1914 Star to Black 2nd Royal Dragoons (Scots Greys)

1914 star correctly named to 4697. Pte. A. Black. 2/Dns. Alexander Black was born in Lanark, Scotland around 1880. In his early years he works as a labourer and a Hammerman, but obviously working long physical hours for minimum pay didn’t suit him, so in 1898 he enlisted into the Scots Greys at Glasgow. He saw service in the Boer War, landing in the Cape in Early December 1899 with B squadron and saw some heavy fighting and many members of the regiment were lost or taken prisoner. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with the clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. Also, the Kings South Africa Medal with the South Africa 01 and 02 clasps. He was discharged into the Reserves in June 1910.
When the great war broke out in August 1914, he was still serving in the reserves and immediately call to his old regiment, retaining the same number. The regiment landed in France on 17th August 1914. Soon after arriving in France, staff of the BEF issued a directive ordering the Scots Greys to dye their horses. The reason was partly because the grey mounts made conspicuous targets but was also that the grey mounts made the regiment distinctive and therefore easier to identify. For the rest of the war, the grey horses of the regiment would be dyed a dark chestnut.
First contact with the German army came on 22nd August 1914 near Mons. The Scots Greys, fighting dismounted, drove off a detachment from the German 13th Division. The German infantry reported that they fell back because they had encountered a brigade. As it became apparent that the B.E.F. could not hold the position against the German onslaught, the Scots Greys became part of the rear guard, protecting the retreating I Corps. In the aftermath of the Battle of Le Cateau, the Scots Greys, with the rest of the 5th Cavalry Brigade, helped to temporarily check the German pursuit with the charge at Cerizy, on 28th August 1914.
Once the B.E.F. was able to reorganise and take part in the Battle of the Marne, in September 1914, the Scots Greys shifted from covering the retreat to screening the advance. Eventually, the advance of the B.E.F. halted at the Battle of Aisne, where British and German forces fought to standstill just short of the Chemin des Dames. After being pulled from the trenches at the Aisne, the Scots Greys were sent north to Belgium as part of the lead elements as the British and Germans raced towards the sea, each trying to outflank the other. With the cavalry reinforced to Corps strength, the Scots Greys and the rest of the 5th Cavalry Brigade were transferred to the newly formed 2nd Cavalry Division.
In November Black was promoted to Serjeant with the 5th reserve Cavalry, Scots Greys and as the front became more static, and the need for infantry on the front line, the Scots Greys saw action through the Battles of Messines and then Ypres.
In April 1915, Black was busted back down to Private for selling Furlo’s to his men but was made up to acting corporal later in the month. In June 1915 he was transferred to the Army Service Corps Remount Depot with a change of number serving with the 56th Remount Squad. He was made acting serjeant a few weeks later. On the 21st of September 1915 his term of service in the reserves had come to an end and took the discharge having served 12 years in the dragoons and 5 years in the reserves.
Alexander Black of the Scots Greys was issued the wrong medals, he returned the medals for replacement. This medal his original 1914 star was issued to Alexander Black Norfolk Regiment by mistake and was never returned and remained with his pair until now. Please see other Black listing. This medal is in excellent condition and came to me without a ribbon, so no Mons bar. His mic fails to state he was ever issued one, but he should have been entitled. Even his service papers were mixed together with A. Black of the Norfolk regiment, and it has been a bit of a trial to sort out.
This medal comes with various copies of his service papers including service during the Boer war, medal index card and medal roll.

Code: 29864