RSM A. Jacobs 17th lancers

[PENCAN]

Hello,
 l'm trying to find more information about RSM. A. Jacobs.                                                        We have a Regimental stick [?] and photo from the 17th Lancers Regimental magazine of him in a Sergeants Mess Group dated oct. 1907. He is an RSM and the group are, l believe, in tropical dress. He was commissioned as Acting Captain during WW1 on 9th nov 1915 and retired from the Army in 1920. l've found out that the 17th Lancers were in India before going to France in 1914 [tropical dress?]. l have also found an RSM. A. Jacobs 3762, 17th Lancers, and the 'A' may have been for Alfred. l would love to find out more about who he was, where he was born and lived etc and if we can find out more about his Military history. lf anyone can help please, l would appreciate any information. Thanks.

[crisane]

The Medal Roll Index card for Alfred Jacobs reg no 3762 says his first theatre of war was (1)x (I have no idea what this means) and his date of entry therein 8th of November 1874.
He received the Victory, British and 14 Star. His card has quite a lot of info re his medals, evenon the reverse side but it consists of lots of number combinations about which I know nothing.
Findmypast has an Anglo Boer war record for him but I don't have a sub.

[crisane]

From the Service Medal and Award Rolls
1914 awarded the 1914 Star
A Jacobs, 3762 Regimental Sergeant Major
His regiment - Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line
17th Lancers, Duke of Cambridge's Own
Commissioned to the 17th Lancers 11 Jan 1917

[km1971]

As a Sergeant he was awarded the Queen South Africa medal with clasps for Johannesberg, Diamond Hill and Wittebergen. These were battles that you can look up on Wikipedia. Plus Cape Colony which was a state clasp.

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1686/31794_221451-00002?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d1686%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=31794_221451-00129

As a Squadron Sergeant Major he was awarded the Kings South Africa medal with clasps for 1901 and 1902.

During WW1 he received a French medal

The President of the French Republic has
bestowed the decoration " Medaille Militaire "
on the undermentioned Warrant Officers,
Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, in recognition
of their distinguished service during the campaign


https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29486/supplement/2073

The allies exchanged medals for distribution. It was the British army that decided who gained the award.

He almost certainly also earned the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.

Ken

[PENCAN]

Hello crisane & Km1971,
 Wow! Thank you for all that information. l haven't digested it all just yet, but am wondering,  if the entry of his first theatre of war is November 1874, and he retired in 1920, he would have been at least 60 when he retired, and around 54 when WW1 started. Would this have been possible? Thanks again, l'm off to research the info you have given me.

[km1971]

He entered a theatre of war on 8 November 1914. 1 is France

From 1914-1918.net...
17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Hussars
 August 1914 : in Sialkot in India, part of the Sialkot Cavalry Brigade.
 Moved with Brigade to France as part of 1st Indian Cavalry Division, landed Marseilles 7 November 1914.
26 November 1916 : Division renamed 4th Cavalry Division.
 February 1918 : Division broken up; regiment transferred to 7th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division, joining on 10 March 1918.