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Order of St Anne of Russia awarded to Captain Alec Noel Hawkes Whitcombe, Royal Field Artillery, WW1 ref citation for Military Cross "This Officer during the operations against POCHA on June 1st and 2nd 1919, was continuously at the forward observation post from which, an exposed position, he directed the fire of all the artillery. He was on duty throughout the operations and was personally responsible for the accuracy and effect of the gunfire. This Officer's work throughout has been of the highest character and his keenness and energy has brought the artillery of the PINEGA FORCE to a high state of efficiency." "E Ironside, Major General Commanding-in-Chief, Allied Forces, ARCHANGEL" BACKGROUND New Zealand-born Captain Alec Noel Hawkes Whitcombe, MC, served with the Royal Field Artillery during WW1. After leaving New Zealand in December 1915 Alec Whitcombe joined the Royal Horse Artillery. He left for France on 22 July 1916 and served on the Western Front until wounded during the German attack at Bligny on 6 June 1918. He was moved to No 2 Casualty Clearing Station, Rouen, for an operation and then evacuated to England. Following his recovery he was posted to Archangel to join the North Russia Expeditionary Force under General Ironside, fighting with the white Russians against the communists. He was awarded both the the Military Cross (British) and the Russian Order of St Anne for his services during the operations against Pocha, and providing training to the Pinega artillery forces. He returned to England in June 1919 and was on leave until returning to New Zealand in December 1919.

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