Picture courtesy of JB Military Antiques
DCM GV (1451 C.S. MJR: D. SUTTIE. 7/S. A. INF.);
QSA (4) CAPE COLONY, TRANSVAAL, WITTEBERGEN, SOUTH AFRICA 1901 (3122 SGT D. SUTTIE. 2ND RL. HIGHLDRS);
British War Medal and Bilingual Victory Medal and MID (2ND LT. D. SUTTIE)
The description says:
Court mounted for display and comes with Black Watch regimental diary for 1931 (issued through the South African Corps of Commissionaires), and copies of British and South African service papers, medal rolls, London Gazette extracts, newspaper articles, photo extract from the Muster roll of Angus and research notes. D.C.M.: 26/5/1917 London Gazette. ‘For devotion to duty. This Warrant Officer, by his untiring energy and devotion to duty has set an excellent example to the N.C.O.’s and men of the regiment’. Mention In Despatches: London Gazette 8/2/1917 (General J. Smuts’ despatch of 27/10/1916, for East Africa). 290 D.C.M.’s issued to South African Forces in WW1, 96 to the South African Infantry.
Lieutenant David Suttie was born on 1/8/1869, in Inverarity, Scotland. A ploughman by trade he was serving with the 3rd Battalion Royal Highlanders (Militia) when he enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Royal Highlanders on 10/12/1886 with the service # 3122. He had previously been rejected due to his chest being underdeveloped. He served with the 2nd Battalion in England until transferring to the reserve on the 12/3/1893 as a Corporal, discharging 18/10/1898. He joined the Dundee City Police serving with them 29/3/1893 – 31/1/1900 until he was recalled for the Boer War. There are numerous newspaper articles mentioning him in Police matters and in sporting activities in Dundee. His British service records show he served in South Africa 12/2/1900 – 9/12/1902 with the 2nd Battalion discharging to the reserve (with the rank of Sergeant) in South Africa. His South African records show that, he joined the Transvaal Town Police serving with them 17/2/1901 – 30/6/1908, rising to the rank of Superintendent.
He moved to Johannesburg and was employed as an electric pumpman by the Chamber of Mines. During WW1, he attested for service in the South African forces on 11/11/1915 with the service # 1451, then aged 46 years, and was promoted to Sergeant-Major on 23/11/1915. He served with ‘A’ Company, 7th South African Infantry in German East Africa from 1/12/1915 until 22/2/1917, as part of the force operating against von Lettow-Vorbeck. As part of 2nd South African Infantry Brigade they initially took part in General Smuts’ two-pronged invasion of G.E.A., being part of the column directly commanded by Smuts himself. In the period January to May 1916, 7th S.A.I. took part in operations south of Mount Kilimanjaro, including the ill-fated battle of Salaita Hill on 12 February, the capture of the Latema-Reata Hills on 11 March, and the crossing of the Himo River. In May 1916 the regiment was transferred to Van Deventer’s column, taking part in the march southwards from Dodoma to Morogoro, finally reaching Kilossa in October. He spent a month in hospital in November and December 1916. In January 1917 he was promoted Acting Regimental Sergeant Major and returned to South Africa the following month, where he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 28 March. He re-embarked for German East Africa on 18 June but was admitted hospital on 27 September. He returned to the Union, suffering from malaria, and was released from service on 22/12/1917. He re-enlisted in the 1st S.A.I. on 23/8/1918, on this occasion giving his age as 39 when, in fact, he had just turned 50! He was finally discharged on 10/2/1919 and died on 8/5/1941 in Johannesburg, South Africa.