Some examples of MM and QSA combinations:
Picture courtesy of DNW.
Private W. Casey, Gloucester Regiment, late Coldstream Guards
MM (2753 Pte. W. Casey, 1/Glouc. R.)
QSA (6) Belm MR Drie Joh DH Belf (8100 Pte. W. Casey, Cldstm. Gds.)
KSA (2) (8100 Pte. W. Casey, Coldstream Guards)
1914-15 Star (2753 Pte. W. Casey, Glouc. R.)
BWM & VM & MID (2753 Pte. W. Casey, Glouc. R.)
MM LG 14 September 1916.
William Casey was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in June 1890, aged 18 years. Having then been discharged to the Army Reserve in May 1897, he was recalled on the outbreak of the Boer War and saw action with the 2nd Battalion (Queen’s Medal & 6 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps). He was discharged on his return to the UK in the summer of 1902.
Rejoining the Colours after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Reynolds was wounded in the head at Barleux in May 1915 while serving in the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment - ‘the wounded man, Private Casey, had been a guardsman years earlier. Now he must have been nearly fifty years old, yet he was full of life and dash’ (Regimental records, refer).
Back in action with the Battalion at the Battle of Loos, he was recommended for the DCM for his gallantry on 26 September 1915, when he ‘volunteered to go out with Lieutenant Hewitt and Corporal Holder to look for Major Stevenson’ after a gas attack (Regimental records, refer): in the event an unsuccessful recommendation.
However, he was mentioned in despatches in the following year (London Gazette 15 June 1916, refers), and was awarded the MM, the latter distinction possibly in respect of the Battalion’s attack at Contalmaison on the Somme on 16 July 1916.