VCs Handbook E-Book

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 568

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2005

Beschreibung

On the Western Front during the First World War, 490 men won the British Empire's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. A companion for any visitor to the First World War battlefields in France and Flanders, this reference book lists every VC recipient from 1914 to 1918 in alphabetical order.

Leseprobe

VCs

HANDBOOK

VCs

HANDBOOK

THE WESTERN FRONT 1914-1918

EDITOR

GERALD GLIDDON

First published in 2005, 2013

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2013

All rights reserved

© Gerald Gliddon, 2005, 2013

The right of Gerald Gliddon to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

EPUBISBN 978 0 7509 5283 5

Original typesetting by The History Press

Contents

Preface

Map – The Western Front, 1914–1918

List of Abbreviations

The Victoria Cross 1914–1918

Preface

The aim of this book is to produce a work which can be used as a handbook by visitors to Belgium and France who wish to follow the actions of the 491 men who served in the British Empire ground forces in the First World War and who won the Victoria Cross, the nation’s highest military honour, in action on the Western Front.

The book is heavily dependent on the accounts of these men published in Sutton Publishing’s ‘VCs of the First World War’ series but not exclusively so. If readers wish to learn more about the life of a VC winner they can refer to one of these books in which a more detailed account can be found. Each man’s entry has a code reference from A to J, as follows:

I would like to acknowledge with grateful thanks the valuable contributions to the writing of this book given by Peter F. Batchelor, Graham Keech, Chris Matson and Steve Snelling. In addition David Baker, the Revd John Botting, Edward K. Harris, DL, and Clive Johnson have been of considerable assistance.

* * *

This book is set out in a chronological order by date of the action for which the VC was awarded. Where more than one award was made for a single day these are listed alphabetically by the soldier’s name. An order of layout based on locations was considered but as some VCs were won over several days and even in several places it was thought that this would lead to confusion. Users visiting a certain area are advised always to look at a group or block of VC winners in the same period in case further medals were won in the area at around the same time. The index will also help readers to cover all the men from whatever stage of the war in one area.

Good maps of Belgium and France will be very helpful. The French Institut Géographique National produces the 1:25,000 scale Série Bleue, and the 1:100,000 scale Carte Touristique. These are available from the IGN (www.ign.fr), specialist shops in other countries, and at many locations in France. The AA Series 7 Road Maps, Nos. 11 and 12, cover the relevant areas and are also widely available.

In addition, a very useful map book to have is Cemeteries & Memorials in Belgium & Northern France which is published by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) in association with Michelin. Copies of trench maps would of course be very helpful for more detailed study.

Gerald Gliddon

Brooke

September 2005

List of Abbreviations

2/Lt

Second Lieutenant

A/

Acting (+ Rank)

ADS

Advanced Dressing Station

AIF

Australian Imperial Force

AMGC

Australian Machine Gun Corps

Argylls

Princess Louise’s Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

ASC

Army Service Corps

Aucklands

The Auckland Regiment (NZEF)

B/

Brevet (+ Rank)

Bedfords

Bedfordshire Regiment

BEF

British Expeditionary Force

BEM

British Empire Medal

Black Watch

The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

Borders

The Border Regiment

Brig Gen

Brigadier-General

BSM

Battery Sergeant-Major

Bt

Baronet

BWM

British War Medal

Cameronians

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Camerons

The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

Canterburys

The Canterbury Regiment (NZEF)

Capt

Captain

CB

Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath

CBE

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

CCS

Casualty Clearing Station

CEF

Canadian Expeditionary Force

Cheshires

The Cheshire Regiment

Coldm Gds

The Coldstream Guards

CMG

Companion of (the Order of) St Michael and St George

CMGC

Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Col

Colonel

Connaughts

The Connaught Rangers

Cpl

Corporal

CPO

Chief Petty Officer

CQMS

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

CSM

Company Sergeant-Major

DCLI

Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

DCM

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Devons

Devonshire Regiment

DLI

Durham Light Infantry

DOW

Died of Wounds

DSO

Distinguished Service Order

DWR

The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding)

