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The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 21st March…… Albert Oswald Rix was born around 1894 at Gateshead-on-Tyne, County Durham, England.

He came to Australia (date unknown) & enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th September, 1914 stating he was a 21 year old, single, Cloth Finisher. Albert Rix was discharged on 13th October, 1914 as “unlikely to become an efficient soldier.”
Albert Oswald Rix stated he was a 20 year old, single, Clerk when he re-enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 5th June, 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.).

Private Albert Oswald Rix, Service number 1961, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Anchises (A68) on 26th August, 1915 with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.
He was taken on strength with 23rd Battalion at Anzac on 12th October, 1915. Private Rix disembarked at Alexandria from Lemnos on Express of Britain on 7th January, 1916 (after the evacuation of Gallipoli).

On 17th January, 1916 Private Rix was written up for an Offence at Tel-el-Kebir – Absent without Leave from 06.30 on 12th January, 1916 to 10.00 on 14th January, 1916 – a total of 39 hours. He automatically forfeited 3 days’ pay & was given 4 days detention.

Private Rix was admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Ghezireh with eye trouble - Myopia. He was discharged on 25th January, 1916 to O/S Base at Ghezireh. Private Rix was marched out on 5th February, 1916 to rejoin his Unit & rejoined his Battalion at Moascar on 8th March, 1916.

He proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) at Alexandria on 19th March, 1916 & disembarked at Marseilles, France.

Private Albert Oswald Rix was wounded in action in France on 4th August, 1916. (From the War Diary – the 23rd Battalion were at Pozieres on 4th August, 1916). He was admitted to 37th Field Ambulance on 5th August, 1916 with shrapnel wounds to scalp. He was transferred to Ambulance Train on 10th August, 1916 & admitted to 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France on 11th August, 1916. Private Rix was then transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples on 19th August, 1916. He was discharged to Base for Duty on 22nd August, 1916. Private Rix joined 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples on 21st August, 1916 (date as per Casualty Form – Active Service in Service Record file) & was marched out to join his Unit on 25th August, 1916. Private Rix rejoined his Battalion on 27th August, 1916.

On 2nd October, 1916 Private Rix was admitted to 6th Field Ambulance with Pleurisy while in Belgium then transferred to 10th Casualty Clearing Station the same day. He was transferred on 3rd October, 1916 to 12th Casualty Clearing Station.

He was absent without leave from 2 pm on 31st October, 1916 until 4pm on 1st November, 1916. He was awarded 10 days Field Punishment No. 2.
Private Rix was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 3rd November, 1916 with Gonorrhoea. He was transferred to “Y” Corps Rest Station on the same day then admitted to 38th Casualty Clearing Station on 4th November, 1916. Pte Rix was transferred to No. 1 Ambulance Train on 4th November, 1916 & admitted to 1st Stationary Hospital on 5th November, 1916 (cause NYD – not yet determined). Private Rix was transferred to 18th General Hospital on 7th November, 1916 with V D G. He was transferred to 51st General Hospital at Etaples, France on 8th November, 1916 & discharged to Base Details on 19th December, 1916. He rejoined his Battalion on 8th January, 1917.

On 3rd February, 1917 Private Rix was admitted to 13th Australian Field Ambulance with Gleet then transferred to 1/1 S. M. Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred to No. 7 Ambulance Train on 4th February, 1917 & re-admitted to 51st General Hospital at Etaples on 16th February, 1917 with VDG. He was discharged to duty on 4th March, 1917 & marched in to 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot the same day. Private Rix was marched out to join his Unit on 12th March, 1917 & rejoined his Battalion on 13th March, 1917.

Private Albert Oswald Rix was recommended for the Military Medal: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as stretcher bearers during the action near BULLECOURT on 3rd May 1917. These men [RIX, 2469 E. THOMAS, 2719 J. MOAR, 3846 C. HARRIP, 3768 F. BYRNE] worked with a most praiseworthy endurance for many hours under shell and Machine Gun fire to assist their wounded comrades, and by their fearless conduct inspired others. The last mentioned two men were wounded during this work.'
Private Albert Oswald Rix was to be Lance Corporal from 14th May, 1917.

Lance Corporal Albert Oswald Rix was sent to Hospital sick on 25th May, 1917. He was admitted to Northern General Hospital, England. Lance Corporal Rix rejoined his Battalion in the field on 31st July, 1917.

While in England Albert Oswald Rix, Private in 23rd Battalion, A.I.F., aged 22, married Josephine Vicilles James, Barmaid, aged 20, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Gateshead, Durham, England on 20th July, 1917.

Lance Corporal Albert Oswald Rix was awarded the Military Medal on 12th June, 1917.

