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A young
naval
hero |
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One of the names which appears on
the war memorial is that of G H Rix, who was among the dead from World War
One. He lost his life while serving with the Royal Navy taking part in
daylight landings in the Dardanelles in 1915 as part of the ill-fated
Gallipoli campaign.
George Henry Rix was an ordinary seaman serving aboard HMS Cornwallis, one
of the 18 battleships, 12 cruisers, and 29 destroyers which supported the
landings of the 29th Division on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Cape Helles on
25 April 1915 when the plan was that five beaches were to be attacked
simultaneously by the Royal Munster Fusiliers, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,
Hampshire Fusiliers, West Riding Field Royal Engineers, together with
field ambulances and the Anson Battalion of the Royal Naval Division.
It was decided by the Allies to make a daylight landing because of the
Royal Navy’s fears about local currents and reefs which made them hesitant
about landing a large body of men at night. The main attack was to be on V
and W beaches, a subsidiary attack on X beach and flanking parties on S
beach (Morto Bay) and Y beach. In the event there were heavy casualties
among both the army and Royal Navy personnel.
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FIRST LOCAL JACK TAR TO DIE IN THE WAR
- extracts from Lincolnshire, Boston and Spalding Free Press
Tuesday 30th March 1915:
LOCAL WAR ITEMS - IN THE DARDANELLES
From a German source on Friday last, the news was circulated that
the armoured cruiser Cornwallis had been disabled. The Cornwallis is
a pre-dreadnought battleship, which has been assisting in the attack
in the Dardanelles and is of 14,000 tons and armed with four 12 inch
guns. G H Rix of Bourne is on the Cornwallis and at the time of
writing the Admiralty had not confirmed the rumour.
Tuesday 4th May 1915 Tuesday:
KILLED IN THE DARDANELLES
FIRST BOURNE JACK TAR TO DIE FOR HIS COUNTRY
On Saturday last, the sad intelligence was received at Bourne of the
death of George Henry Rix of HMS Cornwallis, which warship is
assisting in the forcing of the Dardanelles. The communication from
the Admiralty was to the effect that Rix was killed in action on
Sunday 25th April. This is we believe the first navy casualty
affecting a Bourne household and the greatest sympathy will go out
to the distressed mother in her great trial. Rix was not nineteen
and had been in the Navy about two years and was well known in the
town. The Vicar of Bourne (the Rev Harry Cotton Smith) made a
touching reference to the death in the market place, Bourne, on
Saturday night. Another brave young fellow of this town has died for
his country, said the rev gentleman. Rix had done his bit to try and
save the old country from destruction. He asked those present to
raise their hats as a token of sympathy with the bereaved mother,
immediately the crowd did so in silence. It was a touching scene. On
Sunday afternoon a memorial service was held in the Abbey Church,
Bourne, in honour of our departed Jack Tar. The death of Rix was
officially announced in the Admiralty casualty list published
yesterday (Monday).
Tuesday 4th April 4th 1919 - In Memoriam Column
RIX - In loving memory of George Henry Rix of Bourne killed in
action on HMS Cornwallis 25th April 1915. - from his sorrowing
mother. |
OS Rix, service number J/24052, was buried
at V Beach Cemetery, grave reference number K13. Local military historian
Tony Stubbs, who has researched the names on the war memorial in some
detail, told me: "I have visited his grave each time I have been to
Gallipoli and left a small poppy cross as I do not think that any of his
relatives would have made the journey."
WRITTEN FEBRUARY 2008
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