[CITATION] L.G. 1st January 1918 & 17th April 1918. DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.
“For Conspicuous Gallantry and Devotion to Duty during operations in collecting stragglers and leading them through heavy machine-gun fire to their objective. His courage and powers of leadership were most marked”
[BIOGRAPHY] 1891-
Hector Adam was born in Forfar, Scotland on 5th October 1891.
His family home and that of his father D. Adam, was at Meigle, Perthshire. Hector had emigrated to Canada and joined the Canadian Army at Montreal, Quebec on 9th November 1914.
Prior to enlistment he had been a Bookeeper. At the time of his enlistment he was a single Presbyterian man of 23.
After an initial period of training in Canada he arrived in England in S.S. CAMERONIA on 20th May 1915. He was soon in
a bit of trouble by going AWOL & being drunk. For which he received 24hrs field punishment. He sailed from Folkestone for France on 15th September 1915 and was the very next day admitted to No.11 General Hospital Boulogne with a Strained Ankle.
He eventually rejoined his unit 30 days later on 15th October.
He was clearly a very competent man as between 31st July 1916 & 6th January 1917 he rose from Private to W.O. Class II. He then fought with distinction at LENS (Hill 70) in August 1917 for which action he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
He later sustained quite serious Shrapnel & Gunshot flesh wounds to his thigh & right arm with an evacuation to Liverpool on 16th November 1917. This marked the end of his service in France.
After various postings in the U.K. he was finally discharged at Montreal, Canada on 17th January 1919 at age 27.
[THE FIGHT FOR HILL 70]
The fight for Hill 70 in August 1917 was an epic event which turned into a shockingly grisly battle. It was considered to be one of the most major Canadian victories at the time. Yet, a century later, this critically important & pivotal battle has been largely forgotten. The brave & valiant men of the Canadian Army who fought in the blood soaked battle at Hill 70 deserve better. We here commemorate their superb achievement.
[THE CANADIANS AT THE BATTLE OF HILL 70]
The Canadians carefully prepared in advance of the LENS operation and their soldiers trained extensively. Allied artillery softened up the German positions in the area and a series of distracting trench raids were conducted south of Lens in an attempt to mislead the enemy on where the main attack would come. On August 15, 1917, the offensive was launched and the Canadians soon seized most of its objectives on the slopes of Hill 70. The shocked German defenders reacted as expected and flung a total of 21 counterattacks against the Canadians over the days that followed. The result was carnage for the Germans as they advanced again and again into the deadly hail of bullets from 250 Canadian machine guns as they were also pounded by heavy artillery fire.
The fighting at Hill 70 was remarkably brutal to even the most battle-hardened of soldiers. Poison gas was widely used, often forcing the men to gasp for air inside their restrictive respirators as they struggled to see the advancing enemy through their fogged-up goggles. Many Canadian soldiers had to engage in desperate hand-to-hand combat against the tenacious German attackers who managed to reach the Canadian defensive lines.
Despite the Germans’ ferocious efforts, Hill 70 remained in the Canadians’ grasp. However, the Germans still held Lens, although it was now being swept by fire from Canadian forces holding the commanding heights to the north. On August 21 and 23, it was the Canadians’ turn to again go on the offensive as they launched attacks on the town itself. It would also prove to be their turn to suffer major casualties as the German defenders poured heavy fire of their own on the exposed Canadian attackers.
After managing to capture the western portion of Lens, the Canadian attacks petered out in the face of stiff resistance and the Battle of Hill 70 came to an end by August 25. Despite failing to achieve all of its goals, it was a remarkable success for the Canadian Corps.
The fighting at Hill 70 and Lens was particularly bloody and the 100,000-strong Canadian Corps suffered some 9,200 casualties between August 15 and 25, 1917. The Germans were hit even harder, with as many as 25,000 of their soldiers being killed, wounded or taken prisoner during this period. More than 650,000 Canadian men and women served in uniform during the First World War. Those who gave their lives at Hill 70 and Lens were among the more than 66,000 Canadians who died in service during the conflict.
No less than Six Victoria Crosses were won by Canadian soldiers during the Battle of Hill 70 two of which were posthumously awarded.
This is an exceptionally desirable DCM gallantry group to a Scots Canadian who was decorated for his part in one of Canada’s most important actions of The Great War. An excellent addition to any serious collection of Canadian awards.
Call us today ....01144-1342-870926 (Direct Dial from Canada)
Medals are EF & totally original and uncleaned, with original silk & cotton WW1 ribbons. With full attestation, service & discharge copy papers.
A superb group.
£2995