On 6th August, 1917 Lance Corporal Rix was admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance with Scabies then transferred & admitted to 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques. L/Cpl. Rix was reprimanded on 1th August, 1917 for “irregular conduct – talking on Parade”. He was discharged to rejoin his Battalion from Hospital on 12th August, 1917.

Lance Corporal Rix was to be Temporary Corporal from 4th October, 1917 – vice Corporal Toleman wounded. He reverted to his previous rank on 2nd November, 1917 on return of Cpl. Toleman.

He was written up on 9th November, 1917 for 1. Drunkenness & 2. Being in possession of Spirits. His rank reverted to Private on 26th November, 1917.

Private Rix was admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance with Scabies on 29th December, 1917 & was discharged to his Unit on 30th December, 1917.
He proceeded on English Leave from 1st March, 1918 & rejoined from Leave on 29th March, 1918. Private Rix was absent without leave from 7.30 am on 16th March, 1918 till 7.30 am on 28th March, 1918. He was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 & was in custody awaiting trial on 3rd April, 1918.

Private Albert Oswald Rix was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 10th April, 1918. He was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance after being Gassed then transferred to 20th Casualty Clearing Station. Private Rix was transferred to Ambulance Train 26 & was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, France on 11th April, 1918. He was discharged to No. 2 Convalescent Depot on 18th April, 1918. Private Rix was discharged on 19th April, 1918 & marched in to No. 2 A.I.B.D (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 20th April, 1918. He was marched out to join his Unit on 24th April, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion in France on 26th April, 1918.

Private Albert Oswald Rix was wounded in action (3rd occasion) in France on 24th July, 1918. He was admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance after being Gassed (Shell) then transferred to 49th Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred & admitted to 2nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeville, France on 6th August, 1918. Private Rix was transferred to 1st Australian Convalescent Depot at Havre on 9th August, 1918. He was discharged on 30th August, 1918 & marched in to No. 2 A.I.B.D (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 31st August, 1918. He was marched out to join his Unit on 3rd September, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion on 5th September, 1918.

On 28th August, 1918 Private Rix had been Absent without Leave while at 1st Australian Convalescent Depot from “9.30 pm till 10.50 pm –in Town without a Pass.” He was awarded a forfeiture of 14 days’ pay.
He was admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance on 21st September, 1918 with “Nasal Obstruction” then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station. Private Rix was admitted to 41st Stationary Hospital on 21st September, 1918 & discharged to his Unit on 26th September, 1918. He rejoined his Battalion on 28th September, 1918.

Private Albert Oswald Rix was to be transferred to A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) in London Headquarters from France on 13th December, 1918. He disembarked from France at Folkestone, England on 17th December, 1918.

He was taken on strength from 23rd Battalion with Australian Army Pay Corps in England on 2nd January, 1919.

On 11th April, 1919 Private Rix was charged with being absent without leave. A District Court Martial was held at Warwick Square, London on 29th April, 1919 with Private Albert Oswald Rix being charged with being Absent without Leave “in that he in London at 8.45 am on 14th March, 1919, absented himself without leave from the Finance Dept. A.I.F. H/Qrs until he surrendered himself to the Military Authorities in London at 9.30 am on 11th April, 1919.” Private Rix was found to be guilty of the charge & was sentenced to 30 days Detention.

He was admitted to Lewes Detention Barracks on 2nd May, 1919 to serve his sentence. He was given a remission of 5 days on his sentence of 30 days. Private Rix was discharged from Detention Barracks on 23rd May, 1919.

Private Rix was detached from Pay Corps & marched out to No. 2 Group, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 23rd May, 1919. He was taken off strength from Ord. Room, Sutton Veny on 1st August, 1919 for indefinite leave. Private Rix was on indefinite leave from 21st August, 1919.

On 27th September, 1919 Private Albert Oswald Rix M.M. left England on Osterley for return to Australia. He returned to Australia on 4th November, 1919 & was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 8th January, 1920.

Albert Rix, Clerk, aged 33 & his wife Josephine, aged 31, of 10 St. Edmunds Road, Gateshead-on-Tyne, were listed as passengers on Moreton Bay which had departed from the original port of Brisbane, Australia & arrived at the port of Liverpool, England on 9th September, 1928. Albert & Josephine had embarked at the port of Adelaide, South Australia.

Ex-Private Albert Oswald Rix M.M. died on 21st March, 1933 at Gateshead, England from the “effects of War Service” as noted in his Service Record file. His death certificate shows his death was due to chest condition caused through gassing & Neurasthenia. He was aged 37.

He was buried in East Cemetery, Gateshead, England and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone as his death was a result of War Service.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/gateshead-east.html