Awards and decorations

 

The officers and men of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron who received awards and decorations for the role they played in the Great War are listed below, together with the citation where available.

 

Distinguished Service Order

Captain Charles Beauclerk Despard
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Retreat from St Quentin, 21-28 March 1918
(London Gazette 16 September 1918)

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During five days of retirement, while as second in command of the battalion, he throughout displayed very high qualities as a leader. While in command of the rearguard the gallantry and determination with which he disputed the ground was largely responsible for the safe withdrawal of the rest of the main body."

 

Military Cross

Captain Charles Beauclerk Despard
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Attack on Moeuvres, during the Battle of Cambrai, 23 November 1917
(London Gazette 4 February & 5 July 1918)

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack he commanded his company with the greatest skill and gallantry, clearing a portion of a village on the flank of the battalion. At dusk, seeing that he was in danger of being cut off, he withdrew his own and two other companies, evacuated all the wounded, and held a line south of the village. During all this time he moved about under very heavy machine-gun fire, regardless of personal danger, and displayed the greatest coolness and courage."

Lieutenant Edward John Lowry Turner (UD/99)
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Retreat from St Quentin, 21-28 March 1918
(London Gazette 16 September 1918)

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer, in charge of the transport, never failed to bring rations to the battalion during a week's fighting. One day he brought up ammunition when it was urgently required, bringing it through a heavy barrage, and through villages which were being shelled, and getting his limbers safely back. His courage and judgment resulted in his keeping his transport intact."

Sergeant-Major Thomas Henry Waldren (UD/52; RInnF 42666)
Serving with the 10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
(London Gazette 3 June 1918)

 

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Acting Sergeant John Lockhart (UD/133; RIF 41148)
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
(London Gazette 1 January & 3 September 1919)

"For conspicuous gallantry and good work in the line during the past year, including the following engagements:- St. Quentin, March, 1918; Kemmel, April, 1918. He has at all times shown great devotion to duty, and a splendid example to his company. He has shown great keenness in carrying out minor enterprises, and showed great gallantry in leading a bombing party, when his company carried out a raid in July 1918."

 

Bar to Military Medal

Private Edward Waller McKeown (UD/203; D/21257)
Serving with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons regular regiment
(London Gazette 11 December 1918)

For the role he played in the regiment's advance between 8 and 11 August 1918.

 

Military Medal

Private Joseph Coulter (UD/150; RIF 41530)
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
(London Gazette 24 January 1919)

For his role during the battalion's attack north of Bailleul on 24 August 1918.

Private Robert Hall (UD/171; Tanks 304851)
Serving with the 5th Battalion, Tank Corps
(London Gazette 27 January 1919)

For gallantry in the field during the operations in August 1918.

Private Edward Waller McKeown (UD/203; D/21257)
Serving with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons regular regiment
(London Gazette 25 April 1918)

For the role he played during the regiment's actions on 1 December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai.

 

Mentioned in Despatches

Second Lieutenant Henry Tottenham Armstrong (UD/162)
Serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers

Captain Charles Beauclerk Despard
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
For distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty, in Field Marshal Haig's despatch of 8 November 1918.
(London Gazette 30 April 1919)

Lieutenant-Colonel Athelstan Chamberlayne

 

Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

Lieutenant and Quartermaster Thomas Henry Waldren (UD/52; RInnF 42666)
General List
(Army Orders 1 April 1919)

 

Croix de Guerre (Belgium)

Sergeant John Lockhart (UD/133; RIF 41148)
Serving with the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
(London Gazette 4 September 1919)

Major Adrian Hulse
9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
(London Gazette 4 September 1919)