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I have just found his DCM gazette in Edinburgh November 4th 1902

By devious means I have now found the mention of his DCM in the London Gazette of October 31, 1902 on page 6904 - the wording is exactly the same as in the Edinburgh Gazette a few days later. The printing of "Finney" is not very clear and I suspect the scanner read it as something else.

In newspapers of the day you can find his name listed amongst the many others who were also MID in Roberts' 1901 and Kitchener's 1902 Reports and those rewarded in some way or other in October 1902. Whilst the DCM was handed out for specific acts of bravery it was also handed out for diverse distinguished conduct and I suspect there never was a citation for Colour Sergeant Finney's DCM or for the the DCM's of the three Sergeants listed after him.

David.

Mamongst those

MID


Lord Kitchener's Final Despatch June 23rd 1902 (Cape Town)


PS. In my humble opinion, I would say he was probably awarded his DCM whilst defending Ladysmith. Although , Belfast was also a hard fought encounter for the Manchesters.
DCM Entry

Would not a DCM earned for the defence of Ladysmith (relieved late February 1900) or the Battle of Belfast (August 1900) would have been gazetted earlier than 31 October 1902?

Smethwick wrote: Would not a DCM earned for the defence of Ladysmith (relieved late February 1900) or the Battle of Belfast (August 1900) would have been gazetted earlier than 31 October 1902?

Quite possibly.
Although this chap didn't get his mention until September 1901.

Defence of Ladysmith DCM. Kings Royal Rifle Corps
Distinguished Conduct Medal, VR, BWM, Army LSGC, Captain Frederick James McLachlan, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, awarded the DCM for the Siege of Ladysmith


Frederick James McLachlan

Enlisted into the KRRC on 22nd Feb 1896
Promoted Sergeant, 19th July 1900
Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 8th February 1901
Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, London Gazette 27th Sept 1901

Gunner 100
I had a run through "Short Histories of the Territorial Regiments of the British Army"(up to about 1905) by R. Rudolf just in case your Col/Sgt Finney of the Manchesters featured (yes, he did) and if there was any extra inforrmation (no, there was not). It does however contain quite a good account of the Manchesters overall in the ABW. The text of that book is available on-line and look for pages 550 or so. Given that the QSA medal roll( WO100/198 p.28) gives his clasp entitlement as "Defence of Ladysmith" and "Belfast", I would suggest your research might be concentrated around those actions. Especially Belfast. By the way, his entry on the KSA roll gives no extra information. Have you looked up for his personal papers in the UK NA?
Good luck with your research.
IL.