DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL (Single)
676594 FAR: SGT: F. Mc ALLISTER. A.74 /BDE: R.F.A.
(AMMUNITION COLUMN)



(With an excellent citation for gallantry in action while moving fully laden ammunition trucks under heavy enemy fire.)

[CITATION] L.G. 5th December 1918
"He was in charge of the first and second line waggons coming to guns just brought into action. The position was being heavily shelled. His magnificent example of gallantry and coolness was instrumental in getting the wagons up, the ammunition dump and the teams away with only a few casualties."

[74 BDE R.F.A.]
LXXIV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, made up of 232, 233 and 234 Batteries RFA and 74 Brigade Ammunition Column, served with 16th (Irish) Division. The 16th Irish Division was established by the Irish Command in September 1914, as part of Kitchener's Second New Army. They moved to England and into barracks in Aldershot by the end of the month. Some units were transferred to the 37th and Guards Divisions when they were formed in 1915, including 74 Brigade RFA. On the 23rd of January 1915 the three six-gun batteries were reorganised to become four four-gun batteries and were renamed A, B, C and D. In July 1915 74 Brigade RFA left 16th (Irish) Division for training on Salisbury Plain.

They landed at Le Havre on the 29th of August 1915 and joined the Guards Division. In 1915 they were in action in The Battle of Loos. On the 13th of May 1916, 74 Brigade Ammunition Column merged with the other columns of the divisional artillery to form the Guards Divisional Ammunition Column. In 1916 they fought on The Somme in The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and The Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs. On the 14th of November 1916 the batteries were reorganised into six-gun units. C Battery being divided between A and B Batteries. A Battery, 61 Brigade RFA joined and was renamed D (Howitzer) Battery, 74 Brigade. Half of D Battery 76 (Howitzer) Brigade joined D (Howitzer) to make the battery up to six howitzers.

In 1917 they were in action in The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Third Battle of Ypres and The Battle of Cambrai. In 1918 they fought on The Somme, during the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle and The Battle of the Sambre. At the Armistice they were near Maubeuge and were then ordered to the Rhine, crossing the German frontier on the 11th of December. Battalions began to return to England on the 20th of February 1919 and had all returned home by the 29th of April 1919.









An attractive DCM awarded to a brave Liverpool man for an important action.

£895