DUFTY William James

Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Lance Corporal, Grenadier Guards, D.C.M.  Son of Captain Hudson’s man.  Killed in action on 17th October 1915.

Additional information from Pershore Parish Records, Holy Cross, Film No 216/7, available at Worcestershire Archives.

From the Evesham Journal and Four Shires Advertiser, Saturday, September 18, 1915:
Lance-Corpl. W.J. Dufty, of the Grenadier Guards, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Dufty of Pershore has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry while engaged in bomb throwing in Flanders.

DCM Citation:
16952 Private W.J. Dufty, 1st Bn., G. Gds. (LG 5 Aug. 1915)
For conspicuous gallantry on the 16th May, 1915, at Festubert, when, with the Company bombers, he was engaged in bombing up to 300 yards of trench.  The bombers and one section under a Non-Commissioned Officer successfully blocked and held the trench after the bombs had run out.  Private Dufty showed the greatest courage and resource, and gave a fine example of devotion to duty.

A photograph of Corporal W.J. Dufty of Pershore can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 25th September 1915, available at Worcestershire Archives.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Brian Hill:
In 1911 William Dufty lived at 5, Head Street, Pershore, employed as a Grocer’s Assistant. He entered France on the 8th November 1914. William Dufty’s death took place in the last stage of the Loos battle. The Official History says “the results of a succession of bombing attacks about the Hohenzollern (redoubt) and Big Willie (trench) by the Guards Division had not been encouraging. …… the continuous fighting of several days led to heavy losses and to no definite progress, only the local gain or loss of small sectors of trench.” William was killed in one of these attacks.

William Dufty has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Loos Memorial.