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Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM GV (5547 C.S. Mjr: G. H. Black. 1/R.S. Fus:);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (5547 Pte. H. G. Black, 2: R. Scots Fus:);
BWM and VM (5547 Sjt. H. G. Black. R.S. Fus.);
France, Croix de Guerre 1914 1915, with bronze palme

DCM LG 6 February 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in rushing forward and dropping a bomb through one of the loopholes of a “pill-box” that was holding up an attack. The garrison, fifteen in number, at once surrendered. His gallantry enabled the company to take the position. He was himself severely wounded.’

Croix de Guerre LG 12 July 1918.

Sold with copied Medal Index Cards for George H. Black and Henry G. Black, both with matching numbers, confirming entitlement to pair only and also Silver War Badge. Black also served with the Army Service Corps (ES/58415).

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

QSA (4) Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (7557 Corl J. Mc’Cririck, Vl: Co: R. Scots Fus:)


QSA (4) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (4182 Pte E. Jones. Rl: Scots Fuss:)
KSA (2) (4182 Pte E. Jones. Rl: Scots Fuss; )
BWM and AVM (unilingual) (386 Pte. E. Jones Rif. Brig.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1879 (990 Lce. Corpl. J. Masson. 2-21st. Foot.) Lance part of rank officially corrected;
IGS 1854 (2) Burma 1887-89, Burma 1885-7, clasps remounted in this order, as usual (990 Sergt. J. Masson 2d. Bn. R. Sco. Fus.);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (Hon. Lt: & Qr: Mr: J. Masson, R. Scots Fus:);
KSA (2) (Lieut: & Qr:- Mr: J. Masson. Rl: Scots Fus:);
Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued

James Masson was born in Aberdeen on 17 July 1858 and attested the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1878. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Zulu campaign 1979-81, and in the operations against the Sukukuni, and also took part in the Transvaal Campaign. Advanced Sergeant, he subsequently served throughout the Second Burma War.

He was appointed Quartermaster, with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant, on 3 June 1899, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, taking part in the Relief of Ladysmith; the operations of the 17 to 24 January 1900; the operations of 5 to 7 February, including he action at Vaal Krantz; on Tugela Heights, 14 to 27 February; in Natal, March and April 1900; in the Transvaal, May and June 1900; and in the Cape Colony, north of the Orange River, including the action at Ruidam.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

IGS 1895 (3) Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4636 Pte. W. Mc.Creath. 1st. Bn. Ryl. Sco: Fus.);
[ QSA (3) CC OFS Tr ];
[ KSA (2) ]

William McCreath was born in the Parish of Govan, Glasgow, in 1874. A labourer, he attested at Glasgow for the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 27 August 1894, witnessing service in India from 24 September 1896 to 6 April 1900, and South Africa from 28 June 1900 to 8 September 1902.

QSA listed in WO100/80p48. KSA on WO100/327p51

Picture courtesy of Spink

DCM GV (5523 L.Cpl G. A. Mack. 1/R. Sco: Fus.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (5523 Corl G. A. Mack, 2: R. Scots Fus:);
1914 Star, Bar, an unnamed specimen;
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (5523 W.O. CL. 2. G. A. Mack. R. S. Fus.);
Army LS&GC GV (5523 Sjt: G. A. Mack. R. Sco: Fus:), good very fine (6)

DCM London Gazette 1 April 1915: 'For conspicuous gallantry at Vailly, when he carried wounded men from the trenches into cover on three occasions, crossing a hundred yards of open ground under heavy fire.'

MID London Gazette 19 October 1914.

George Albert Mack was born in Islington, London, on 5 September 1880, the son of William and Sophia Mack. The family are recorded in both the 1881 and 1901 Census Returns residing in Islington and Bermondsey respectively, where his father's occupation is given as 'Blacksmith'.

