TOPIC:

Does a 'Mention in Despatches' necessarily add value to the QSA of the recipient of this honour? The reason I ask is that I have two MID QSA's in my collection and I was disappointed to find that both the units of the men concerned seem to have a disproportionately high number of MIDs

This applies particularly in the case of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Because of the nature of its guns, this unit seems to have played a relatively insignificant role in the war compared with the RFA and RHA.

The second unit is the South African Light Horse, which did have a very active war, so the the high number of MIDs is perhaps not surprising. However, the Imperial Light Horse had an even more illustrious service record, with a large number of decorations [including 4 VCs], but far fewer MIDS.

I would be interested in knowing the opinions of other collectors on this subject.

Regards
Brett

Good Afternoon Brett.....

I am not sure but I would put a few extra pounds on a medal to a man who has been MID'd but I would makes sure that it is well documented.....

Mike

I agree, Mike. The problem with both the MID's in my collection is that neither can be tied to an act or action.

I am particularly doubtful about the merits of the MID to 2nd Lieutenant B R Brewin of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Roberts, London Gazette, 10 September 1901). He has an interesting military career (see below), so I would like to believe he did something useful in the RGA.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bertram Robert Brewin MC


Bertram Robert Brewin was born on 12/4/1873, the son of Arthur Brewin and his wife Mary Mossop. Arthur Brewin was an Assistant Master of Giggleswick School in Settle, Yorkshire.

Educated at Giggleswick School from September 1882 to July 1890.

Gentleman Cadet, Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, on 26/9/1890.

2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, 27/7/1892.

11 Company, Eastern Division, Royal Artillery at Landguard Fort from 1892 to 1895.

Lieutenant, RA, 27/7/1895.

Malta from September 1895 to November 1896.

Rawalpindi and Agra, India, with 5 Company, Southern Division, RA, from November 1896 to September 1898.

Resigned commission on 14/9/1898.

Enlisted as a Trooper in Natal Police (No. 2254) in Pietermaritzburg on 29/11/1898.

With Natal Police Field Force during operations to relieve the siege of Ladysmith (November 1899 to February 1900) and possibly a member of General Buller’s Bodyguard during that period.

Recommissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery on 23/5/1900 and left the NP on 3/7/1900.

23rd Company, Western Division, RGA, from July 1900 to October 1901.

Appointed Assistant Press Censor for a period.

Mentioned in Despatches by Lord Roberts, 10/9/1901.

Resigned commission on 23/11/1901.

Volunteered for service in the Cape Police in London on 17/2/1902. Attested as a Private in Cape Police, District No. 1 (No. 2476) in Cape Town on 24/3/1902.

Released from active duty at end of war, 31/5/1902.

Awarded Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps (Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Cape Colony & South Africa 1901) (2254 Tpr. B. R. Brewin. Natal Police.). Tailor’s copies of the clasps Laing’s Nek, Orange Free State and Transvaal, to which Brewin was not entitled, have been added to the medal. The Cape Colony clasp was for service with the CP, while the South Africa 1901 clasp was for service with the RGA.

Remained with the Cape Police after the war and re-enrolled on 1/3/1905 for a further period of three years in what had become the Cape Mounted Police.

Dismissed from the CMP on 23/4/1907 for “Misconduct”. Nature of the offence is not known.

Returned to England where he was employed as a secretary.

Married Alice K Mattinson in Settle, Yorkshire, during 1913. (In 1901, a Miss Mattinson, a cousin, of Clapham, via Lancaster, was listed as his next of kin.)

Second Lieutenant, 6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, on 10/8/1914.

Temporary Captain, 6th West Riding Regiment, on 21/11/1914.

Captain and Adjutant, 6th West Riding Regiment, on 8/3/1915.

Temporary Major, 6th West Riding Regiment, on 5/11/1915.

To France, December 1916.

Second in Command, 16th Battalion, Royal Scots (34th Division), 9/2/1917 to 26/4/1917.

