An Outstanding casualty Somme DCM award to Cpl Roulston 1/5 London Regt / who personally killed 30 of the enemy in a bombing raid

GV Distinguished Conduct Medal, correctly impressed  9995 L.Cpl W. A . Roulston. 1/5 Lond:R.

1914 Star, correctly impressed 9995 L.Cpl W. A . Roulston. 1/5 Lond:R.

Condition GVF

William Arthur Roulston was born in Clones, Ireland in 1881. The son of Reverand Hugh and Margaret Roulston.

He held a commercial position in London before the war. Roulston served with the 1/5^th London Regiment during the Great War. He landed at Le Havre on the 5^th of November 1914.

Roulston was awarded a posthumous DCM, the award was announced in the London Gazette on the 14^th of November 1916 with the following citation;

‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led a bombing party with great courage and determination, himself killing over thirty of the enemy. Later he led his platoon with marked dash and gallantry’.

On the 9^th of October 1916 William was killed in action, a contemporary newspaper report states he died of his wounds after 30 minutes while still shouting instructions to a Lewis gun team.

William is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval