TOPIC:

The group below contains a DSO awarded for this action. I started to think how many others received awards for this engagement.

The MIDs contain specific mentions (including J M Sloan below):

Royal Lancaster Regiment-Lieutenant T D Jackson; for distinguished good service.

Cheshire Regiment-Captain C W Collins (died of wounds); for distinguished good service.

King’s Royal Rifle Corps-Lieutenants H F W Bircham, R E Crichton; for gallantry in continuing in command of their respective units though severely wounded early in the fight. Corporal J Casey (promoted), Corporal E Brindley (killed), Sergeant Wild, Corporal Stickings (promoted), Rifleman Parish; for very distinguished gallantry.

Royal Army Medical Corps-Lieutenant J M Sloan; for distinguished good service.

Scottish Horse-Lieutenant D Robertson for distinguished good service. Sergeant Major Sharpe; for good service. Trooper N Grierson (severely wounded, promoted Corporal); for gallantry in action in crawling up to the guns and offering to carry messages to camp.

Intelligence Department-Guide J Lange; for good service.

Royal Field Artillery (84th Battery)-Sergeant J R Hayes; lying wounded across trail of his gun, all the rest of gun detachment being killed or wounded, ascertained that gun was loaded, got lanyard, crawled up trail and fired gun, falling immediately after from weakness. Corporal E Atkin (promoted Sergeant); all his detachment being shot down, and himself wounded, stood up and endeavoured to remove the breech block and was again wounded in both hands. Acting Bombardier H Cook (promoted Corporal); seeing men and horses at gun shot down, on his own initiative, unlimbered wagon which was about 100 yards in rear and with the help of Drivers G Lillie, J Saunders, E Lloyd, T Hopkins (promoted Bombardier) took limber up, but before they reached gun, they and all their horses were shot down. 3rd Ammunition Column-SergeantT W Matthews; sent out with a cart of ammunition, and leaving his cart in shelter pushed on himself to guns, where he was at once shot in three places; managed to return to cart to find four of the six mules killed: started it off for camp under native driver, and it eventually arrived safely; he himself was too weak to go with it.


Picture courtesy of Spink

a) CB n/b
b) CMG n/b
c) DSO VR
d) QSA (4) CC DoL Tr OFS (Capt. J.M. Sloan, M.B., D.S.O., R.A.M.C.)
e) KSA (2) (Capt: J.M. Sloan. R.A.M.C.)
f) 1914 Star with Bar (Major J.M. Sloan. R.A.M.C.)
g) BWM & VM & MID (Bt. Col. J.M. Sloan.) as worn, together with the following related items:

C.B. London Gazette 3.6.1927 Major-General John Macfarlane Sloan, C.M.G., D.S.O., M.B., late Royal Army Medical Corps, Deputy Director of Medical Services, Southern Command, India.

C.M.G. London Gazette 25.8.1917 Lt.-Col. and Bt. Col. John Macfarlane Sloan, D.S.O., M.B., R.A.M.C. 'For services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field in Mesopotamia.'

D.S.O. London Gazette 28.1.1902 Lieutenant John Macfarlane Sloan, Royal Army Medical Corps
'For devotion to duty at Bakenlaagte.'

Major-General John Macfarlane Sloan, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., (1872-1941), born Glasgow, and educated at Glasgow University; Commissioned Lieutenant, Royal Army Medical Corps, January 1899; served in South Africa during the Boer War, and took part in the Defence of Ladysmith, including the sorties of the 7th and 10th December 1899, and the action of the 6th January 1900; took part in operations in Natal, March to June 1900; in the Transvaal, July to 1900 to June 1901 and July 1901 to April 1902; and in the Orange River Colony, June to July 1901 and April to May 1902; Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 17.1.1902), and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for devotion to duty at the Battle of Bakenlaagte, 31.10.1901, where the Boer commandos attacked the rear guard of Colonel Benson's No.3 Flying Column inflicting heavy casualties; promoted Captain, 28.1.1902; Major, 28.10.1910; served during the Great War as Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services, Lahore Division, on the Western Front from 24.8.1914 to 5.1.1916; and in Mesopotamia from 6.1.1916; Assistant Director of Medical Services, Lahore Division, Mesopotamia, May 1916 to January 1917; and Deputy Director of Medical Services, 3rd Indian Army Corps, Mesopotamia, January 1917 to February 1919; Six times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 17.2.1915, 1.1.1916, 19.10.1916, 15.8.1917, 12.3.1918, and 5.6.1919); promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, 18.2.1915, and Brevet Colonel, 1.1.1916; appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George; and awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne, Second Class, with Swords (London Gazette 15.5.1917); promoted Colonel, 26.12.1923; Major-General, 4.10.1926; CB, 1927; retired 1929.