Robert M'Rae / Macrae DCM 90th Regiment Mounted Infantry

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Is there some confusion here? I can't find a M'Rae in the 90th medal rolls. There is a private 608 R McCrea 1877-78-79 clasp.
A W McRae won the DCM in 1901. Diamond Field Force?

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Kirkintilloch Herald - Wednesday 21 April 1915

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Aberdeen Evening Express - Wednesday 21 April 1915

Kate,

The question you have ask yourself is how many D.C.M.s were awarded for Ulundi?

Answer: two - neither to the 90th.

Then you have to ask to which squadron of Mounted Infantry did the 90th supply an officer & men to?

Answer: the 2nd Squadron, Mounted Infantry.

So does the content of the report line up - no it does not.

M’rae & Macrae are one and the same. One is rendered the Irish way, the other the Scottish way.

JY

Posts : 3474 Join date : 2021-01-04

Appreciate that John, thats why I started my post "Is there some confusion here?"
The journalist is obviously confused and getting his facts mixed up.
I had done some research before posting and had checked the IMI rolls and could not find him nor could I find any info about someone from the 90th winning the DCM at Ulundi.

So we have to ask ourself is which M'Rae senior won the DCM, is it the one I found W M'Rae 1901 though his first name is Robert?
And why is the journalist mixing Ulundi up with another engagement?
What do you reckon the answer is then John to this confusion?

'DCM, 90th Regiment and Mounted Infantry' was put in the title field so it is searchable in the future

Kate,

Only D.C.M.s spring to mind for 90th L.I.

Sergeant Sam Smith for the 9th Cape Frontier War and the redoubtable Walkinshaw for Hlobane.

JY

Posts : 3474 Join date : 2021-01-04

So we still have our mystery then.
He is on thin ice claiming to have the DCM when his son has just won one and it is in all the papers... if he didn't actually win one.
Although journalist are extremely inaccurate with some of their reporting there is normally an underlying element of truth some where in there.
So what is his story?
Oh just for your information John, in case you didn't know, the search engine on the forum does not recognise multiple spellings of the same surname.
I'm aware M'rae and Macrae are the same person but entered both spellings to assist anyone searching for this chap in the future. Salute

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And the awards keep coming
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Kirkintilloch Herald - Wednesday 29 September 1915

The only time I can find the 90th L.I. operating with the Diamond Fields Horse, under the future Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, the then Captain Charles Warren, R.E., was between April - May 1878. The 90th was still under the command of H. W. Palmer, before he got religion in the field. Having examined Palmer’s despatches during that period the only D.C.M. to be recommended was that of Colour-Sergeant Samuel Smith, who assumed command of his company after his officers were killed.

JY

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More awards for his son
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Kirkintilloch Herald - Wednesday 19 September 1917

Kate / John
Just to confirm that there is certainly no McRae / McCrae in the 90th IMI - not even in the latest research we have done - or in any other regimental detachments to the 1st or 2nd squadrons of the IMI. (We believe we now have complete rolls for both.)

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Smashing thanks Julian and well done on completing the rolls Salute

...just realized that Bill Sherriff must be mentioned in the congrats too (wouldn't want to leave him out!)

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Yeah you don't want to annoy the Sherriff. Joker

Well done both of you

Indeed! Look what happened to Billy the Kid. And not forgetting 'Big Nose Kate'! (Really!!) No relation I'm sure...

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The way I feel at the moment Julian I could do with a Doc (preferably one that looks like Val Kilmer )

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