Union Jack: You have destroyed you (sic) reputation. - Sam
Sam, Sam! Oh treble dear, there are so many inaccuracies in your posts that I’m going to allow myself to indulge in a little thread drift. Try to help a poor fellow and what happens? Apparently, according to you, I've destroyed my reputation but, based on your poor staff work, I‘ll leave it to cleverer people than you to judge, as indeed some already have.
So let's look at the evidence .....
In Post 77 you said your grandfather was “RSM of the in*Vth Inniskining (sic) Dragoon Guards during both the Boer War & the 1st World War“.* He was awarded both the MC & the DSM.”
In Post 88 I said there’s no such regiment, but that he could have been in the 5th Dragoons, the forerunner of the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, formed in 1927, some 12 years after the period you specified.
I also suggested that it seemed unlikely that your grandfather had been awarded the DSM, an essentially naval decoration, and that it seemeds much more likely that he was awarded the DCM or Distinguished Conduct Medal, which actually indicates a higher level of gallantry than the DSM, or its army equivalent the MM or Military Medal.
In Post 92 you say “Well, Union Jack, have look at many websites, if you can find them. My grandfather was RSM Harry Croft MC, DSM of Vth Dragoon Guards“, which is what I suggested, and with no mention of the Inniskillings or indeed the "Inniskinings".
You continued, “ He was awarded the MC for grenading & shooting a German gun position in France in 1915. He was awarded the DSM as a cavalry RSM for leading a horse attack on a German armoured troop train (the last ever recorded cavalry charge) at Harbonniers, France.”
I duly reacted to your rudely worded suggestion and, quick as a flash, I discover that Harry Croft of the 5th Dragoons Guards was indeed awarded a decoration for attacking a German position in France in 1915 as a Squadron Sergeant Major whilst acting as infantry, not the MC as you say above, but precisely the award I suggested, namely the DCM.. Incidentally, since he was an SSM in 1915 so could hardly have been an RSM in the Boer war as you originally stated..
I must admit to feeling a degree of concern at commenting in such a way on the distinguished exploits of a very gallant man, who clearly distinguished himself even further in the attack on the armoured train at Harbonnieres when he won the MC, and not the DSM as you stated, as an RSM in 1918. Incidentally, whilst that may have been what you describe as “the last ever recorded cavalry charge”, it may well have been the last in WWI, but certainly not the last ever as even the briefest research would show.
Equally, I am not at all surprised that Spinks should have placed such a high value on his medals, or that,, even if you managed to get the actual awards the wrong way round, you are so rightly proud of him However, for precisely that last point, I feel able to comment as I have, and believe that you owe it both to your grandfather’s memory, and for the benefit of your family to marshal your facts properly and correctly.
So "Union Jack" my reputation is intact. Is yours? I doubt it. - Sam
As I said in my opening paragraph, I‘ll leave it to cleverer people than you to judge
Jack
PS I couldn't help noticing that you took far too long to withdraw your thoughtless and undistinguished remarks about named officers, nor did you seem to appreciate your Irish connections
PPS I’ve been trying so hard to put you on the right track that, just to make your happiness complete, I forgot to tell you that, yes, I am a Scot!