Herbert de Haga HAIG, Middleton's AQMG 1885 Canada

[swordcollector1]

Hello Gary, I have tried The Peerage and other free sites. I have Haigs service records but not his will. It appears from what I can find that his children or grandchildren (can't remember due to finding little) just fade out, but this could be my lack of skill as a researcher.
Ancestry UK I believe is a pay site, but I think I'm at an end without it.

Hi Will,

Haig had one son, Rollo Amyatt Wolseley de Haga Haig and two daughters. Rollo was a gifted pilot and joined the RFC in 1916 (having previously been a Captain a Territorial Field Artillery regiment). He served throughout WW1 and became a noted test pilot (he was the only man ever to put a Vimy bomber through a loop-the-loop manouevre!). Tragically Rollo was drowned in 1936 while yachting. He left a daughter and also had a sister.

Some stuff I found atached which may be of interest.

John

[Will Mathieson]

Thank-you John, great to have a picture of his son. I did remember finding that his son was in the RAF but nothing about his death or daughters. Sounds like I would have to trace Rollos daughter to see if there is a living relative.

[swordcollector1]

I did remember finding that his son was in the RAF but nothing about his death or daughters. Sounds like I would have to trace Rollos daughter to see if there is a living relative.

Rollo's daughter Goda looks to have moved to Australia - there's a Goda Patricia Firkins buried at Lower Coomera Cemetery who was born in 1926 (the right year for Rollo's daughter) and died in 1999. See grave pic here:

http://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=5835930

Goda and her husband Humphrey are possibly the couple mentioned in this school newsletter, which suggests a hall was named in Goda's honour some years ago - and Mr Firkins seems still to be around as Chairman of the Goda Foundation:

http://www.saintstephenscollege.net.au/ ... 6Mar10.pdf

I'm pretty sure Rollo's sister died in Blyth, Suffolk in 1965. At least Ancestry has a "Gundred I W De H H Scott-Moncrieff", who died aged 73 in that year, which sounds about right.

This search is of course helped by the fact that your target family seem to be blessed with very unusual personal names!

John

[Will Mathieson]

Thank-you John, don't know how you do it. The newsletter as a couple of email addresses, maybe I can get in touch that way to see if the family has any old journals or items of H de H Haig. Finding a personal journal of the rebellions would be the jackpot, even to get a copy of it if it exists. Haig was an illustrator and writer so something had to have been written. There must be a family rule of how to name their children, as you say they have unusual personal names.
I wonder if Haigs military journal became property of the government, assuming he made one?

[Will Mathieson]

One question I have, not being a medal expert, how would Capt Haigs name appear on his North West Canada medal?
I am thinking of acquiring a copy of the medal and having his name added, then I could add it to my display.

Once again, if Capt. H de H Haig kept a journal of the 1885 rebellions, would there be any chance it may be languishing in a government facility or museum? So far I have found nothing.

[Waggoner]

Will,

As you likely know, the 1885 medals were issued un-named. Many soldiers had them privately named in a variety of styles. For the sake of future generations, I would avoid having a medal named up to him for fear that it could be passed off as genuine at some later date. However, there would be nothing wrong with purchasing either an un-named original or a copy medal to display with the rest of your items. Just my thoughts.

All the best,

Gary

[Will Mathieson]

Hello Gary, my only fear was that he never named his medal, and not find his, but there are un named ones for sale. The copy I found on our favourite auction site has no chance of being mistaken for an original, at least by knowledgeable people like us forumites. It is silver plated, not like the solid silver ones. I think I'll skip the naming anyways, no one will see the edge of the medal when it is on the board.
I would worry with named medals to high ranking officers, with being issued un named, a jeweller could add anyone at a later date. I see some claim the name is on the medal role, but it could be a double, the pitfalls of medal collecting I guess! Something I have yet to find interest in, but it may just start to get hold.

[simonshadow]

Hello.
I am researching this unusual name because my relation had a very similar name:
WOLSELEY DE HAGA HAIG.