ED

Efficiency Decoration

E Kents

East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)

E Lancs

East Lancashire Regiment

Essex

Essex Regiment

E Surreys

The East Surrey Regiment

E Yorks

East Yorkshire Regiment

FF

Frontier Force

Gdsmn

Guardsman

Gen

General

Glosters

The Gloucestershire Regiment

Gnr

Gunner

Gordons

The Gordon Highlanders

Gren Gds

The Grenadier Guards

HAC

The Honourable Artillery Company

Hampshires

The Hampshire Regiment

Havildar

Sergeant (Indian infantry)

Hertfords

The Hertfordshire Regiment

HLI

The Highland Light Infantry

IA

Indian Army

Irish Gds

The Irish Guards

IOM

Indian Order of Merit

Jemadar

Indian Lieutenant (Indian Army)

KBE

Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

KIA

Killed in Action

King’s

The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)

King’s Own

King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)

KOSB

The King’s Own Scottish Borderers

KOYLI

King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

KRRC

The King’s Royal Rifle Corps

KSLI

King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

L/Cpl

Lance-Corporal

L/Dafadar

Lance-Sergeant (Indian cavalry)

Leicesters

Leicestershire Regiment

Leinsters

The Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)

LF

Lancashire Fusiliers

Lincolns

Lincolnshire Regiment

L/Naik

Lance-Corporal (Indian infantry)

Londons

The London Regiment

Loyals

Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

L/Sgt

Lance-Sergeant

Lt

Lieutenant

Lt Col

Lieutenant-Colonel

Lt Gen

Lieutenant-General

Maj

Major

Maj Gen

Major-General

Manchesters

The Manchester Regiment

MBE

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

MC

Military Cross

MGC

Machine Gun Corps

MID

Mentioned In Despatches

Middlesex

The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)

MM

Military Medal

MO

Medical Officer

MP

Member of Parliament

Naik

Corporal (Indian infantry)

NCO

Non-Commissioned Officer

NF

Northumberland Fusiliers

Norfolks

Norfolk Regiment

Northants

Northamptonshire Regiment

N Staffords

Prince of Wales’s (North Staffordshire Regiment)

NZEF

New Zealand Expeditionary Force

NZRB

New Zealand Rifle Brigade (NZEF)

OBLI

Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Otagos

The Otago Regiment (NZEF)

POW

Prisoner of War

PPCLI

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (CEF)

Pte

Private

Queen’s

Queen’s Royal (West Surrey Regiment)

RA

Royal Artillery

RAMC

Royal Army Medical Corps

RAP

Regimental Aid Post

R Berks

Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment)

RCA

Royal Canadian Artillery

RCE

Royal Canadian Engineers

RCR

The Royal Canadian Regiment (CEF)

RDF

The Royal Dublin Fusiliers

RE

Royal Engineers

RF

Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

RFA

Royal Field Artillery

Rfmn

Rifleman

RGA

Royal Garrison Artillery

RGLI

The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry

RHA

Royal Horse Artillery

RIF

The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s)

Rifle Brigade

Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)

R Innisks

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

RIR

The Royal Irish Rifles

R Irish

The Royal Irish Regiment

RMA

Royal Marine Artillery

RMF

The Royal Munster Fusiliers

RNR

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment

RNVR

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Royal Scots

The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)

RSF

The Royal Scots Fusiliers

R Sussex

The Royal Sussex Regiment

R Warwicks

Royal Warwickshire Regiment

RWF

The Royal Welch Fusiliers

RWK

The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)

SAI

South African Infantry

Scots Gds

The Scots Guards

Seaforths

The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s)

Sepoy

Private (Indian infantry)

Sgt

Sergeant

Sherwood Foresters

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment

S Lancs

Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)

SLI

Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)

Spr

Sapper

S Staffords

South Staffordshire Regiment

Subadar

Indian Captain (Indian infantry)

Suffolks

Suffolk Regiment

SWB

The South Wales Borderers

T/

Temporary (+ Rank)

TD

Territorial Decoration

VC

Victoria Cross

VM

Victory Medal

Wellingtons

The Wellington Regiment (NZEF)

Welsh

The Welsh Regiment

Welsh Gds

The Welsh Guards

Wiltshires

The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s)

Worcesters

Worcestershire Regiment

W Yorks

Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)

York & Lancs

The York and Lancaster Regiment

Yorkshires

Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment)

THE VICTORIA CROSS WINNERS 1914–1918

DEASE, LIEUTENANT MAURICE JAMES, 1889–1914

Entry No.

