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Hi, I am trying to find out any information about my Great Grandfather, Colour Sergeant H Lacey. Don't know his first name! He served with the 1st Rifle Brigade at the relief of Ladysmith and was mentioned twice in despatches I believe. He had 11 children and also served in India prior to Ladysmith

Hi David

As you said he was MiD twice :

LG 08/02/1901 p947 Relief of Ladysmith up to 28/02/1900
LG 10/09/1901 p5952 Roberts : up to end Nov 1900

He was also awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal

Henk

Morning David,

And a warm welcome to the forum.
Had a quick look on Ancestry at the medal rolls and there is a H.Lacey 1st Rifle Brigade.
His service no. is 4651 and his Queens South Africa medal shows the entitlement clasps Cape Colony,Orange Free State,Tugela Heights,Relief of Ladysmith and Liangs Nek this roll list him as Colour Sergt.
The roll for KIngs South Africa medal shows his clasp entitlement to the standard date bars South Africa 1901 and 02 this roll list him as Sergt.Major.

Hope this helps
Paul

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901. Army Order 15/02 (Relief of Ladysmith). Sergeant-Major Lacey was mentioned in Buller’s despatch of 30 March 1900, and in Roberts’ despatch of 4 September 1901.

"Henry Lacey was born at Devizes, Wiltshire, and enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, on 27 September 1881, aged 19 years 1 month. He served overseas in East India from September 1888 to November 1894; at Hong Kong from November 1894 for two years; and at Singapore from November 1896 until February 1898, when he returned home in the rank of Colour-Sergeant. He served during the Boer War in South Africa from 28 October 1899, received his L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1900, and was promoted to Sergeant-Major in August 1901. He was twice mentioned in despatches for services during the Boer War and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Returning home in October 1902, Lacey was posted to the General Staff of the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, where he remained for the rest of his army career, being discharged from there on 31 July 1912."

www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-...n_id=40&lot_id=29326

Might be worth contacting the museum at Kneller Hall and ask if they have any relevant photographs or further information. www.army.mod.uk/music/23294.aspx

Dear Berenice,
Thank you so much for your information, everything I could have hoped for