I am remembering John Rix here because both his brothers are remembered in Saxlingham. Thomas is on the war memorial as having served in the war and returned home. Frank Elllis Rix is remembered on the memorial in the Church for men who were connected with the village. It is not known why John Rix was not remembered in the same way.
John was born in Tasburgh on 1 November 1885. His parents were John and Fanny ( nee Ellis) Rix. His father was a farmer.
John trained to be a carpenter. In 1901 he was an apprentice carpenter living as a boarder in Alysham. He was aged 15 years old.
On 10 March 1905 he arrived in Toronto, Canada from Liverpool. He had his passage paid as part of a scheme to encourage men to emigrate to Canada.
He returned to England after five years to visit his family. He returned to Winnipeg in April 1910 and was registered on the ship as being a Canadian Citizen.
In 1911 Canadian Census he was in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan living in lodgings with many other workers whilst working as a carpenter on the railway.
He enlisted on 20 September 1915 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He stated that he had previously served for 3 years in the 3rd Norfolk Volunteers Regiment.
He joined the 46th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was 29 years and 11 months old. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall with a 38 inch chest. He had a fair complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.
His service number was 427995 and he transferred to the 58th Canadian Infantry.
He sailed from Halifax on SS Lapland on 23 October 1915 and disembarked at Devonport on 30 October 1915.
On 11 January 1916 he was admitted to Military Isolation Hospital at Aldershott with rubella. He was discharged on 20 January 1916.
He made a will on 17 June 1916 leaving his effects to his mother Fanny Rix at Manor Farm, Tasburgh. He arrived in France on the same date.
He was killed in action in the trenches south east of Zillebeke on 19 August 1916. He is buried in Westourte British Cemetery in Flanders, Belguim.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index
British Census Records.
Canadian Census Records 1911
Canada, WW1 CEF Attestation papers
Canada CEF Personnel Files
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal Records.
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person, please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk