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Distinguished Service Order - DSO London Gazette 1 January 1918.
Member Royal Victorian Order 5th Class, - Number 44, MVO 5th Class London Gazette 11 August 1903
IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897 (2d. Lieutenant T. C. Fitzhugh 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Wittebergen Lieutenant T. C. Fitz-Hugh 2nd. Bn. Royal Irish Regiment
1914-15 Star Captain T. C. Fitz Hugh, M.V.O. 2nd. Battalion Royal Irish Regiment
British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leave Captain T. C. FitzHugh
M.I.D. - (1) L.G. 4 Jan. 1917 (Haig's 13.11.16 Despatch, P 195)
(2) L.G. 11 Dec. 1917 (Haig's 11.12.16 Despatch, P 12913)
(3) L.G. 3 Feb. 1920 (Valuable Services in Connection with Military
operations in Finland and the Baltic States 11.11.19 Despatch, P 1385)

Russia, Empire, Order of St. Anne, Third Class breast badge, with Swords, 44mm, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, gold mark and 1865-96 assay office mark to suspension loop; swords possibly added at a later date, the obverse central medallion re-painted;
Russia, Order of St. Anne, Third Class with Swords, London Gazette 16 July 1921.

Russia, Empire, Order of St. Vladimir, Fourth Class breast badge, with Swords 40mm, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, gold mark and 1896-1908 kokoshnik mark to suspension loop, with additional gold marks and 1918-17 kokoshnik marks to hilts of swords, reverse central medallion missing and replaced with a painted plate.
Russia, Order of St. Vladimir, Fourth Class with Swords, London Gazette 16 July 1921.




Terrick Charles FitzHugh was born at 17 Craven Hill Gardens London on 16 November 1876, the third son of William FitzHugh Esq.

Educated at Wellington College and followed by the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Irish Regiment on 5 September 1896, and proceeded overseas with the 2nd Battalion to India on 26 January 1897. He saw action with them during the operations on the Samana Ridge and in the Kurram Valley, August to September 1897, and then at the Relief of Gulistan, 12-13 September 1897. For this he received the India General Service Medal with the clasps “Punjab Frontier 1897-98” and “Samana 1897”.



He returned home on 11 January 1899 and was promoted Lieutenant on 15 March 1899, he transferred to the 1st Battalion, and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, where he was present during operations in the Cape Colony, south of the Orange River, including the actions at Colesberg, 24 January to 12 February 1900; operations in the Orange Free State, March to May 1900; and operations in the Orange River Colony, May to July 1900, including the action at Bethlehem, 6-7 July 1900. He returned home 15th September 1901 and some nine months later he went again to India on 28 June 1902, but there were no medals to be won on this occasion.

FitzHugh returned home on 18 March 1903, and was stationed in Ireland with the 2nd Battalion at the time of H.M. King Edward VII’s state visit to Ireland, 1 July to 1 August 1903. During the visit the Battalion received new Colours from the King, with FitzHugh being one of the Officers in the Colour Party, and as a consequence he was appointed to the Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order on 11 August (member of this Order is the personal gift of the Sovereign). Since Fitzhugh's Army rank was that of Lieutenant he received the Fifth Class ( MVO 5).

He was promoted Captain on 14 October 1903, and, passed for promotion to Major on 4th November 1904. He proceeded to the Staff College in 1905, passing its Final Examinations in 1907, having qualified as an Interpreter in German and Russian, and by which time he had also qualified as an Interpreter in French.

FitzHugh resigned his Commission on 28th May 1907 (there is doubt about this as, in a letter which he wrote to the War Office on 8 April 1919, he claimed Fourteen years of pre-war service),

FitzHugh transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 28 May 1907, and after his retirement was subsequently obtained employment with the British Engineers’ Association as its Commissioner in China, where he added Mandarin to his repertoire of languages.

On the outbreak of the Great War he returned to England where, on 22 November 1914, he placed himself on the Reserve of Officers in his former rank of Captain. As such he re-joined the Royal Irish Regiment, proceeding to France with the Second Battalion in December 1914.

He remained with the Regiment until 5 May 1915, taking part in the early stages of the First Battle of Ypres, (22 April onwards) then transferring to the Quarter Master-General’s Department as a Staff Officer, first at Calais until October 1915, and next to Dunkerque until October 1917. He was then mentioned in Haig's Despatches of 13 November 1916 and 7 November 1917 (London Gazette 4 January 1917 and 11 December 1917). However, before the date of the latter despatch he had fallen foul of higher Authority, having been seen walking with a lady who proved to be the wife of a French officer. (See letter herein dated 12-9-18).

As a result he was transferred to the Headquarters of the Chinese Labour Corps, in October 1917 where his work (according to him) consisted mainly in visiting army bases to try cases of Chinese coolies due for court-martial, where his knowledge of Mandarin was put to good use.

Despite this mishap, he was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in the New Year's Honours of January 1918 for his services while on the QMG's staff.

FitzHugh returned to England in December 1918, under orders for Siberia ( where his skill as an Interpreter could be put to good use) but was reported unfit by a medical board owing to the failure of an earlier hernia operation.

When he was again fit in May 1919, applied for any post appropriate to his qualifications and on 16 August 1919, he obtained a Staff post with a British Force operating out of Murmansk. He also served with a British Mission in Estonia, and assisted in the repatriation of British Prisoners of War from Finland.

For his services he was again Mentioned in Despatches on 11 November 1919 ‘for valuable services in connection with military operations in Finland and the Baltic States’ (London Gazette 3 February 1920), The London Gazette also published the award of the Russian Orders of St. Vladimir, Fourth Class with Swords, and St. Anne, Third Class with Swords.

Demobilized on 11 June 1920, he continued to act in the Baltic area on behalf of the British Committee of the Russian Red Cross in Great Britain, by going to Finland to report on the situation regarding the large number of Russian refugees in that country, before returning once more to China.

In 1921 he married Nesta Mary Richardson, only daughter of the late Walter Richardson, and of Mrs. Wason, 219 Knightsbridge, they had one daughter. They resided at 17 Craven Hill Gardens.

FitzHugh spent the latter period of his life traveling in China, and he died in the German Hospital, Peking, on 12 August 1939.

Death Notice the Times of 17th August 1939

On August 13th 1939 in Peking, China, Major Terrick Charles Fitzhugh, DSO MVO, late of the Royal Irish Regiment, third son of the late William Henry Fitzhugh. Aged 62 years.

Information from an incomplete series of Army Lists

October 1914 - Not Found Anywhere
November 1914 - Not Found Anywhere
January 1915 - Shown as Captain in Reserve of Officers (Employed Royal Irish
Regiment) as from 22.11.14.
Shown as 1st Class Interpreter, p.s.c.
Shown also in R. Ir. Regt. but no date given.
May 1917 - Shown in QMG's Staff as Dpty Asst. QMG as from 5.5.15. Also shown
in Reserve of Officers
Dec. 1917 - Ditto
February 1918 to May 1919
- Shown only in Res. Of Officers (not on QMG's Staff)
Dec. 1919 - Shown under “Command and Staff (Class GG)” as from 16.8.19 (meaning
of Class GG not given)
April 1921 - Shown in Reserve of Officers only.

Not found in List of June 1921 or Afterward

LETTER:

GERARD 4343
SAVOY HOTEL
LONDON
W. C. 2

12-9-18

“Dear Colonel

Reference telephone conversation today on the episode that took place at Dunkerque was as follows:---

After 2 years work there as the senior Staff Officer (DAQMG), for which I was mentioned twice in despatche's and eventually received the D.S.O., I was seen by the D.A.& Q.M.G. Fourth Army (Gen. Holman) taking a perfectly harmless walk with a lady on a Sunday afternoon.

For some reason which I have never fathomed a watch was kept on any house in Dunkerque L. of C. Area over which the the Fourth Army had no jurisdiction, and inquiries as to the identity of the Lady were made from the French in such a an ******* that the matter became official. It appears that the French Authorities which I had always been on the best of terms up to this time, found themselves forced, once the matter had been made official by the Fourth Army Authorities, its reported that my having been seen in company with the wife of a French Officer was a scandal. This report was forwarded by the Fourth Army to G.H.Q. And I was removed from the Staff and attached to the Chinese Labour Corps owing as my having been in China.

Since then I have applied for active employment with the Armies in any capacity whatever but my application has been refused. It is very hard that I should be refused all opportunity of doing useful work because of a scandal which had nothing whatever is to do with my duties and which would have never taken place except for the tactless action of the P.M. of the Army. Had I had the slightest hint that my having seen with the Lady was objected to I should naturally have ceased to do so.