001 (A)

Date of action

23 August 1914

Location of action

Nimy, north-west of Mons, Belgium

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Unit

4th Royal Fusiliers

Burial

St-Symphorien Military Cemetery, Mons,

Belgium (V.B.2)

Remarks

Winner of the first VC of the First World War

The first German shell fell at about 0800 hours on 23 August 1914, while B and C Companies, 4th RF, were guarding the Nimy road and rail bridge respectively. C Company set up two machine guns in order to try and prevent the enemy advancing across the Condé Canal. These two guns were later reduced to one, which was positioned on top of an embankment at the southern end of Nimy railway bridge. Lt Dease, being exposed to murderous rifle, machine-gun and artillery fire, was soon seriously wounded. But he kept his machine gun firing until he was forced to hand it over to one of the few men left unharmed, Pte Frank Godley, who was later wounded and taken prisoner. Dease, whose mortally wounded body was slumped across the railway lines, probably died at about 1530 hours. The bridge was later blown up twice in the Second World War but a plaque commemorating the event has survived. See also Pte S.F. Godley [003].

GARFORTH, CORPORAL CHARLES ERNEST, 1891–1973

Entry No.

002 (A)

Date of action

23 August 1914

Location of action

Harmingnies, Belgium

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

7368; 15th Hussars

Cremation

Nottingham

Cpl Garforth won his VC five miles south-east of Mons after his troop had been virtually surrounded by the enemy and held up by a wire fence. Despite German machine-gun fire Garforth set about cutting the wire fence, enabling his comrades to escape to safety. Ten days later, south-east of Senlis, Garforth was involved in a second incident which contributed to his winning the VC. When out on patrol at Dammartin he came under heavy German fire and was forced to return. When a colleague, Sgt Scatterfield, had his horse killed and was trapped underneath it, Garforth successfully pulled the NCO to safety. On the following day Garforth was involved in a third incident, when on patrol at Meaux to the south-east of Dammartin. This time Sgt Lewis’s horse was shot beneath him and to give him time to get away Garforth drew the machine-gun fire on himself. In this position for three minutes, Garforth returned rifle for machine-gun fire.

GODLEY, PRIVATE SIDNEY FRANK, 1889–1957

Entry No.

003 (A)

Date of action

23 August 1914

Location of action

Nimy, north-west of Mons, Belgium

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

13814; 4th Royal Fusiliers

Burial

Loughton, Essex (3051)

Remarks

Winner of the second VC of the First World War

A member of C Company, 4th RF, Pte Frank Godley took over a machine gun from the mortally wounded Lt M.J. Dease [001] on Nimy railway bridge, which crossed the Condé Canal. He held the enemy at bay under very heavy fire for two hours thus allowing his comrades to escape capture. The Germans later crossed the canal and by now Godley was also wounded. After running out of ammunition he destroyed the gun and threw the pieces into the canal. He crawled back to the main road and was guided to the nearest hospital. After his wounds had been dressed he was taken prisoner when the enemy took over the hospital. He was asked many questions by his captors but did not divulge any useful information. His wounds were treated in a German hospital in Berlin and he was later sent to a POW camp at Döberitz, where he was told he had won the VC. The news was brought to him by the camp commander, who congratulated him.

JARVIS, LANCE-CORPORAL CHARLES ALFRED, 1881–1948

Entry No.

