Captain Leslie Gordon Rix, 4th Bn London Regt., Mentioned in Dispatches (Haigh)?

[Old Owl]

Hi All,

Whilst researching the above officer I came across an entry which suggests that he received an MID via Haigh during WW1.

Leslie Rix was commissioned from the Artist's Rifles as 2/Lt into the 4th Bn London Regt., on 4/2/15 and entered France in April, 1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant June 1915 and to the rank of Captain in October 1915. He died on 11/2/17 from wounds received the previous day near Merville.

If anyone is able to confirm that he received an MID then I would be most grateful,

TIA, Robert

[PRC]

As usual, just a list of names https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30093/supplement/5169

Front page of that supplement edition states it relates to Haig's despatch dated 9th April (1917) and which appeared in the edition of the London Gazette dated 15th May 1917.

Cheers,
Peter

[Old Owl]

3 minutes ago, PRC said:

As usual, just a list of names https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30093/supplement/5169

Front page of that supplement edition states it relates to Haig's despatch dated 9th April (1917) and which appeared in the edition of the London Gazette dated 15th May 1917.

Cheers,
Peter

Many thanks Peter,

This is great--I just wish that I had your skills in digging out such information so swiftly. I have always found the London Gazette to be a 'no go' area for me!!!

Many thanks again,

Best, Robert

 

[PRC]

37 minutes ago, Old Owl said:

I have always found the London Gazette to be a 'no go' area for me!!!

Should be a record card in the National Archive catalogue - however from my experience that is not set in stone

In this case there was, which made it easier. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6527855

A google search then for the Gazette by year and page sometimes takes you straight there.
Alternatively Wikipedia has the first page for each issue linked from an entry for the year. You can then browse from that page through the issue using the drop down box or the forward \ back buttons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:London_Gazette_Index/19/1917

However the Haig despatch dated 9th April is proving a bit elusive. What appears in the third supplement to the London Gazette of the 15th May 1917 is little more than a paragraph, stating what follows is a list of names that has been drawn to Haigs' attention. The bottom of the page then says the list has been split into six separate supplements that will be printed over several days. But no clue as to what period they relate to. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30072/supplement/1

A collection of Haigs' despatches doesn't even appear to mention it. https://electricscotland.com/history/france/sirdouglashaigsd00haiguoft.pdf

Best guess would be official end of the Somme in mid-November 1916 to the opening of the Arras Campaign in April 1917. It's more likely to be a reflection of a sustained period of effort above and beyond the expected level than a specific act of gallantry.

Cheers,
Peter

[Old Owl]

29 minutes ago, PRC said:

Should be a record card in the National Archive catalogue - however from my experience that is not set in stone

In this case there was, which made it easier. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6527855

A google search then for the Gazette by year and page sometimes takes you straight there.
Alternatively Wikipedia has the first page for each issue linked from an entry for the year. You can then browse from that page through the issue using the drop down box or the forward \ back buttons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:London_Gazette_Index/19/1917

However the Haig despatch dated 9th April is proving a bit elusive. What appears in the third supplement to the London Gazette of the 15th May 1917 is little more than a paragraph, stating what follows is a list of names that has been drawn to Haigs' attention. The bottom of the page then says the list has been split into six separate supplements that will be printed over several days. But no clue as to what period they relate to. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30072/supplement/1

A collection of Haigs' despatches doesn't even appear to mention it. https://electricscotland.com/history/france/sirdouglashaigsd00haiguoft.pdf

Best guess would be official end of the Somme in mid-November 1916 to the opening of the Arras Campaign in April 1917. It's more likely to be a reflection of a sustained period of effort above and beyond the expected level than a specific act of gallantry.

Cheers,
Peter

Many thanks Peter for the pointers and for your efforts in digging this out--I shall have a look and see if I can make any sense of making a search myself!

It seems that there is real art to working through the system--something which will most likely defeat me--not that it takes a lot!

Many thanks again for all your efforts,

Best, Robert