Captain Alexander Stephen Wallace - Royal Field Artillery - Regimental Number 4236

[MontroseAir]

Good morning,

Captain Alexander Stephen Wallace of the Royal Field Artillery was awarded the Military Cross and twice mentioned in despatches during WW1.  His story is part of a new display at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre on the East Coast of Scotland.

Unfortunately we've been unable to locate the citation for his Military Cross and the reasons for being mentioned in despatches.

Any help / guidance would be greatly appreciated and attributed in the new display.

Regards

Michael

[charlie962]

This horse clipping (?) courtesy FindmyPast seems relevant:

[helpjpl]

Is this your man?

Alexander Steven Wallace, Royal Field Artillery, attd. Headquarters, 46th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

If so it appears he was awarded the MC in the 1919 New Year Honours - for general good works rather than a specific action.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_New_Year_Honours#Military_Cross_(MC)

 Edit:  MIC from ancestry.

JP

Edited 6 July , 2021 by helpjpl
Edit:  MIC from ancestry.

[charlie962]

4 hours ago, MontroseAir said:

Unfortunately we've been unable to locate the citation for his Military Cross a

Looks to be a 1st Jan 1919 Gazette suggesting New Year's Honours and thus no citation?

[MontroseAir]

2 hours ago, charlie962 said:

This horse clipping (?) courtesy FindmyPast seems relevant:

Many thanks, it was this news article that started us on the idea of a display.  An amazing story.

Thanks for replies to date.  Greatly appreciated.

Trying to find the reason he was twice mentioned in despatches.

[helpjpl]

3 hours ago, helpjpl said:

Alexander Steven Wallace, Royal Field Artillery, attd. Headquarters, 46th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

You can get the 46 Brigade Royal Field Artillery War Diary from the National Archives.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352701

To get it free click on 'sign in' and 'register for an account'.

JP

Edited 6 July , 2021 by helpjpl

[charlie962]

19 hours ago, MontroseAir said:

Trying to find the reason he was twice mentioned in despatches.

He was mentioned once in Haig's despatch of 9th April 1917, published 15/5/17. Long lists of names published over following days. No citations are given in Gazette for MiD.

It too seems to be a catch-up list of names, seperate to any of the lists attached to his main despatches that covered particular periods of campaign.

 

His name appears in Gazette list of 18/5/17, under Royal Artillery rather than RFA, suggesting perhaps he was 'staff' at this time.

Charlie

Edited 7 July , 2021 by charlie962

[charlie962]

His second mention was ayear later, for services (unspecified) in the period 25/9/17-25/2/18. His name appears in the 5th Supplement dated 17/5/18 published 21/5/18. He is listed under RFA Special Reserve as Lt (A/Capt)

Check Brigade and Division for possible detail but unlikely.

 

You probably already have this:

image courtesy FindmyPast Newspapers

 

Charlie

 

[charlie962]

2Lt Wallace appears as Adjutant of the 46th Brigade RFA, writing up and initialling the War Diary from 26th Oct 1916 into 1917. Perhaps it was as much for efficient work as Adjutant during this active period that he was first 'mentioned'. He continues to act as Adjutant throughout 1917 and is Captain by the end, originating and signing off a number of orders and documents.

He continues as such throughout 1918 and signs off the final 46th Bde RFA  War Diary of June 1919 as Adjutant.

 

Without reading all the detail of 46the Bde War Diaries I suggest his two mentions and his MC were all for devotion to duty more than gallantry, but no doubt there were periods of continuing work under extreme danger ?

Edited 7 July , 2021 by charlie962