roughdiamond Posted 3 December , 2011 Posted 3 December , 2011 Having watched the "Find My Past" episode about the execution of Pte Harry Farr, I got interested about the story of RSM Laking who was said to have been instrumental in him being charged, they stated RSM Laking gained his DCM for leading 2 lots of troops into the trenches under fire when no officer could be found and his MC was awarded postumously. I looked up both LG entries out of curiosity, for the DCM http://www.london-ga.../supplements/12 dated 1st Jan 1914 and the MC http://www.london-ga...upplements/6468 dated 3rd June 1918, but neither has a description of the action either was awarded for. Now this is where it gets interesting, bearing in mind the MC was Gazetted 3rd June 1918 and the statement in the programme was it was awarded postumously, this is his CWGC entry http://www.cwgc.org/...casualty=901989 showing date of death as 7th August 1918 and that he's interred in Cologne Southern Cemetery which seems to be where POW's remain's were centralised for burial at the end of WWI. Obviously there's been an error in the programme so here's a couple of questions: - Does anyone have any detail of RSM Laking's MC and DCM? Was he captured during the Spring Offensive of 1918? Sam NB: Please no discussions of the rights/wrongs of executions (it's been done Ad nauseum and is off topic for the thread) or the quality of the programme, the latter is for the Culture Pages and a thread on the programme exists there http://1914-1918.inv...howtopic=172613
MickLeeds Posted 3 December , 2011 Posted 3 December , 2011 DCM entry. 7284 CSM H Laking 1st Bn. "For gallant conduct assisting to take two platoons into firing line under very heavy fire when no officers were available" (16.1.15) Mick.
roughdiamond Posted 3 December , 2011 Author Posted 3 December , 2011 DCM entry. 7284 CSM H Laking 1st Bn. "For gallant conduct assisting to take two platoons into firing line under very heavy fire when no officers were available" (16.1.15) Mick. Was that in the LG Mick? I couldn't find it. Sam
MickLeeds Posted 3 December , 2011 Posted 3 December , 2011 Was that in the LG Mick? I couldn't find it. Sam Hello Sam, I got it from the Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920 collection on Ancestry. Mick.
SteveE Posted 3 December , 2011 Posted 3 December , 2011 Sam London Gazette link to his DCM citation is here...http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29042/supplements/570 His MC was listed in the London Gazette as part of the King's Birthday honours in 1918, so no published citation I'm afraid, link to the entry is here...http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30716/supplements/6468 Regards Steve
roughdiamond Posted 6 December , 2011 Author Posted 6 December , 2011 Cheers Steve Still find it strange the programme should state the award was posthumous when it clearly wasn't, they could find the trial records, they could find his Gt Gt Nephew but couldn't work out August comes after June. Sam
kevin Posted 6 December , 2011 Posted 6 December , 2011 You will also find that CSM Lewington 5611 won a DCM in the same action.http://frontforum.westernfrontassociation.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=770&p=6602&hilit=laking#p6602
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