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It is not that usual to see a Boer War DCM named to a Private. given the number of potential recipients.


Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM Ed VII (Pte. J. Mc.Kenzie. Lovat’s Scouts.)
QSA (4) CC Joh DH Witt (8823 Corpl: J. Mackenzie. Lovat’s Scouts.)

Provenance: J. B. Hayward, May 1979.

DCM LG 26 June 1902.

1 of 4 DCMs awarded to Lovat’s Scouts during the Boer War.

Here is a breakdown of DCM awards by rank:

2nd Corporal 8
A/Sergeant Major 7
Acting Bombardier 8
Acting SS 1
Bandmaster 1
Battery Sergeant Major 34
Bombardier 10
BQMS 14
Colour Sergeant 214
Colour Sergeant Major 28
Conductor 3
Corporal 203
Corporal Piper 1
CQMS 9
Driver 37
Drummer 8
Fireman 1
Guide 20
Gunner 39
Lance Corporal 116
Lance Sergeant 41
Musician 1
Pioneer 1
Pioneer Sergeant 1
Piper 2
Private 396
Private 5
QMCM 1
QMS 62
RSM 3
S/QMS 1
S/Sergeant 21
S/Sergeant Major 5
Saddler 1
Sapper 20
SCM 1
Scout 1
Sergeant 459
Sergeant Dmr 1
Sergeant Major 165
Signaller 1
Spdt 1
SQMS 3
Squadron Corporal Major 2
Staff Sergeant Major 48
Sub Conductor 1
Supernumery Officer 1
Troop Sergeant Major 8
Trooper 75
Trumpeter 6

Grand Total 2096

A well-polished group with multiple copy clasps to Sergeant W F Tobin, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.


Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM VR (2309 Serjt: W. F. Tobin. Rl: Warwick: Regt);
Sudan (230.s rgt. W. Tobin, 1/R. War: R.);
QSA (6) CC, OFS, Joh, DH, Belf, SA01 (2.s9 Sgt. Mr: Ck: W. Tobin. Rl. Warwick R.s) 4th and 5th clasps are tailor’s copies;
Army LS&GC EdVII. (2309 Sjt: W.F. Tobin R.s Warwick Regt);
Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, (2) The Atbara, Khartoum, unnamed as issued, suspension claws of last three awards repaired, last award with copy clasps

DCM LG 27 September 1901.

William Francis Tobin was born in Limerick, Ireland, and attested for the West Riding Regiment at the city of his birth, in January 1887. He transferred to the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment in May 1888. He advanced to Sergeant Major Cook in February 1896, and transferred in that rank to the 2nd Battalion in December 1898.

Tobin served with the Regiment in Egypt, April 1897 - December 1898, and in South Africa, November 1899 - August 1901 (awarded LS&GC in October 1907). He was discharged 31 January 1908, having served 21 years, and died at Huddersfield in March 1944.

1 of 7 DCMs awarded to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment for the Second Boer War.

Group to Sergeant H Poole, Scottish Rifles, wounded and taken prisoner of war at Blood River Poort, 17 September 1901


Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM VR (Cpl W. [sic] Poole, 2nd Scottish Rifles);
QSA (5) TH, OFS, RoL, Tr, Laing’s Nek (4142 Corl H. Poole. Scot: Rifles);
KSA (2) (4142 Serjt: H. Poole. Scot: Rifles.);
1914-15 Star (1926 Sergt. H. Poole Essex Regiment) renamed;
BWM and VM (1926 Sjt. H. Poole. Essex R.);
Coronation 1911, silver

Provenance: Spink, November 1984.

DCM LG 19 April 1901.

Henry Poole was born in Burdett Road, London, and attested for the Scottish Rifles (having previously served with the 4th Battalion Essex Regiment) at Hamilton, in October 1891. He advanced to Corporal in October 1898, and Sergeant in January 1901. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Second Boer War, October 1899 - September 1902, and was wounded and taken prisoner of war at Blood River Poort, 17 September 1901. He was discharged 1 October 1903, having served 12 years with the Colours.

Poole returned to East London, and was employed with the Leyton and District Council Tramway, prior to attesting as Sergeant with the 7th Battalion, Essex Regiment at Leyton, in February 1913. He served during the Great War with the 7th Battalion, and was part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, from July 1915. He was discharged in December 1917.

Poole is erroneously listed with the intial ‘W’ in both the London Gazette and Abbot’s Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal 1855-1909, his service papers give him as ‘Harry’ and ‘Henry’.

djb wrote: Here is a breakdown of DCM awards by rank:

2nd Corporal 8
A/Sergeant Major 7
Acting Bombardier 8
Acting SS 1
Bandmaster 1
Battery Sergeant Major 34
Bombardier 10
BQMS 14
Colour Sergeant 214
Colour Sergeant Major 28
Conductor 3
Corporal 203
Corporal Piper 1
CQMS 9
Driver 37
Drummer 8
Fireman 1
Guide 20
Gunner 39
Lance Corporal 116
Lance Sergeant 41
Musician 1
Pioneer 1
Pioneer Sergeant 1
Piper 2
Private 396
Private 5
QMCM 1
QMS 62
RSM 3
S/QMS 1
S/Sergeant 21
S/Sergeant Major 5
Saddler 1
Sapper 20
SCM 1
Scout 1
Sergeant 459
Sergeant Dmr 1
Sergeant Major 165
Signaller 1
Spdt 1
SQMS 3
Squadron Corporal Major 2
Staff Sergeant Major 48
Sub Conductor 1
Supernumery Officer 1
Troop Sergeant Major 8
Trooper 75
Trumpeter 6

Grand Total 2096

David - A very interesting breakdown which had me checking the ranks on my DCMs against your list. I have 1 Driver, 2 Gunners, 3 Privates, 3 Lance Corporals, 1 Serjeant and 1 Serjeant Major.

You make an interesting point about the relatively smaller numbers of DCMs being awarded to privates. I've tended to prefer DCMs to ranks below sergeant, unless there's a citation or a specific action identified for the award, because it seems a good number awarded to higher ranks weren't awarded for gallantry at all. Abbott states "Probably many awards to senior NCOs were made for services rendered over a long period. In the case of some Militia Battalions, the only award was to the Sergeant Major of the Battalion."

Regards

David

Gentlemen
Smaller numbers of DCMs to Private soldiers????? The list above does not show that. Privates run to 396 plus 5; more than any other rank barring Sergeant.
Regards
IL.