Alexander Dawson MM

[s58roads]

Looking for any information about my great uncle Alexander Dawson MM 351626 11th Bn Royal Scots who died 28 June/July 1918 age 31
buried at La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck
Many thanks.
Geoff

[MaxD]

Only the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have his date of death as July, the Register of Soldiers' Effects and "Soldiers died in the Great War" have June.  The war diary of the battalion shows that they were in the front line (in different places) around the end of both months and there are no definitive casualty figures given so it can't be determined which date is right.
To give an idea, at the end of June 1918, the battalion had two spells in the line in the area of the town of Meteren shown on the link  http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.7502&lon=2.6720&layers=101464885&right=BingHyb and at the end of July a little further north and west in the direction of Fletre.  The cemetery in which he is buried is about 6 miles to the west of Meteren.

His MM was gazetted on 25 June 1918 implying that the action for which he received the award was perhaps in March/April. No mention found in the war diary but that is not unusual.

MaxD

[s58roads]

Many thanks Max for your contribution.
Do you know if there would be any citation associated with the award of his MM?
Geoff

[MaxD]

The answer has to be sadly no.  While in no way taking away from his brave conduct, the MM was the lowest of the gallantry medal awards, some 115000 were awarded and although there would have been some write up between his battalion and the higher formation, these were not kept.  The best to hope for is that his action is recorded in the war diary but without a date it is a bit of a needle in haystack job.  The diary is at the National Archives WP 95/2773/1 downloadable for £3.50 (also on Ancestry if you have a sub)

Have you looked for local newspaper articles?

MaxD

[s58roads]

Thanks again Max I will follow up your suggestions.
Geoff

[mmm45]

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/research-award-military-medal-mm/

Good guide here too.

Ady

[s58roads]

Thanks mmm45 very interesting.
Geoff

[AlasdairGTW]

London Gazette - Publication date:25 June 1918 Supplement:30768Page:7589

351626 Pte. A. Dawson, R. Scots (Airdrie).

[s58roads]

Thanks Alasdair.
Geoff