The Anzacs

Most decorated · 20 medals and honours, 4 for gallantry

Major-General Major-General Inglis

Lindsay Inglis was a Timaru solicitor who won the Military Cross as a Rifle Brigade company commander on the Somme in 1916, then commanded the 4th NZ Brigade and twice led the 2nd NZ Division in the Second World War. He earned the DSO and a bar, a Greek Military Cross, a CBE and later a CB as a judge in occupied Germany. With his service medals he holds twenty distinct items across his two wars.

20medals and honours
4of them for gallantry

His medals and honours

Won for gallantry

GRI
Gallantry award

Military Cross (MC)

15 September 1916 (act); New Year Honours 1917 · Flers, Somme, France · Captain, NZ Rifle Brigade (company commander, 1st Bn)

Gazetted: London Gazette 29886 (supplement dated 1 Jan 1917, published 29 Dec 1916), p.45

Inglis was commanding a company of the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade when the New Zealand Division attacked at Flers on 15 September 1916, its first big action on the Somme. Te Ara says he handled his company with great skill and bravery, and the Military Cross followed. A newspaper note from Timaru in January 1917 described how heavy the fighting was: officers and men were not out of their clothes for three weeks, and his company lost 177 men killed and wounded from a strength of 230. Wikipedia, citing the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History, adds that he was left as the only surviving officer from his section of the front line. The award was gazetted in the New Year Honours list of 1 January 1917, which carried no individual citations, so the wording of any recommendation has not been seen. The Gazette lists him as Captain Lindsay Merritt Inglis of the Rifle Brigade's machine-gun company.

Gazette lists his unit as 'M.G. Coy., Rif. Bde.', whereas the Timaru Herald (quoted in the Evening Post, 8 Jan 1917) says he commanded a company of the 1st Bn NZ Rifle Brigade; Te Ara has him moving to the Machine Gun Corps only in March 1917. The Cenotaph gives the Gazette date as 1 January 1917; Wikipedia gives 29 December 1916 (issue date). No citation published.

Counted in his gallantry totalSource: London Gazette issue 29886 p.45 (read); Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2); Evening Post 8 Jan 1917 'Personal Matters' (via DigitalNZ/Papers Past); Ashburton Guardian 2 Jan 1917 'New Zealand Awards'
Gallantry award

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

22-28 November 1941 · Sidi Rezegh / Belhamed / Ed Duda, Libya (Operation Crusader) · Brigadier, 4th NZ Infantry Brigade

Gazetted: London Gazette 35465 (supplement dated 24 Feb 1942, published 20 Feb 1942), p.894

During Operation Crusader the 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade, under Brigadier Inglis, fought to open a corridor into besieged Tobruk. The Cenotaph quotes the citation: in the operations leading up to the link-up on 28 November 1941 he planned and directed at least five successful attacks on enemy positions, finishing with the capture of Belhamed Spur and the junction with the Tobruk garrison at Ed Duda. It praised his resource and skill and the example he set. Te Ara is less warm: it records that the brigade broke through to Tobruk but that on 1 December much of it was overrun by German tanks at Belhamed. The award was gazetted in February 1942 as a Companion of the DSO to Brigadier Lindsay Merritt Inglis, M.C. (9495), New Zealand Military Forces.

The Cenotaph note gives 'New Zealand Gazette, 21 September 1944' for both DSO and bar, which is a later NZ republication, not the first gazettal; the London Gazette issues are used here.

Counted in his gallantry totalSource: London Gazette issue 35465 p.894 (read); Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph record C36087 (award list, via api.aucklandmuseum.com); Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2); Wikipedia, 'Lindsay Inglis'
Foreign gallantry award

Military Cross (Greece) 1st Class

1941 service; gazetted for wear 10 April 1942 · Greece / Crete · Brigadier, 2NZEF (4th NZ Infantry Brigade)

Gazetted: London Gazette 35519 (4th supplement, 10 Apr 1942), p.1595

In April 1942 the London Gazette published the King's permission for a group of British, Australian and New Zealand officers to wear decorations conferred by the King of the Hellenes for services in the Allied cause. Brigadier L. M. Inglis, M.C., appears in the list for the Greek Military Cross, First Class, alongside Freyberg, Puttick, Hargest, Barrowclough and Miles. The notice gives no individual reasons. Inglis had missed the Greek mainland campaign and took over the 4th Infantry Brigade only in May 1941, commanding it as the reserve formation on Crete, so the award presumably relates to that period, but no source seen says so. A New Zealand newspaper in February 1943 listed it among his honours with his DSO. Wikipedia and its infobox call the decoration the 'War Cross' of Greece, but the Gazette text (and the Cenotaph) say Military Cross.