Wolseley had a brother, Douglas de Haga Haig.

Wolseley did not have children but I don't know whether Douglas did.

I wonder whether 'your' de Haga Haig is related to 'my' de Haga Haig?

I look forward to hearing from you.

[Will Mathieson]

I don't have an answer for your question, would be interesting to know as I saw that name while searching for H de H Haig.
http://records.ancestry.com/Amy_Wolsele ... =126565078
http://www.jerseyheritagetrust.jeron.je ... l&LIMIT=50
There are many sites that come up with Woseley, just have to see which ones are relavent, good luck.

[MichaelFirkins]

I did remember finding that his son was in the RAF but nothing about his death or daughters. Sounds like I would have to trace Rollos daughter to see if there is a living relative.

Rollo's daughter Goda looks to have moved to Australia - there's a Goda Patricia Firkins buried at Lower Coomera Cemetery who was born in 1926 (the right year for Rollo's daughter) and died in 1999. See grave pic here:

http://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=5835930

Goda and her husband Humphrey are possibly the couple mentioned in this school newsletter, which suggests a hall was named in Goda's honour some years ago - and Mr Firkins seems still to be around as Chairman of the Goda Foundation:

http://www.saintstephenscollege.net.au/ ... 6Mar10.pdf

Hi. I can confirm these details. I am the third child of Humphrey and Goda.

Humphrey is definitely still alive and active, and the Goda Foundation was indeed created in her honour. We are all very proud of the good work done by the Goda Foundation to improve the educational opportunities of the students at St Stephen's college.

Regards,

Michael

[Will Mathieson]

Hello Michael, great to have established a foundation that helps students.
It seems that the exciting events of 1885 , the North West Rebellion, can be linked through family up to current times.
Major Boultons book noted that Capt. H de H Haig was cool under fire!
Hopefully one of the family holds Capt H de H Haigs North West Canada medal. I have searched for it through the web, emailing dealers etc. but no sign of his medal. One other possibility is that he never had his name engraved on the medal, but I would think that unlikely.
This link: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/copi ... hrulr22qc4
can help you order a copy of Capt. Haigs picture, it is also found in the book "The Battle of Batoche" by Parks Canada 1985, page 55.
I would greatly appreciate any additional info or photos of Capt. Haig. He has been an interesting character to research, one who purposely decided to join the action out west rather than stay in Halifax.

[MichaelFirkins]

Hi Will,

The Foundation is Dad's creation and it has grown to be a significant part of the college's life. I'm sure Mum would be delighted.

Regarding the medal, I will ask but I think I would have seen or heard of it if it were with us in Australia. Perhaps it remained with Rollo's wife? Have you been able to track that side of the family?

Thank you for the information regarding Captain Haig. Most appreciated.

Regards,

Michael

[Will Mathieson]

Hi Michael, I haven't tracked that side of the family. More info on capt. Haig can be found in "Telegrams of the North West Campaign 1885" by Morton & Roy. This book has the actual correspondences by Middleton, A.P. Caron and many others.
Capt. Haig illustrating for the Illustrated London News was bound to cause tension between him and the other illustrator/reporters. I believe that Middleton and Haig were the only two serving British officers of the campaign, some of the other officers were formerly British but were now Canadian Militia. Haig as an engineer contributed very well for organizing where the forces zareba, a base camp for attack and a place of retreat and for protection at night. Fortifying the steamer Northcote was also a important measure. Many illustrations by Haig can be at the Glenbow Museum, but this is a better link to find them: http://alouette.ourontario.ca/results?q ... 20desc&p=2

[Will Mathieson]

Notice of Rollos death and family connection to Earl Haig.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/ ... 03205.html

Rollo piloted the Bristol Bullet ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Bullet

and has a book: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/a ... blishment/

[Isandlwana]

Will,

I've only just cottoned on to this thread.

If you look at viewtopic.php?f=30&t=7527

I posted a group photograph of Staff College Course, Herbert de Haga Haig is in the photograph.

John