Here's an interesting group of medals I picked up which are named to RSM Thomas Elliott (later captain) of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Scots Greys). He served on the western front, but didn't actually land in France until June 1st 1916 - having been kept back in England as an instructor. At the time he was acting RSM until the post was confirmed on July 6th 1916. Elliott's medals are shown below - although slightly out of order - an oversight on my part! The LS&GC is not named - although it has not been erased. The group came with copies of all his military records. Click on images to enlarge.
The Belgian Croix de Guerre was awarded to him in the field on February 2nd 1918 and recorded in the battalion war diary. Its worth noting that only 5,620 such awards were made to British military personnel throughout the war, which makes it a much rarer award to British servicemen than some of the gallantry awards. He was made an M.B.E (military) on June 3rd 1924, commissioned to Quartermaster on December 31st 1924, and promoted to Captain (Quartermaster) on December 31st 1932. In the picture below, Elliott is second man from the right in the back row.
The Scots Greys saw much action during the course of the war - and much of it in the trenches as dismounted troops. One Scottish newspaper reported that a decision was made to paint the horses khaki because their grey coats were too visible to German gunners who used the horses as an aiming point to strafe the trenches. This led to one wag penning a poem...
O wae is me my hert is sair, tho but a horse am I.
My Scottish pride is wounded among the dust
maun lie.
I used to be a braw Scots grey but now I'm khaki
clad.
My auld grey coat has disappeared, the thocht o't
makes me sad.
Elliott was a highly accomplished athlete, and the Scots Greys museum said of him in a post in 2019....
'Captain Elliott was a brilliant and accomplished athlete -- with skills in rugby, football, hockey, cricket, squash, and golf. Indeed he was one of the most "versatile athletes" the army has ever seen.
'Thomas Elliott held the championship for mounted men at arms on more than one occasion. Indeed captain Elliott's sublime sword skills were showcased at numerous fencing championships. He was the winner of several sabre championships at the Royal tournament at Olympia. Elliott won four county cricket caps for Cumberland and Gloucester and also played for the British Army's First XV Rugby team. Captain Elliott was not only a decorated athlete, but an outstanding soldier who was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre during his service with the Regiment in the First World War as well as being made a member of the Order of the British Empire.'
Such a glowing tribute to a very fine man who was much loved by his comrades. Below is his obituary...
Some of the documentation...
Cheers,
Steve
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