Wikipedia calls it 'War Cross (Greece)'; the Gazette and the Cenotaph say 'Military Cross' (1st Class). Reason for award not stated. Counted once as a foreign gallantry decoration.

Counted in his gallantry totalSource: London Gazette issue 35519 p.1595 (read); Evening Post 20 Feb 1943 'Army Awards'; Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph record C36087 (award list, via api.aucklandmuseum.com); Wikipedia, 'Lindsay Inglis'
Bar: a second award

Bar to the Distinguished Service Order

27 June - August 1942 · Minqar Qaim and the Alamein line, Egypt · Brigadier, Temporary GOC, 2nd NZ Division

Gazetted: London Gazette 35908 (supplement dated 18 Feb 1943, issue of 16 Feb 1943), p.863

When General Freyberg was wounded at Minqar Qaim on the evening of 27 June 1942, Inglis took over the 2nd New Zealand Division, surrounded by Rommel's forces, and led its night break-out. The Cenotaph quotes the citation: he extricated the division from the covering position that night, directed the withdrawal to the Alamein line, then reorganised it for the fighting that followed, showing 'great skill and determination'. The Gazette notice, covering services in the Middle East from May to October 1942, names him for the Bar to the DSO. New Zealand papers announced it on 19-20 February 1943. Te Ara praises the break-out as one of the epic battles of the campaign, but also notes his later problems at Ruweisat Ridge and El Mreir in July 1942, which cost the division heavy casualties.

Issue date 16 Feb 1943 (Wikipedia) vs supplement date line 18 Feb 1943 (page header). Counted as a separate item (bar).

Counted in his gallantry totalSource: London Gazette issue 35908 p.863 (read); Evening Post 20 Feb 1943 'Army Awards'; Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph record C36087 (award list, via api.aucklandmuseum.com); Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2)

Every other medal and honour (16)

1914–15
1914-15 StarEgypt, from late 1915 · EgyptQualifying service: reached the Egyptian theatre before the end of 1915 (the Cenotaph gives his embarkation as 9 October 1915).
GEORGIVS V BRITT OMN REX ET IND IMP
British War Medal 1914-201914-1920Service overseas with the NZEF in Egypt and on the Western Front, 1915-19.
Victory Medal1914-1920Awarded for the same First World War service in a theatre of war.
TERRITORIAL SERVICENZ
NZ Territorial Service MedalInterwar (date not found) · New ZealandTerritorial Force service of twelve or more years between the wars.
GEORGIVS V SILVER JUBILEE 1935GR
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 19356 May 1935 (list published) · ChristchurchIssued to him as a Territorial colonel for the King's Silver Jubilee in 1935.
EFFICIENCY DECORATIONED
Efficiency Decoration / Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration (V.D.)By 1935 (exact date not found) · New ZealandLong and efficient service as a Territorial Force officer, 1913 to 1936.
CBE
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Military21 December 1944 · ItalyInglis was made an Additional Commander of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire in the 21 December 1944 honours list 'in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy'. He had…
1939-43
1939-1945 Star1939-1945Operational service with the Second NZEF in the Middle East theatre.
AFRICA
Africa Star (8th Army clasp)1941-1943 · Libya, EgyptService in North Africa, with the Eighth Army clasp for service in that army in 1942-43. Clasp not counted separately.
ITALY
Italy Star1944 · ItalyService in the Italian campaign from March 1944.
THE DEFENCE MEDALGR
Defence Medal1939-1945Listed as a Second World War service medal.
THE WAR MEDAL 1939-1945GR
1939-1945 War Medal with oak leaf (MiD)1939-1945General award for full-time service in the Second World War; the oak leaf is the emblem of his mention in despatches (counted once, under the MiD).
NEW ZEALAND WAR SERVICENZ
New Zealand War Service Medal1939-1945New Zealand's own medal for full-time Second World War service.
CB
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), Civil DivisionJune 1948 (King's Birthday Honours) · Germany, British ZoneInglis took up a post in Germany in July 1945 as president of a military government court in the British zone, hearing criminal cases involving the occupying powers. On 7 February 1947 he became Chief Judge of the…
LONG AND EFFICIENT SERVICENZ
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service MedalNot known · New ZealandLong and efficient service in the New Zealand forces.
Mentioned in DespatchesBy February 1943 · Middle EastOne mention in despatches for Second World War service in the Middle East; shown by the oak leaf on the War Medal 1939-45.

