Maurice (Jimmy or Jim) DIX

DIX, Maurice

Service Number: 411
Enlisted: 24 July 1915
Last Rank: Bombardier
Last Unit: 5th Light Trench Mortar Battery
Born: Greta, New South Wales, Australia, 15 March 1889
Home Town: Hamilton, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Horse trainer
Died: Killed in Action, France, 9 August 1918, aged 29 years
Cemetery: Heath Cemetery, Picardie
Plot I, Row A, Grave No. 2
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

24 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 411, 30th Infantry Battalion
9 Nov 1915: Involvement Private, 411, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: ''
9 Nov 1915: Embarked Private, 411, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney
9 Aug 1918: Involvement Bombardier, 411, 5th Light Trench Mortar Battery, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 411 awm_unit: 5th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery awm_rank: Bombardier awm_died_date: 1918-08-09

Help us honour Maurice Dix's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery 
 
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.

105 years ago today, on the 9th August 1918, Bombardier Maurice Dix, referred to as Jimmy and Jim Dixie, 5th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery (Reg No-411), horse trainer from 98 Denison Street, Hamilton, New South Wales (with sister), was Killed in Action by a shell explosion from a Trench Mortar gun, Harbonnieres, Battle of Amiens, age 29.

No Roll of Honour circular submitted.

Born at Greta, New South Wales on the 15th March 1889 to Thomas (died tragically 30.10.1893, Newcastle, N.S.W., age?) of Fern Street, Islington, N.S.W. and Elizabeth Dix nee Sim (died 30.7.1892, Hamilton, N.S.W., age? - no death or funeral notice located); James and Elspeth Wilson, adopted parents (age 4 years, 7 months), of "Stone House", Newcastle Road, Wallsend, N.S.W., Jimmy enlisted on the 24th July 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Liverpool, N.S.W.


Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A72 Beltana on the 9th November 1915.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137104229 - report of Jimmy playing in a soccer match on the 8th January 1916 with the 30th Battalion outside the trenches at Ismailia, Egypt.

Admitted to hospital 3.7.1916 (contused wound of left leg), 1.1.1917 (psoriasis - skin disease that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp).

Granted leave to England from 11.7.1917 to 23.7.1917.

Granted leave to Paris from 7.3.1918 to 16.3.1918.

Jimmy is resting at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France. Plot I Row A Grave 2.

Mr. Dix’s name has been inscribed on the Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial, Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor, Wallsend Municipal & District Roll of Honor, Wallsend (Wallsend Park) Soldiers' Memorial and the Wallsend (Federal Park) War Memorial. Name would be inscribed on the Hamilton Central League Football Club Roll of Honour (whereabouts unknown).

Older brother Thomas (born about September 1886, Ashton, Makerfield, Lancashire, England, labourer from 98 Denison Street, Hamilton, New South Wales, enlisted 27.1.1916, 34th Battalion, Reg No-412, KIA 29.5.1917, Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium, age 30, resting at Strand Military Cemetery, Belgium. Plot III Row B Grave 10) memorialised same location.

On the morning of the 6th July 2019, Great Niece Kaye Thomas and Great Great Niece Louise Waugh joined with me in placing 2 Memorial crosses at the unmarked grave of these 2 Fallen brother’s parents to remember and honour the service and supreme sacrifice of Maurice and Thomas. METHODIST 1 (WESLEYAN) B SE.39.

Many thanks to Kaye Thomas for the photos and family history.

For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/

Lest We Forget.

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