On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 01:01:20 -0700 BOER-WAR-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: IMR - there was a unit Isipingo Mounted Rifles (a forerunner of the Natal Mtd Rifles) but it ceased to exist c. 1879. 'Your' IMR could be "Imperial Military Railways". DSO & CMG & MC are significant awards. DSO usually awarded for distinguished service or gallantry (in latter case gallantry not considered worthy of e.g. a VC or GC but more significant than lower award like MC). A DSO is seldom awarded to anyone ranking lower than Lieut-Colonel. CMG was mainly awarded for services in the Commonwealth/Empire. It is an order of chivalry as the highest class awards involve a knighthood. The DSO and CMG are in my opinion also two of the "prettiest" decorations ;-) The MC was introduced in WW1. It was usually awarded to commissioned officers and warrant officers for gallantry. Usually not awarded to anyone higher than Major rank. Hope this helps somewhat. ___________________________________________________________________ For super low premiums, click here http://www.webmail.co.za/dd.pwm http://www.webmail.co.za the South African FREE email service

DSO and CMG MC and other gallantry awards and medals and the civilian equivalents are all "gazetted" in the London Gazette which is available for free at : http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk TSO is in the process of digitising the entire historical archive on behalf of HMSO. Already available online is the period covering the World Wars and the 20th Century Honours and Awards. The entire 20th Century archive is now available to view online. The material in this archive is historic and cannot be assumed to be reliable in a current context. If you have any further questions about the Gazettes Archive please e-mail london.gazette@tso.co.uk with a subject line "Archive Query BTW since the free access to 20th Century gazettes they have been inundated with mail queries so there is a long waiting list. NB Officer's commissions and promotions are also "Gazetted" in this periodical. The earlier issues are only available on line via subscription presently. Also there are partner dissolutions and bankruptcies in this publication. The search engine is good having two specially tuned buttons for WW1 or WW11 and a date range selection as a third option. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/204 - Release Date: 15/12/2005