Capt. William Weston DCM, MC and Bar

Acting Captain William Weston DCM, MC and Bar is mentioned in the 1/Sherwood Foresters war diary for May 1918.  On May 12th he was in charge of A and D Companies, (Pte. Arthur Slater being a member of A Company). The 1/Sherwoods were in the Support Line, North of the Aisne, and A and D Companies were temporarily under the orders of the 25th Infantry Brigade. The Bois de la Miette, where Pvt. Arthur Slater was taken prisoner, is half-way between the HQs of the 24th and 25th Infantry Brigades.

8th Division Positions 1am May 27, 1918

Capt. Weston appears to have been a very capable and heroic chap. He joined the 2nd Battalion Notts & Derby regiment (Sherwood Foresters) as a private in 1911, when he was 18, and had a Disembarkation Date to France of 27-9-14. By August 1916 he had been promoted to Sergeant and earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal.

William Weston Distinguished Conduct Medal

He was Gazetted:  and the citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry. When the entrance to a mine was blown in and several men were buried, he showed great coolness in digging them out under heavy fire. By his own efforts and fine example two of the men were rescued alive.” Regimental History gives the date as August 21st, 1916 near Mary Redan (S. of Beaumont Hamel).

On January 26, 1917 he earned a commission and joined the 1st Battalion Notts & Derby regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant.

While serving in this capacity he earned a Military Cross sometime in the late summer of 1917, for which he was again Gazetted.

William Weston Military Cross

By the beginning of 1918 he was a Company C.O. and promoted to acting Captain for the duration of his command, and again Gazetted.

In April 1918 he was awarded a Bar to his MC, and once more Gazetted.

William Weston Bar to Military Cross

The citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during many days of very severe fighting, when in charge of a company holding a bridge. The enemy made several determined attacks on it, and three times gained a footing in a village on our side. On each occasion he drove them back, twice personally leading the attack, causing the enemy many casualties and taking some prisoners. Throughout the operations he set a magnificent example of remarkable courage and devotion to duty.”

Somehow, Acting Captain William Weston DCM, MC and Bar appears to have survived the war although he was wounded on June 6, 1918 for the 3rd time.