Major John Hamon Massie, DSO, RGA

[RichardW]

Deleted

[markinbelfast]

All I can add is that he died of wounds on that date.

[rflory]

Major John Hamon Massie, DSO, RGA

Born at Eaux Chaudes, Basses Pyrenees, France on 10 June 1872, the younger son of Edward Richard Massie of Coddington, Cheshire and Annefield, Lieut, 78th Highlanders and his first wife, Baroness Olga Marie, daughter of Baron Von Wessenberg-Ampringen.

Educated at Stubbington House and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

Gazetted 2nd Lieut, RA on 1 May 1892

Promoted to Lieut, RA on 1 May 1895

Served with the Chitral Relief Force in 1895 (India General Service Medal (1895) with Relief of Chitral clasp.

Passed the Long Gunnery Course at Shoeburyness in 1898 with first class honors

Promoted to Captain, RGA on 19 January 1900

Served in the South African War, 1900-1902 attached to the Transport Department as Transport Officer with the 30th Remount Company, ASC. He took part in operations in Orange Free State, Feb to May 1900; operations in the Transvaal from May to June 1900 including the actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in the Orange River Colony from May to 29 Nov 1900, including the action at Wittebergen; operations in the Transvaal, from 30 Nov 1900 to March 1902; and those in the Orange River Colony from March to 31 May 1902. Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 17 Jan 02 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of 26 June 1902. Received the Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps: Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittenbergen and Cape Colony and the King's South Africa Medal with the normal two clasps.

On 3 Sep 1903 he married Maria Margaret, the elder daughter of Maj Gen Ernest Archibald Berger, late the Lincolnshire Regiment

From 1 Jan to 11 Sep 04 was an Instructor at the Royal Military Academy.

Commander of a Company of Gentleman Cadets from 12 Sep 04 to 31 Dec 08

From Nov 1910 to Aug 1914 he was Staff Captain, School of Gunnery, Shoeburyness

Promoted to Major 15 February 1913

Went to France on 24 August 1914 for a week at Havre on special duty as Staff Officer to Brig. Gen. Nicolls, R.A.

On 1 Sept 1914 appointed as Staff Captain, Administrative Staff

Placed in command of the 26th Heavy Battery, RGA on 5 Nov 1914

Died in a Field Ambulance near Ypres on 15 Nov 1914 from wounds received from a fragment of high explosive shell two days before at Zillebeke and was buried in Ypres Cemetary

Sources: DeRuvigny's Roll of Honour, Volume 1, Part 1 (with photo); The Bond of Sacrifice, Volume 1 (with photo, see below); Southend and District Roll of Honour, 1914-1921; History of the 77th Bde., R.G.A., France, 1916-19; The Distinguished Service Order, 1886-1923 (with photo).

See photo of Major Massie below:

[RichardW]

Thankyou very much