004 (A)

Date of action

23 August 1914

Location of action

Jemappes bridge, north-west of Mons, Belgium

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

3976; No. 57 Field Company, Royal Engineers

Burial

St Monance, Fife (Row G, Plot 176)

L/Cpl Jarvis worked with Sapper Neary in preparations for the blowing of several bridges over the Mons–Condé Canal which, if successful, would delay the German crossing of the canal. The bridge at Jemappes was guarded by infantry as the sappers made their preparations to blow it up, while all the time under heavy German fire. On receiving the command to destroy it Jarvis found himself still short of the exploder and leads. Leaving the bridge and grabbing a bicycle he was able to meet up with Capt T. Wright [005], who told him to return to the bridge while Wright fetched the leads and exploder. Jarvis worked for a further hour and a half before firing the charges and destroying the bridge. This action certainly saved the lives of many infantrymen. Jarvis and Capt Wright were both awarded the VC for their work on the canal bridges.

WRIGHT, CAPTAIN THEODORE, 1883–1914

Entry No.

005 (A)

Date of action

23 August 1914

Location of action

Canal bridges, Nimy, Belgium

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Unit

No. 57 Field Company, Royal Engineers

Burial

Vailly British Cemetery, France (II.B.21)

Capt ‘Dodo’ Wright was instrumental in preparations for the blowing up of several of the eight canal bridges at Nimy in the opening part of the Battle of Mons. In one attempt, although wounded in the head, he set the charges under the bridge but after joining up the leads with the local electricity supply, the power failed. Despite Wright’s gallantry and the efforts of the sappers, in the end only one of these bridges was actually destroyed, the one closest to Jemappes station. Wright was killed near Vailly on 14 September when assisting the crossing of 5th Cavalry Brigade at the beginning of the Battle of the Aisne. An eyewitness from 2nd Dragoons wrote: ‘At the head of the bridge was a gallant Engineer officer, repairing bits blown off and putting down straw as cool as a cucumber – the finest thing I have ever seen. The poor fellow was killed just after my troops got across . . .’ See also L/Cpl C.A. Jarvis [004].

ALEXANDER, MAJOR ERNEST WRIGHT, 1870–1934

Entry No.

006 (A)

Date of action

24 August 1914

Location of action

Elouges, Belgium

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Unit

No. 119 Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Burial

His ashes are in the family grave at Putney Vale, London

On the second day of the Battle of Mons, 5th Division was in great danger of becoming encircled by the Germans. Major E.W. Alexander, in command of No. 119 Battery, was in position 500 yards to the left of Elouges Station, close to a mineral works rail line. The battery was being attacked by three German batteries but kept firing although rapidly losing both men and horses. Seeing the battery’s plight, Capt Francis Grenfell and 50 volunteers from 9th Lancers and 4th Dragoon Guards came to Alexander’s assistance. The guns were then manhandled out of the firing line to safety as there were no horses or ropes left. The guns were quickly limbered up and taken away at great speed just as the enemy had reached close to a mine dump at the end of the mineral works line. Two days later, No. 119 Battery was once again heavily involved during the fierce fighting at Le Cateau, where it fired all day alongside No. 121 Battery. See also Capt F.O. Grenfell [007].

GRENFELL, CAPTAIN FRANCIS OCTAVIUS, 1880–1915

Entry No.

007 (A)

Date of action

24 August 1914

Location of action

Audregnies, Belgium

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Unit

9th Lancers

Burial

Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium (II.B.14)

Remarks

Killed at Hooge, Belgium, 24 May 1915

On the second day of the Battle of Mons Capt Grenfell, in charge of B Squadron, 9th Lancers, had his horse shot under him when reconnoitring. He fell back among the regiment until his squadron was ordered to support 18th Hussars to the north of the Audregnies. 5th Division then asked the cavalry for assistance as the division was in danger of being encircled by the advancing enemy. Together with 4th Dragoon Guards, 9th Lancers were sent to charge the German batteries in positions to the south of the Valenciennes–Mons railway. Once 9th Lancers reached a sugar factory, they dismounted and, together with some men from 4th Dragoon Guards, held on, firing tenaciously. Later they reassembled with an 11th Hussars squadron close to Elouges. Casualties had been very high and Grenfell was wounded. This did not stop him, together with a small group of helpers, rescuing No. 119 Battery, RFA, under the command of Major E.W. Alexander [006].

