DLI man first theatre Hedjaz in 1915, later served Iraq

[johnnie]

Dear All,

I was wondering if somebody might be able to help me. I have been researching a man called Henry Rix who served with the DLI and later with the Indian Telegraph Department before serving under the Director General of P&T Bagdad.

So far I have worked out that he was born in Sunderland and by 1911 he was serving with the DLI with the number 11060. However, his MIC states that he landed in Hedjaz (now Saudi Arabia) on the 5th September 1915, and that he later joined to the Indian Telegraph Department with the number 659 and the rank of M/T. There is also a note of the rear stating the “India office forwards roll of individuals who claim to have earned the 15 star while serving with the British units” so I assume he was considered to be with a British unit in 1915 when he arrived in the Hedjaz.

He was also entitled to a GSM with Iraq clasp and the roll for this states the following:

“Telegraphist I/C Quraito 1/7/1920 to 20/10/1920”

And it seems he was serving under the following:

“Director General of P&T Bagdad”

Would it be correct to suggest that he may have been a member of the signals section while in the DLI, and then for some reason he was moved to the Indian Telegraph Department? So far I have been unable to find out much about the Indian Telegraph Department, but was wondering if any members may have come across it. I was also wondering what the rank of M/T stood for.

I was also wondering if anybody could suggest what his role would have been in Iraq? Would he have been overseeing communications? Would his role have been governmental or military?

Finally, he was also entitled to the ISM but I have thus far been unable to locate the LG entry for this. I was wondering if any members might be able to pull it out.

I have never come a MIC with the first area of service as Hedjaz and was interested to know is many DLI men served in the area. I know (at least I think I am correct in saying this) that the area was later one of the area operated in by T. E. Lawrence, but was keen to try and find out more about British service in the area in 1915.

Any help would be great,

Johnnie

[sotonmate]

There doesn't seem to be a unit landing in Hedjaz in 1915. The original Medal Rolls might give clue of unit and how many landed then . The 1914-15 Star Roll may be he best. His MIC reference O/1/21B2 page 1087 relates to the Roll which is filed at Kew in the DLI ledger ref WO329/2791. The other two medals are listed on page 8850 in DLI ledger WO329/1630.

[johnnie]

Many thanks for that. A job for my next visit to Kew.

I have been having a look at men with a number close to him and they are all 1st and 2nd Btn men, and out of the 1st Btn men there are a few who landed/served in different places including 5g (Indian Frontier) and 5i (Landakai Ridge). These two areas both fit quite well as the 1st Btn were in India, but so far he is the only one for 5a (Hedjaz), although I assume others must have landed as there would otherwise be no need for the code.

I did wonder if his skills as a signaller (which I assume was his trade due to his later postings) resulted in his being attached to different units etc.

Johnnie

[bushfighter]

Johnnie Greetings. My guess, based on similar individuals, is that he was serving in 1 DLI in India in August 1914 and from there he was selected, as a signaller, for clandestine operations across the Red Sea from Sudan to the Hedjaz. Later he may have been transferred to Mesopotamia, or at least administered from Mesopotamia. I suggest that you contact John Heron at the DLI Museum: http://county.durham.gov.uk/sites/dli/Pages/MuseumHomepage.aspx Although we didn't publicise it we had men and ships operating along the Hedjaz coast from 1914. Please let us know what you discover. Harry

[johnnie]

Many thanks for that. I'll certainly report back all I find out. As coincidence would have it I was working in Saudi earlier the year (I'm an archaeologist) and I'm also currently reading Seven Pillars of Wisdom.