Orders, Decorations and Medals

An exceptionally rare Great War Cavalry D.C.M. and Bar group of seven awarded to Sergeant Alfred Haste, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, for mounted attacks on two separate occasions
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (D-21010 Sjt., 6/Dns.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, S.A. 1901, S.A. 1902 (4410 Pte., 6th Drgns.); 1914-15 Star Trio (6DN-4410 Sjt., 6-Dns.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (390671 Sjt., D.C.M., Inniskillings) the first two with some edge bruises but generally good very fine or better (7)

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 October, 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry in a mounted attack on some machine guns. His troop officer becoming a casualty, he assumed command and continued to advance until all the horses, including his own, were shot down. He then rallied the remaining men and got them under cover. He behaved with the greatest coolness under very difficult conditions.”
Bar to D.C.M. London Gazette 10 January, 1920: “For conspicuous gallantry and marked ability on 10th October, 1918, near Le Cateau, whilst in charge of the leading troops of the advanced Squadron. The whole Squadron suddenly came under heavy shell and machine gun fire, and with the exception of his Troop moved to a flank. He, on his own initiative, galloped his Troop forward to a ridge about 800 yards away, and put a machine gun out by rifle fire. He held the ridge until the infantry came up.”

The first action is noted in the War Diary of the 6th Dragoons, “Cayeux Wood, 8-11th August 1918....under heavy M.G. fire from Pt 78....G.O.C. 7th Cav.Bde. ordered an attack on the M.G.s by a mounted Squadron....O.C. ‘C’ Squadron detailed 2/Lt. Russi to gallop his troop at the guns....Russi was severely wounded and the whole of the troop shot down.”
The Inniskilling Dragoons moved to France, from India, in December 1914, and remained throughout the war. Only 6 D.C.M.’s were won by the Regiment and Sergeant Haste was the only man to win a Bar, one of only 7 Bars to the D.C.M. won by the regular cavalry during the Great War. Sergeant Haste, furthermore, was the only man to win both awards in mounted actions. The group is accompanied by an original Discharge Certificate which confirms all awards and one wound stripe.