With 16th Battalion, Royal Scots, at the Battle of Arras (Vimy Ridge) in April 1917.

Commanding Officer (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel), 27th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Irish) (34th Division), 26/4/1917.

As a result of intemperance, he was relieved of command on 18/6/1917.

Reverted to Captain on 20/6/1917.

Company Commander, 1st Battalion, Gloucester Regiment (3rd Brigade, 1st Division), 15/7/1917.

On 29/8/1917 he was arrested and placed on a charge of intemperance. No further action was taken because in a letter dated 16/10/1917, the Commander-in-Chief wrote:
“All commanders whom Captain Brewin has served testify to his personal gallantry and efficiency as an officer. I consider that no further action should be taken in his case. He is fine fighting soldier and he now appears to be overcoming his apparent failing of intemperance.”

With the 1st Battalion, Gloucester Regiment, at the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Wounded at Passchendaele (shrapnel right thigh) on 10/11/1917.

Repatriated to England and granted leave to 5/1/1918.

Awarded the Military Cross (LG 30530 18/2/1918) for his actions at Passchendaele on 10/11/1917.
Citation (LG 30801 16/7/1918):
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company forward with the greatest skill and determination through a heavy barrage to reinforce the attacking troops. Though severely wounded he did not relinquish his command until he had reported with his company to the commanding officer of the unit which he had been ordered to reinforce.”

Attached to 2nd/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (No. 164th Brigade, 55th Division), and returned to France.

Wounded at Givenchy on 10/7/1918.

Repatriated to England on 15/7/1918 and granted leave to 30/8/1918.

Acting-Major and second-in-command, 2nd/1st Yorkshire Hussars, 26/4/1919 to 22/11/1919.

Resigned his commission on 22/11/1919.

Awarded the War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. B. R. Brewin).

Major, Retired, July 1920.

Address in 1921 was The Cottage, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington.

His death, aged 50, was registered in the Darlington district in the third quarter of 1923.

Brewin’s World War I diaries are in the National Archives (WO95/2802).

An unnamed World War II South African Medal for War Service came with Brewin’s medals and was once thought to have been awarded to him “for at least two years of voluntary service that aided the war effort” in South Africa. Since Brewin died in 1923 it cannot have been his, but probably belonged to another member of the Brewin family. His elder brother, Lancelot, who served in the Imperial Light Infantry during the Anglo-Boer War, was a teacher who settled in South Africa. Although he died in 1932, his widow died in 1957 and the World War II medal might have been hers.

23/4/2010

Hi Brett.....

My man who rec'd a MID is well documented so I guess I am lucky..... I have two references.....

MAJOR HOVELL, H. De B., (Hugh de Berdt), WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

12th February 1900

The action of Sligersfontein, named after the farm there, was our first engagement exactly one month after landing in South Africa. This successful engagement with the Boers brought the first honours to the battalion—two D.S.O.'s, immediate awards to Captain H. de B. Hovell, O.C. "A" Coy., and Lieutenant H. V. Bartholomew, O.C. "E" Coy.

and

He served with the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment throughout the South African War of 1899-1902, being mentioned in despatches and awarded an immediate D.S.O. for gallantry.

At the battle of Sligersfontein, 12th February, 1900, he took command and throughout the 24 hours he led the singing to keep the men cheerful. The song was " Oh ! Lucky Jim."

Mike

Mike

As a long-time admirer of your collection, I would expect you to have a well-documented MID! I will console myself by saying that it is as well to still
have something significant to add to my collection.

Regards
Brett

Hello chaps,

A documented MID should add something to the price of a medal - after all it recognises conduct "above and beyond". An undocumented MID shouldn't add anything because it could be for keeping tidy pay records (vital function all the same) or sniping ten Boers.

Don't forget in the days before the MM the MID and often a promotion was used to recognise gallantry.

Also one finds in the medal rolls instances of gallant conduct which didn't get an MID or promotion.

I have examples of documented MIDs and a 'notice' in the medal rolls.

When I get home I can get the details.

Regards
Meurig