WYATT, LANCE-CORPORAL GEORGE HARRY, 1886–1964

Entry No.

008 (A)

Date of action

25/26 August 1914

Location of action

Landrecies, Nord

London Gazette

18 November 1915

Service No. & Unit

5854; 3rd Coldstream Guards

Burial

Cadeby Cemetery, Doncaster, Yorkshire

In order to slow the German advance from Mons, Gen Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien of II Corps decided to make a stand at Landrecies, north-east of Le Cateau. The situation was chaotic as nobody really knew how close the Germans were. Beyond the Sambre Canal to the north-west was a district called Faubourg Soyeres and it was thought the enemy would appear in this direction from Mormal Forest. To cover this situation 3rd Coldstream Gds set up two outposts with machine guns. Another outpost was set up close to a fork in the road. Using a series of ruses, the Germans engaged the guardsmen in the pitch dark and, during an exchange of fire when the Germans were trying to get round the back of a barn, a haystack caught fire, illuminating the British positions. Although the stack was only 25 yards from the enemy L/Cpl Wyatt answered the call to put out the flames.

DRAIN, DRIVER JOB HENRY CHARLES, 1895–1975

Entry No.

009 (A)

Date of action

26 August 1914

Location of action

Le Cateau, Nord

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

69960; No. 37 (Howitzer) Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Burial

Rippledale Cemetery, Barking, Essex

Remarks

No. 37 Battery gained three VCs on 26 August 1914

Gen Smith-Dorrien decided to make his famous ‘stand’ at Le Cateau in order to delay the massive German advance. No. 37 (Howitzer) Battery, RFA, operating with difficulty very close to the British infantry front line, had managed to destroy two nearby German guns and when ordered from the battlefield was forced in turn to destroy two of its guns through lack of limbers. On their way to Reumont two spare limbers were found and Capt Reynolds called for volunteers to return and collect the two remaining guns. Two officers and three drivers, including Ben Cobey, Frederick Luke and Job Drain, stepped forward. During the attempt to remove the guns, Cobey was killed. Lt Earle only managed to get 50 yards away before having two of his centre horses killed. However, the other howitzer was finally removed. The sheer audacity of the recovery astonished all those who saw it. See also Capt D. Reynolds [013], and Driver F. Luke [011].

HOLMES, LANCE-CORPORAL FREDERICK WILLIAM, 1889–1969

Entry No.

010 (A)

Date of action

26 August 1914

Location of action

Le Cateau, Nord

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

9376; 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Cremation

Port Augusta, South Australia

Major Yate, in command of B Company, 2nd KOYLI, and L/Cpl Holmes, a member of the battalion’s A Company, were in position south of the main Le Cateau–Cambrai road. After the extremely hazardous fire of the morning of 26 August, the company received orders to retire in the afternoon. In order to make his escape each man was obliged to run across land which was under constant German fire. According to his own account, when it came to Holmes’s turn he heard a comrade call out desperately for help. After seeing that a wounded man he found was taken care of by stretcher bearers, Holmes next came across an 18-pounder gun with six horses standing around and no artillerymen on hand to guide them to safety. Holmes, apparently led the team to safety only to become completely lost in the process. He was later directed to a crossroads where he was assured his battalion would soon be passing. See also Major C.A.L. Yate [012].

LUKE, DRIVER FREDERICK, 1895–1983

Entry No.

