Medal & Mortality index
The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to
reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army
in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August
1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only.
The Battles of September and October 1916
Darkness had now fallen, and the position of the companies in the advanced
trench was far from happy. Both flanks were in the air and heavy losses had been
suffered ; of the officers who had started with these companies, only four —
Cooper, McCormick, Quennell and Burford — were still standing. News from Garratt
showed that he was doubtful as to whether he could hold out against another
attack.
Shortly after dawn on the 10th [Septemnber] 2/Lieut. McCormick, who had come
back to Battalion Headquarters with a report of the situation, returned to Beef
Trench with orders for the immediate evacuation of the advanced position.
Accordingly, after establishing two Lewis gun positions in Beef Trench, the
withdrawal was proceeded with as rapidly as possible, the activity of the German
snipers in the growing daylight making movement difficult except in the smallest
parties. The return of the l/4th Londons to Bully Trench caused congestion which
was subsequently intensified by the arrival of a large reinforcement of London
Scottish. This Battalion made efforts during the day to prolong the line in the
direction of the Quadrilateral, while the Guards, working eastward along the
Ginchy-Morval Road, sought to join hands with them, but the Germans were well
supplied with bombs and put up a very gallant resistance. The continued
occupation of the spur — which on the previous day had stopped the 16th Division
— moreover forced an unpleasantly deep reentrant in the British line, leaving
the left flank of the l/4th Londons dangerously exposed. An effort to rout out
the pertinacious defenders of this spur was made during the afternoon by the
168th Stokes mortars, who fired 35 rounds with good effect into the enemy
trenches.
The casualties sustained by the Battalion during this highly successful
operation were remarkably few, amounting to 2 officers (2/Lieuts. R. E.
Grimsdell, killed, and E. McD. McCormick, wounded), and about 30 N.C.O.'s and
men killed and wounded.
The decorations awarded for services rendered between the 1st July and the 7th
October were :
M.C.— Lieut. W. J. Boutall, 2/Lieuts. O. D. Garratt, S. J. Barkworth, M.M., E.
McD. McCormick and Rev. R. Palmer, O.F.
Military Cross
2/Lieutenant E. McD. McCormick ; London Gazette 14.11.16