Rifleman Hugh Cairnduff South African Rifles, was awarded the DCM for gallantry in action in East Africa. Below is the dispatch report sent to the commander of Troop No 1 SAR.
"On the 24th July, 1916 our Troop (No.1) was under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire at Malangali. Several of our men were wounded, and two killed. The man next to Rifleman Cairnduff (Hannah by name), was amongst the wounded. As soon as Rifleman Cairnduff noticed Hannah had been hit he ran to his assistance and under perfect hail of bullets dragged him into comparative shelter, and although they were both to a certain extent still exposed to fire, Rifleman Cairnduff bandaged Hannah temporarily and then rushed off for a stretcher to convey him to the dressing station in our rear. He returned with a Medical Orderly, but no native bearers could be induced to accompany the Orderly, so Rifleman Cairnduff again picked Hannah up on his back, conveyed him to the dressing station, being exposed to heavy fire all the time. He then returned to his position in the firing line. A few minutes after, the Germans were making things so hot for us that the order was given to retire, but Rifleman Cairnduff noticed that the man who had been on the other side of Hannah (Lynn), was not with us. Hearing that Lynn also was wounded, he at once dashed off to find him, and also he carried out of fire. Lynn died a few hours afterwards, but Hannah is all right again." J.R. Allan Corp. No.1 Troop, 1st S.A.R.
(A foot note also stated that "Rifleman Cairnduff is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs James Cairnduff of Barrhead, Scotland.)
Great War East Africa operations D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Cairnduff, South African Rifles, late Transvaal Scottish
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (18 Rfmn. H. Cairnduff, 1/S. Afr. Rif.); 1914-15 Star (Pte. H. Cairnduff, 8th Infantry); British War Medal 1914-20 (Sjt. H. Cairnduff, 4th S.A.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oakleaf (Pte. H. Cairnduff, 1st S.A.R.)
Footnote: One of just eight D.C.Ms awarded to the South African Rifles in the Great War.
D.C.M. London Gazette 25 November 1916: For gallantry in action. When his troop was ordered to retire from a position enfiladed by machine-gun fire, he returned and brought in two wounded men.
Hugh Cairnduff was born at Barrhead, Scotland in 1893 and onetime served in the 6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Territorial Force), prior to enlisting in the 2nd Battalion, Transvaal Scottish, in which unit he served in German West Africa from September 1914 until August 1915. Transferring to the 1st South African Rifles in the latter month, he went on to witness further active service in Nyasaland, East Africa until discharged medically unfit in August 1917, in which theatre of war he won his D.C.M., in addition to being mentioned in despatches by Brigadier-General E. Northey (London Gazette 25 September 1917 refers); he was awarded the Silver War Badge and the Kings Certificate (No. 2251).
Following a period of recuperation, Cairnduff re-enlisted in the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in May 1918 and briefly held the rank of acting Sergeant while employed in the U.K. during the period August to November 1918. Latterly employed out in France, he was finally discharged in August 1919.
