Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 23 January , 2022 Share Posted 23 January , 2022 Dear All, When researching the MC actions of Lieuts F. P. G. Denehy and C. F. Pyett, I established their entries in The Edinburgh Gazette of 17 February 1920, attached. These were in a group of ten (attached), awarded for distinguished service in Southern and Central Kurdistan. Dated 15 November 1919. Upon consulting the helpful MC Book by Peter Warrington (N&M Press, 2015: "For Distinguished & Meritorious Services in Time of War: The Great War Recipients of the Military Cross 1914-1920"), the ten seem to have been omitted - the Kurdistan campaign having been a Great War aftermath, attracting the GSM (1918) and appropriate clasp or clasps. Perhaps Great War Forum members can supply MC Citations and/or Images for one or more of the ten? The gallant and capable Capt Bond, for example, was murdered by Kurds. Francis Denehy (MC action alluded to in "Kurds, Turks, and Arabs"; Image, 1920s via David Rao) became a Remounts Lt.-Col,; Claud Pyett was IARO and his MC action is shown, which included Lieut O'Shea (MiD) whose medals I possess; Lieut. Moorhead was attached to the Assyrian Battalion, and so on. Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 23 January , 2022 Share Posted 23 January , 2022 (edited) I can only find the basic MC list you posted: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31777/supplement/1802 Could they have been in sensitive political/unofficial situations requiring discretion - hence no citations? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_state_(1918–1919)#:~:text=Kurdish state (1918–1919) From Wikipedia%2C the free encyclopedia,that existed from October 1918 to June 1919. Arthur Wilmot Wadeson Holworthy commissioned June 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30319/page/10180 Edward Lionel Wakefield Fox Commissioned Nov. 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31123/page/728 Neville Wilton Clarke Commissioned Nov. 1915: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29350/supplement/10879 Several seem to have got the BWM & VM (e.g. Moorhead - Ancestry MIC image): Edited 23 January , 2022 by Ivor Anderson Additional information Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Anderson Posted 23 January , 2022 Share Posted 23 January , 2022 (edited) Cyril Harvey Gowan was attached to the 'Political Dept' like Bond (Ancestry MIC): He was promoted from the ranks in 1915: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29041/supplement/484 He got an MBE in 1925: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/14133/page/632 Edited 23 January , 2022 by Ivor Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 24 January , 2022 Share Posted 24 January , 2022 Probably not directly helpful but the relevant despatch, available online, is Despatch from Major General Sir George F MacMunn, officiating Commander-In Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, describing events since 1st January 1919, including North Persia, and Southern and Cental Kurdistan, for various operations between March and September 1919. The London Gazette 5 March 1920 Supplement: 31813 Page: 2877. The actual pages are dated 8 March 1920. Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 24 January , 2022 Author Share Posted 24 January , 2022 Dear Maureen and Ivor, Many thanks for your most helpful information so kindly given. I was unaware, for example, that the obviously capable and gallant Cyril Gowan was also a Political. The MICs for Gowan and Moorehead are amongst the most busy I have seen! Unfortunately I am unable to access the ancestry Image of S. P. H. Moorshead. The elusive IARO/IASC MC group to C. F. Pyett was sold a few years ago: his quasi-Citation mentioning IARO Lieut Patrick O'Shea of 1024 Burma M. T. Coy (Ford Vans), whose Images and medals I attach for general interest. Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 24 January , 2022 Share Posted 24 January , 2022 Hi Kim Have checked ancestry for images of Moorhead. The only one on there is one of his gravestone. Is this any use to you ? Travers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 24 January , 2022 Author Share Posted 24 January , 2022 Dear Travers, Yes, please. A capable and gallant officer is a capable and gallant officer is a... These Ten ARE an elusive buch! Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 25 January , 2022 Share Posted 25 January , 2022 Ancestry trees say he died 12-8-1980 • Mpumalanga, Belfast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Father was a doctor in South Africa who served in Boer War & WW1, dying in 1916 while serving in Malawi. Travers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 26 January , 2022 Author Share Posted 26 January , 2022 Dear Travers, Thanks for that. Violet had the Good Innings to end all Good Innings! Interestingly, the 1920 MC entry in the Lond. Gaz. has his name as Sidney Patrick Humphrys Moorhead - but the elaborate family headstone says otherwise. Another off-shoot coincidence is that a Political, whose medals are in my possession, Lt.-Col V. M. H. ('Pansy') Cox (the last Resident in Waziristan, 1947), is also buried in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His headstone has 'Indian Poiltical Service' (online, but I cannot find it!). His portrait and medal group are of general interest... Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now