My present work with the C.L.C. consists of motoring and visiting the bases and Army Areas trying to find Chinese Coolies by court martial and then staying from 10 days on end at H.Q. C.L.C. with nothing whatever to do.

Some of the China Consular Men serving with the C.L.C. are more that capable of doing the work - and are doing so – anyway. I am sure that I could be more useful work in any country than that.

It is also hard that after giving up a good position and a jon with higher salary in order to do my duty during the war I should be returned to a Captains pay and not kept in a position which does not give useful work and which offers me no chance of advancement.

I should of course like a Staff Appointment in Russia for which I have the necessary experience, but I should be glad of anything in preference to my present work.

Yrs sincerely

T. C. Fitz Hugh



LETTER
35 ALBEMARLE STREET
W.1

4th June, 1920

Sir Herbert Creedy, K.C.B., C.V.O.
War Office

Sir.

I have the honour to inform you that this Committee desire to send Major Fitzhugh, late of the British Mission in Estonia, who is eligible for demobilisation, to Finland, where he has recently been assisting Lady Marling in the repatriation of British Prisoners of War, to report on the situation regarding the large number of Russian Refugees now in that country, in order that the Committee can organize a system of relief which is so urgently wanted.

I am directed to state that it would be most advantageous if Major Fitz Hugh during his mission in Finland could be permitted to wear uniform as he did when assisting in the work of repatriating British Prisoners of War, with the rank of Major, and without pay, as he would be drawing a salary from this Committee during his tour in Finland. My Committee would be most grateful if this request could be granted.

I am Sir

Your obedient servant.

J.M. Kennedy
Secretary




REPLY FROM WAR OFFICE:

F1/1083 (OMGN) (in pencil)

19th June, 1920

Sir,

I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that they have considered your request that Major Fitzhugh should be allowed to wear uniform during his mission in Finland, but they regret that they are unable to sanction it.

I am

Sir,

Your obedient Servant

Sgnd. For. J. Creedy

SPE / 18/6/20 (in pencil)

The Secretary
British Committee of the Rissian Red Cross
in Great Britain,
35 Albemarle Street,
W.1.


NOTE: His name has been spelt on various documents as -

Fitzhugh / Fitz-Hugh / Fitz Hugh

and on the medals

I.G.S. is Fitzhugh / QSA is Fitz-Hugh / W.W.1. is Fitz Hugh & FitzHugh


Additional Information That has Been Passed to Me:

Hi

For your information
He and 83 other servicemen were recommended for an Estonian Liberty Cross, but were refused permission to accept under
File: FO 372/1955 Treaty: Decorations (General) 1922. His was a 3rd Class.
He was awarded the following Russian awards.
All under File: WO 32/5411 Decorations & medals: Regulations governing acceptance & wearing of Russian decorations 1918-29 Known as the "Confidential File"

Fitzhugh Capt, DSO, MVO Terrick Charles St Vladimir 4th R Irish Regt (Res of Offrs)
Fitzhugh Capt, DSO, MVO Terrick Charles St Anne 2nd R Irish Regt (Res of Offrs) then upgraded to
FitzHugh Capt, DSO, MVO Terrick Charles St Anne 3rd with swords R Irish Regt (Res of Offrs)

Peter


More to Follow.....

A fantastic group, Mike. Very unusual to see the Order fo St Vladimir in groups, especially with a QSA.

I'll echo David's sentiments Mike - a real cracker of a group.

My name pencilled in next to this one please....

Regards

Rory

Good Evening David.......

Thanks for your kind comment and Thank you Rory.....

I am just wondering though as to the order of precedence as in the book that I have on Imperial Russian Orders has St. Vladimir before St. Ann.....

Mike

Good Morning Everyone....

I know this is not a QSA or even a British Medal but does anyone by any chance have a photograph of the "Estonian Liberty Cross" as mentioned herein with regards to Major Fitzhugh.......

Thanks in Advance.......

Mike

Mike,

I think this must be what you are looking for. Described as "Estonian Cross Of Liberty, I Grade, III Class". Courtesy of eMedals.

Neville










This shows the various divisions and classes. The Military Division (Div. I), 3rd Class Cross is shown at bottom left.

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