Medals and awards

 

Distinguished Service Order

The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) was awarded to officers for meritorious or distinguished service in war.  At the time of the Boer War it was given to officers with senior command responsibilities, typically upwards of Major, however it was bestowed upon junior officers, usually in cases of conspicuous valour.  Prior to 1943, the order could be given only to someone who had already been Mentioned in Despatches. Approximately 1,167 DSOs were awarded in the Boer War.

 

Captain Henry Charles Carden
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), 17th Battalion
29 November 1900
London Gazette, 27 September 1901

Captain James Frederick Humby
74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion
22 August 1902
London Gazette, 4 November 1902

 

Distinguished Conduct Medal

The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was awarded to Warrant Officers, NCO's, and other ranks. It was a distinction second only to the Victoria Cross. There were 2,076 awards of the DCM for the Boer War.

 

Regimental Sergeant-Major Robert Thomas Manning 11295
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), attached Staff, 17th Battalion
29 November 1900
London Gazette, 27 September 1901

Company Sergeant-Major William Kirk 11016
60th (North Irish Horse) Company (Belfast), 17th Battalion
29 November 1900
London Gazette, 27 September 1901

Company Sergeant-Major Thomas Henry Crofts 11234
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), 17th Battalion
29 November 1900
London Gazette, 27 September 1901

Sergeant Richard John Cronin 15114
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion
29 November 1900
London Gazette, 27 September 1901

Private John Wall 15212
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion
29 November 1900
London Gazette, 27 September 1901

Sergeant Charles Founds 35193
74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion
22 August 1902
London Gazette, 31 October 1902

 

Mentioned in Despatches

Lord Roberts' Despatch, 4 September 1901 (a continuation of his 2 April 1901 Despatch)

Sergeant Frederick Healey 14247
45th (Dublin) Company, attached to Staff establishment 13th Battalion

Sergeant Richard John Cronin 15114
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Sergeant Henry Butler 15104
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Corporal Edwin Jervise 15154
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Corporal John Hendy 15143
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Private John Wall 15212
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Private Denis Robert Lahiff 15157
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Private Robert Copley 15108
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

Captain Robert Lyon Moore
60th (North Irish Horse) Company (Belfast), 17th Battalion

Captain Henry Charles Carden
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), 17th Battalion

Lieutenant Arthur J., Earl of Fingall
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), 17th Battalion

Regimental Sergeant-Major Robert T. Manning 11295
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), attached to Staff establishment 17th Battalion

Company Sergeant-Major Thomas Henry Crofts 11234
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), 17th Battalion

Company Sergeant-Major Willam Kirk 11016
60th (North Irish Horse) Company (Belfast), 17th Battalion

Sergeant Robert Osborne Young 11086
60th (North Irish Horse) Company (Belfast), 17th Battalion

Sergeant Walter Frederick Dyer Manico 11233
61st (South Irish Horse) Company (Dublin), 17th Battalion

Sergeant Francis White 11025
60th (North Irish Horse) Company (Belfast), 17th Battalion

 

General Pretyman's Special Despatch, 18 April 1901

Private John Wall 15212
74th (Dublin) Company, 16th Battalion

[When] near Jacobsdal March 28, being one of a patrol surrounded in a kraal by Boers, volunteered to break through to fetch assistance and did; swam the Modder, then in heavy flood, and meeting a patrol sent it to his comrades' assistance, whilst himself again swam river and got into Jacobsdal with the news.  This is not the first time he has done a gallant deed.


Lord Kitchener's Despatch, 8 September 1901

Captain James Frederick Humby
74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion

For the able manner in which he extricated a convoy from a difficult situation near Griquatown, Cape Colony, on 24th August, 1901.

Two attacks have been made on our troops in the Kimberley district. ... The second attempt at Rooikopje on the 24th of [August], was an effort to capture a convoy which was making its way towards Griquatown. Upon this occasion, the escort which consisted of the 74th (Irish) Squadron, Imperial Yeomanry, under Captain Humby, behaved with great gallantry and determination. Though outnumbered by 400 Boers, who surrounded the convoy, and pressed to close quarters, our men held their ground and offered such a stubborn resistance, that at night the enemy abandoned the attack and withdrew. On the following day Captain Humby, who did not lose a single wagon, took his convoy safely into Griquatown, but his losses were extremely heavy. Nine men of the escort were killed, and 2 Officers and 21 men were wounded.

Lieutenant Charles Beauclerk Despard
74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion

For excellent work when extricating a convoy from a difficult situation near Griquatown, Cape Colony, on 24 August 1901. (See Captain Humby above.)

 

Lord Kitchener's Despatch, 8 December 1901

Lieutenant Edwin E. Dooley
46th (Belfast) Company (New), 12th Battalion

For good leading of squadron in Orange River Colony; several times wounded.

 

Lord Kitchener's final Despatch, 23 June 1902

Squadron Sergeant-Major John M. Bolton 33204
99th (Irish) Company, 8th Battalion

Sergeant Charles Founds 35193
74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion

Sergeant Thomas B. Fisher 23853
74th (Dublin) Company (New), 8th Battalion

Captain William Harland
46th (Belfast) Company (New), 12th Battalion

Sergeant James Darragh 22599
46th (Belfast) Company (New), 12th Battalion

Sergeant Robert Lormer 26205
60th (North Irish Horse) Company (Belfast) (New), 17th Battalion

 

Queen's South Africa Medal

 

The Queen's South Africa Medal was issued to all British and Colonial soldiers as well as ancillary support staff such as nurses. Some 450,000 to 500,000 QSAs were issued. Some 26 clasps were issued, the most usual for officer and men of the Irish Imperial Yeomanry companies being 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State', 'Transvaal' and 'Rhodesia'.

 

King's South Africa Medal

 

The King's South Africa Medal was issued to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the British, Indian, and Colonial forces, as well as ancillary and support staff, who served in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902 and completed 18 months' war service. Two clasps were awarded - 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1902'. The KSA could not be awarded without the QSA.

 

 

Some of the above information sourced from the excellent Anglo-Boer War site.