His story

  1. Otago schoolboy and law student

    Born in Mosgiel, the son of a bank agent. He was head prefect at Waitaki Boys' High School, studied law at Otago in 1913-14, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment on 9 October 1913.

    Source: Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2)

  2. NZEF, Egypt and the Western Front

    He joined the NZEF on 30 April 1915 and was posted to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The Cenotaph shows an embarkation on 9 October 1915. After service in Egypt his battalion went to France in April 1916.

    Source: Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2); Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph record C36087 (award list, via api.aucklandmuseum.com)

  3. Flers and the Military Cross

    Commanding a company at Flers on the Somme, he was left as the only surviving officer of his section of the line. A Timaru newspaper later reported that his company lost 177 of 230 men. The Military Cross was gazetted on 1 January 1917.

    Source: London Gazette 29886; Evening Post 8 Jan 1917; Wikipedia, 'Lindsay Inglis'

  4. Machine Gun Corps and Le Quesnoy

    He moved to the NZ Machine Gun Corps in March 1917 and commanded a company until his discharge in April 1919, including the capture of Le Quesnoy in November 1918. He married Agnes Todd in Wellington in December 1919.

    Source: Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2); Wikipedia, 'Lindsay Inglis'

  5. Timaru solicitor and Territorial colonel

    After finishing his law degree in 1920 he practised in Timaru, commanded the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment from 1926, and the 3rd NZ Infantry Brigade from 1931. He retired from the Territorials in 1936.

    Source: Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2)

  6. 27th Machine Gun Battalion and Crete

    He volunteered at once, had a thyroid operation, and took command of 27 (MG) Battalion in December 1939. On 17 May 1941 he took over the 4th Brigade on Crete just before the German invasion, then went to London to report on the battle.

    Source: Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2)

  7. Belhamed, Minqar Qaim and the DSO and bar

    His brigade fought its way to the Tobruk corridor in Operation Crusader (DSO). When Freyberg was wounded at Minqar Qaim on 27 June 1942, Inglis commanded the division and led its night break-out (bar to the DSO). He was then criticised for the failures at Ruweisat Ridge in July.

    Source: London Gazette 35465 and 35908; Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2)

  8. Armoured brigade and Italy

    He turned the 4th Brigade into an armoured formation, acted again as divisional commander in June-July 1943, was invalided home in November 1943, and returned to lead the brigade in Italy in March 1944. He asked to be relieved in September 1944 after being passed over for temporary command of the division. The CBE came on 21 December 1944.

    Source: London Gazette 36850; Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2)

  9. Judge in Germany, then magistrate

    From July 1945 he presided over a military government court in the British zone of Germany and from February 1947 was Chief Judge of the Control Commission's Supreme Court as a nominal major-general. He was made a CB in 1948, returned in 1950, became a Hamilton magistrate in 1953, retired in 1965 and died in 1966.

    Source: Te Ara DNZB, 'Inglis, Lindsay Merritt' by Paul Goldstone (teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5i2); London Gazette 38311

Rank and insignia

The ranks he held, and the badge a soldier of that rank wore. These are simplified illustrations.

Lieutenant9 October 1913 · Territorial ForceShoulder strap: two pips
Captainby December 1916 (when MC gazetted)Shoulder strap: three pips
Majorby the end of the First World War (exact date not found) · NZ Machine Gun CorpsShoulder strap: crown
Lieutenant-ColonelMay 1926 (Territorial)Shoulder strap: crown and one pip
ColonelJuly 1931 (Territorial)Shoulder strap: crown and two pips
Lieutenant-ColonelDecember 1939 · 2NZEFShoulder strap: crown and one pip
Brigadier1940-41 · temporaryShoulder strap: crown and three pips
Major-General7 February 1947 · nominalShoulder strap: crossed sword and baton, one pip

His ships

Not firmly identifiedTroopship to Egypt, October 1915The Cenotaph gives the voyage as 'Maunganui or Tahiti or Aparima or Navua or Warrimoo' (HMNZT 30-34, departing 9 October 1915); the ship is not certain.

