernard Worsfold, D.C.M., who was born in Pulborough, Sussex and enlisted at Exeter, Devon, first entered the French Theatre of War with the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in the latter half of August 1914. Going into action in positions on the Vailly-Jouy Road in the middle of the following month, when a fierce enemy assault was repelled at the cost of some 100 casualties, the Battalion next saw action at Givenchy, having moved forward to trenches on the eastern side of a wood to the South-East of that place on 15.10.1914. Over the next two weeks a series of hotly contested attacks and counter-attacks resulted in heavy casualties, Worsfold gaining distinction for his good work as a runner - at least two enemy assaults were driven back during the period referred to in his D.C.M. citation.
In July 1916, the 1st Devonshires arrived on the Somme and were employed in the operations around Longueval and Delville Wood from the 15th to the end of the month, their casualties amounting to some 250 men. Back in action in positions near Guillemont in early September, the Battalion sustained another 190 casualties, the gallant Worsfold coming through these ordeals to fall in action on 11.9.1916, on which date the Devonshires were moved up to positions in "Leuze Wood" from "Angle Wood". He is buried in Flat-Iron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, France.