2310 CSM Joseph Dixon, 5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers

[Shiny]

Hi All,

I've been researching 2310 CSM Joseph Dixon, 5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers and have come across a few things I'm puzzled about.

According to medal records and silver war badge records he enlisted on the 7th of September 1914 and arrived in France on the 20th of April 1915.

He seems to have been promote to WO2 (CSM) very quickly as just over a year later he is mentioned in despatches (gazetted 15th of June 1916). Is that a common occurrence? It seems a very quick promotion to me.

I'm assuming the date (15th June 1916) is the date he was gazetted not the date of the action he took part in so how quickly would that appear, do I need to look in the war diary in June, May or earlier?

Whatever he was awarded the MID for must have caused him some problems as he was transferred into something called 22 Provisional Battalion, still recorded as CSM, I believe from the LLT website that was some sort of reserve battalion for people who were medically downgraded - have I understood that correctly?

A month later on the 30th of August 1916 he was medically discharged with chronic bronchitis. His silver war badge record has him being discharged as a CSM but his pension record has him as a Private soldier again. How would that happen, does that mean he was acting WO2 (CSM) even though his medal records and SWB record doesn't hint at that?

Any help understanding all of this would be really appreciated.

Michael

[ss002d6252]

Although it says Private, his pension rate was paid at 10s 8d per week for a 20% disability, which corresponds to a WO2 rank.



Craig

[Shiny]

Thanks very much Craig, I haven't seen that sheet before but that helps a lot.

It also helps confirm I have the right record, I was starting to doubt myself.

Thanks again,

Michael