Mack attested for service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers at London in 1898. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he proceeded with them to South Africa and qualified for the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps, 'Cape Colony', 'Tugela Heights', and 'Relief of Ladysmith'. He did not qualify for the King's South Africa Medal. The Queen's South Africa Medal Roll confirms that Mack transferred to the 1st Battalion whilst in South Africa, and he is recorded as such in the 1911 Census, aged 32 years, serving as a Private with the 1st Battalion which at the time was stationed at Robert's Heights, Pretoria, South Africa. During his pre-war service, Mack extended his army service to complete 12 years with the Colours, and subsequently re-engaged to complete 21 years colour service.

The 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers returned to the England on 30 July 1914, and on the outbreak of war was stationed at Gosport, Hampshire, having been assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division BEF. The Battalion entrained for Southampton on 13 August and embarked aboard the troopships 'S.S. Martaban' and 'S.S. Appam', landing at Le Havre the following day. Mack is confirmed as having entered the France and Flanders theatre of war with his unit on 14 August 1914.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry on 14 September 1914 at Rouge Maison near Vailly-Sur-Aisne, when he crossed a 100 yards of open ground on three separate occasions whilst under a heavy fire to rescue wounded men who were lying in the open. During this action, the battalion lost 165 all ranks, killed, wounded and missing.

The Battalion War Diary entry for 14 September 1914 records the following:

'Ordered to march. A & D Coys ordered to support LINCOLNS at ORME. The advance was made over turnip fields and Coys were exposed to enfilade fire from Machine Guns. Capt BRIGGS ordered his Company to retire gradually and during the retirement he was killed. We had no support from Arty. During the retirement Capt MILLER was hit in the chest. 'B' and 'D' Coy under Major FORBES were ordered to support the 5th FUSRS on their right. 2nd Lt BETHELL was hit in the foot. Total casualties 8 killed, 67 wounded, 90 missing.'

In addition to the award of the DCM, Lance Corporal Mack's name was also brought to notice in Sir John French's Despatch dated 8 October 1914 for 'gallant and distinguished service in the Field'.

A staff officer, who visited this battalion after it had been in action for five weeks, noted:

'We came into the field occupied by the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Here they were drawn up, erect and grim as usual, but what a different regiment from the one which had swung out of Lyndhurst camp less than five weeks before! That magnificently smart regiment of once a thousand men was now reduced to about 70 men, with a junior subaltern in command. The men were mostly without caps, coats, or even putties, war-stained and ragged, but still full of British pluck and pride, with a "never say die" look upon their faces, which made the heart swell with pride at being connected with such splendid specimens of manhood.'

Mack returned to the England in 1915 and married Ada Francis Abraham at Portsmouth on 31 October 1915. At some point, he transferred back to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers which had been overwhelmed at Ypres on 31 October 1914 having to be re-constituted from drafts. The date of transfer is unknown. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by authority of Army Order 121 of 1916, the date of recommendation being 1 January 1916.

The 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers was re-assigned to 90th Brigade, 30th Division in December 1915. It launched an attack on the village of Guémappe, as part of 30th Division's advance east of Wancourt towards Vis-en-Artois on 23 April 1917, during the opening phase of the 'Second Battle of the Scarpe'. Although the battalion secured its objective, the attack had resulted in the loss of 562 all ranks, killed, wounded and missing, including Company Serjeant Major George Albert Mack who was listed as killed in action. He has no known grave, and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. He was the husband of Ada Francis Mack (nee Abraham), of 6, Crown Street, Kingston, Portsmouth, and at the time of his death was 38 years of age.

For his services during the Great War, Mack was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals with MID Emblem. In accordance with Army Council policy, he was automatically granted the Clasp to the 1914 Star, as was all officers and men who would have qualified but as a result of being killed in action or died of wounds were no longer able to submit a claim; his entitlement being confirmed on the 1914 Star Roll.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, clasps mounted in this order (3971 Pte. T. Eccles, 2: R. Scots Fus:);
KSA (2) (3971 Corpl: T. Eccles. Rl: Scots Fus:) edge bruising and heavy contact marks