WW I Medals Group of Company Sergeant Major George Hilton Soles, DCM (2 bars). The medals and accompanying badges are in a mounted frame. The medals are the Distinguished Conduct Medal (with two bars), The War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. During the First World War, the highest decoration for bravery under enemy fire was the Victoria Cross - well known to most Canadians. The second highest award for enlisted men was the coveted Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). Instigated by the British as a means of recognizing acts of gallantry performed by 'other ranks' (i.e. non-commissioned officers) during the Crimean War (from 4 December 1854), the Distinguished Conduct Medal was regarded as second only to the Victoria Cross in prestige. Acting upon the fear during the First World War that the overwhelming demand for medals would devalue the prestige of those already available, the Military Medal was issued as an alternative to the Distinguished Conduct Medal from March 1916. Although the Distinguished Conduct Medal remained available the lesser Military Medal was usually awarded from the spring of 1916 other than for exceptional acts of bravery. In the First World War, 1,984 Canadian Soldiers won the medal and 36 soldiers earned it twice. However, only one Canadian was awarded the DCM three-times, Company Sergeant Major George Hinton Soles of the 72nd Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. There were only nine men in all of the British Empire Forces who won the DCM three times. CSM Soles joined the Canadian Army on 4 May, 1915 and was assigned to the 48th Battalion (The Victoria Regiment later designated the 3rd Pioneers). He was wounded at the Front in April 1917 and sent back to England for convalescence. When he was fit to return to the front in June1917, he was reassigned to the 72nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. CSM (then Sergeant) Soles won his first DCM in September 1917 during the battle of Passchendaele. His citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack, when the left flank was held up by some strong posts, he led his men to the right and worked around to bombing distance, he knocked out a machine gun with a bomb, killing 8 of the enemy and taking the remainder, 18 in number, prisoner." In August of 1918 he was again cited for bravery during the operations at Amiens (L.C. Operations), thus winning the bar to his original DCM. The citation reads: "When a tank which had fallen behind commenced firing upon our men, this non-commissioned officer immediately put a steel helmet on his bayonet and ran to the tank through a storm of bullets until he attracted their attention and diverted their fire. His conduct in charge of a platoon throughout the operations was characterized by daring and high fighting qualities." A year later CSM Soles was still in France and now in his third year of front line action. At the battle of Cambrai (B.W.Operations) in August 1918, he was awarded the second bar to his DCM. The citation reads: "For marked courage and good leadership during the operations near Cambrai from 27 September to 1 October 1918. On 29 September 1918, he rushed an enemy strong point single-handed, accounting for the garrison and capturing three machine guns. Later, he worked his way along a railway cutting, and personally shot 8 of the enemy. Later, again, he organised a strong point, which successfully held up an enemy counter attack." On 10 October 1918, CSM Soles was again wounded in action and repatriated to England. A month later the war was ended. In January 1919, 26 year old CSM Soles was well enough to go home and so, after almost four years of absence and three years in the front lines, CSM Soles returned to Canada. After the War, CSM Soles became a member of the British Columbia Provincial Police.