TOPIC:

If you find out anything please post it as I would love to find out.....

Mostly it is just a location and date that is posted.....

My Grand Father a WW1 Vet said to me once that to get an MID or a DCM was to make sure that the Colonel got his tea hot every morning......

Mike

David,

This is the general format for the entries in the London Gazette for the MID:



Here is an example from the end of the same despatch.



For officers, there can be more information as in this example from 19 Nov 01.



To identify why a man was included in these lists is the tricky part. There are individual despatches in the National Archives that were written soon after the engagements and from which the published lists were compiled. However, even these do no often mention why a name has been added.

Regards
David

On the search through The Times for something else (Langman's Hospital reports), I came across this list of MIDs from Kitchener's despatch of the day previously (25 Apr 02).

The despatch contains many mentions of individuals.

The list starts with officers:





I cross-checked W F Stirling in the DSO book to see if it said anything about his DSO. The entry reads slightly differently:

"Walter Francis Stirling, Lieutenant, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. For skill and gallantry in action at Kafferspruit 19 December 1901"

The officers are followed by several columns of the names of NCO and men, many with specific mentions. I cross referenced these against awards of the DCM:



Brindley, J (No DCM but non expected as awarded a promotion)
Cox, G (ditto)
James, F (ditto and Piquetberg DMT!)
Paton, W (No DCM, promotion)



McIntyre, D (No DCM, promotion)
Ponting, H (No DCM, promotion)
Sherbourne (No DCM)
Venables, R (No DCM)
Collins, F (No DCM)
Roberts, H (No DCM)
Parker, A (No DCM)
Lowes, W (No DCM)
McMarth, J (No DCM)
Hollyoak, J (No DCM)
Conroy, J (No DCM, drowned)

I though the specific mention may, in some cases, result in an award, but there were no matches in this sample. It does though show that there is information behind some of the MIDs for both officers and men.

The very next block of mentions contained more fruitful names:



Holmes (Killed)
Wasson, J (Awarded the DCM. The DCM book does not contain the details)
Bothwell (Awarded the DCM. DCM book says 'Ermelo District' and details LG 25 Apr 02)
Turner, W (Awarded the DCM. The DCM points to details in LG 25 Apr 02)
Brown (No DCM)

Looking at J Wasson, the DCM book has the entry:

NSW MI: SK (Submitted to the King)3.8.01; LG 27.9.01; AO 15/12

I do not have access to the NA records in WO146/1 or the AO but the LG entry is available:



The information from The Times must be contained in either the SK or the AO. The fact that the information is not in the DCM book shows that more information may be available on DCM winners.

Does anyone have access to the Army Orders?

The Australian War Memorial site holds an entry for Wasson but no details of the DCM:

Service Number: 3683

Rank: Regimental Sergeant-Major

Unit: 2 NSW MNTD RIFLES

Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)

State: Australia: New South Wales

Notes: Murray Remarks: Despatches, London Gazette 27/09/1901 D.C.M.

Source: Murray page number - 121