Afterwards

After the Second World War he stayed on in Germany until August 1950, the highest civilian judicial officer in the British zone, then returned to New Zealand and became a stipendiary magistrate in Hamilton on 10 August 1953. He retired twelve years later. Te Ara describes him as a tall, intelligent man of strong opinions whose later life was marred by heavy drinking, which earned him the nickname 'Whisky Bill'. He died in Hamilton on 17 March 1966, survived by his wife and two daughters.

His military history library went to the Kippenberger Military Archive and Research Library at Waiouru. His First World War letters to his fiancee were published in 2023 as 'Death Among Good Men', edited by Nathalie Philippe. Historians remember him as brave and able as a brigade commander but as a more troubled divisional commander, particularly after Ruweisat Ridge and his strained relations with Kippenberger and Freyberg.

Later awards, not counted here: Distinguished Service Order (1941 act); Bar to the DSO (1942 act); Military Cross (Greece) 1st Class; Mention in Despatches; CBE (1944); CB (1948); 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; NZ War Service Medal.

The most decorated New ZealandersHonour your own soldier

His sign

This is the Service Record sign as we would make it from his record: his rank, name, regiment, number and date of embarkation. The medals on the sign are worked out automatically, so the medals listed above are the ones to rely on.

The Service Record for Major-General Lindsay Merritt Inglis
The Service Record

Photograph

We haven’t hosted a photograph here

Rather than copy someone else’s image onto our own site, we’d rather send you to see it where it’s properly held: his full record at the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph.

Sources

What we could not confirm

WW1 service confirmed: NZEF from 30 April 1915 (Te Ara), service no. 24/23 (Cenotaph), Egypt then France from April 1916, MC gazetted 1 Jan 1917, discharged April 1919. Nothing argues against listing him as a New Zealander of that war; he was born in Mosgiel and served in the NZEF throughout.

No Croix de Guerre found in any source; the Greek decoration is the Greek Military Cross 1st Class (London Gazette 35519), not a French award. Wikipedia calls it 'War Cross (Greece)'; the Gazette and Cenotaph say Military Cross.

Efficiency Decoration (ED) vs Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration (V.D.): the Cenotaph lists both separately; Wikipedia gives ED only; the Gazette (1944, 1948) and Evening Post (1935) give V.D. only. Treated as one decoration (counted once). If they were in fact two awards the total would be 21.

The Cenotaph's separate 'Mentioned in Despatches' and 'War Medal 1939-45 with oak leaf' both refer to one mention; counted once (as the MiD item) and the War Medal counted once without the leaf. Only one mention found (Evening Post 20 Feb 1943); its Gazette issue was not located.

DSO and bar: the Cenotaph lists them as one entry 'DSO and bar'; counted as DSO plus one bar (2 items). Cenotaph note cites the New Zealand Gazette of 21 September 1944 for both, but the original London Gazette issues are 35465 (Feb 1942) and 35908 (Feb 1943).

CB 1948 is a Civil Division appointment (gazetted among Civil Division Companions as Chief Judge, Control Commission), not Military Division; the date given by Wikipedia (4 June 1948) is the issue date, page header says 10 June 1948. The CBE was gazetted 21 December 1944 (Military Division).

Cenotaph-only items not independently confirmed: 1914-15 Star (plausible, as he reached Egypt in October-December 1915), Africa Star 8th Army clasp, Defence Medal, NZ Territorial Service Medal, NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal, 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, War Medal, NZ War Service Medal. Counted because the Cenotaph lists them; if the four weakest (Defence Medal, NZ Territorial Service Medal, NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal, 1914-15 Star) were removed the total would be 16.

Te Ara page returned an access block from the live site; text was read from an Internet Archive copy. The Cenotaph API shows his place of birth blank; Te Ara and Wikipedia say Mosgiel.

The MC Gazette entry lists him with the Rifle Brigade's machine-gun company, while the Timaru Herald (via Evening Post) says he commanded a company of the 1st Bn NZ Rifle Brigade; Te Ara has the move to the Machine Gun Corps in March 1917. No published citation (New Year Honours).

No knighthood found in any source (the brief's 'Sir' is not supported): he was Major-General Lindsay Inglis, CB, CBE, DSO and bar, MC, V.D. (ED).

Concept, design and execution by Unlimited Potential