011 (A)

Date of action

26 August 1914

Location of action

Le Cateau, Nord

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

71787; No. 37 (Howitzer) Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Remarks

No. 37 Battery won three VCs on 26 August 1914

Driver Frederick Luke was a member of No. 37 (Howitzer) Battery, RFA, at Le Cateau on the day that Gen Smith-Dorrien’s II Corps made its heroic stand against an overwhelming German advance. When the battery was finally ordered to leave the field it was forced to put two guns out of action as spare limbers were unavailable. On finding two limbers on the Reumont road to the south-west Capt Reynolds, in command, called for volunteers to return to Le Cateau. The two teams under the wounded Lt E.G. Earle and Lt W.D. Morgan drew close to the positions of the remaining guns with Luke as ‘Wheel’. They were ordered to gallop; moving through a wall of shrapnel, the battery seemingly achieved the impossible. Through speed and sheer audacity they managed to escape with the guns from under the noses of an astonished enemy, although they only retained one of them. See also Capt D. Reynolds [009], and Driver J.H.C. Drain [010].

YATE, MAJOR CHARLES ALLIX LAVINGTON, 1872–1914

Entry No.

012 (A)

Date of action

26 August 1914

Location of action

Le Cateau, Nord

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Unit

2nd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Burial

Berlin South-West Cemetery, Germany (II.G.8)

Remarks

Winner of one of two 2nd KOYLI VCs at Le Cateau

At Le Cateau on 26 August 1914 Gen Smith-Dorrien of II Corps made his decision to attempt to stall the relentless German advance by making a ‘stand’. It was a decision not popular with Sir John French. 5th Division took up positions to the south of the town and 13th and 14th Brigades were heavily involved in the day’s fighting. When the range for the machine guns of Major Yate’s B Company, 2nd KOYLI, was down to 600 yards, he gave the order to fire. This caused so much havoc among the enemy that they fell back for a brief period. However, it was only a matter of time before the battalion was one of several overwhelmed by the German advance. The end came at 1620 hours when the remnant of Yate’s company was down to 19. Refusing calls to surrender, Yate was wounded and taken prisoner along with about 300 other members of the battalion. Yate died three weeks later in mysterious circumstances. See also L/Cpl F.W. Holmes [010].

REYNOLDS, CAPTAIN DOUGLAS, 1882–1916

Entry No.

013 (A)

Date of action

26 August and 9 September 1914

Location of action

Le Cateau, Nord

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Unit

No. 37 (Howitzer) Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Burial

Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais (1.A.20)

Remarks

Died of gas poisoning, Le Touquet, France, 23

Feb 1916

On 26 August 1914, Gen Smith-Dorrien (II Corps), knowing that 5th Division at Le Cateau needed to be extricated from its positions, decided to stage ‘a stopping blow, under cover of which we could retire’. No. 37 (Howitzer) Battery, RFA, serving with 5th Division, was at first astride the main road to Reumont in camouflaged positions. The battery managed to silence two German guns but had difficulty in operating as close to the infantry as it was. As the situation grew worse the battery became one of the last to leave the field but was only able to take one gun; two others were destroyed. When retiring Reynolds came across two spare limbers. Calling for volunteers, he managed to return and escape with one more gun during a daring action against all odds. At Pisseloup on 9 September Reynolds discovered a German battery which was holding up the advance and silenced it. See also Drivers J.H.C. Drain [009], and F. Luke [011].

BRADBURY, CAPTAIN EDWARD KINDER, 1881–1914

Entry No.

014 (A)

Date of action

1 September 1914

Location of action

Néry, Oise

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Unit

L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery

Burial

Néry Communal Cemetery, Oise

L Battery, RHA, had already distinguished itself at Audregnies, Belgium, a few days before arriving in the small village of Néry where, on a very misty morning, it was to take part in what became a small epic of military history. Without knowing the exact whereabouts of each other, six German cavalry regiments were camped within a few hundred yards of where units of the British 1st Cavalry Brigade were billeted. These units included 2nd Dragoon Guards, 5th Dragoon Guards and 11th Hussars, with L Battery and its six 13-pounder guns. Soon after 0530 hours a German shell was fired into the village, which was soon followed by hundreds more. This caused mayhem in 2nd Dragoon Guards’ positions and L Battery heroically fought back, with Bradbury becoming mortally wounded. Bradbury, Sgt D. Nelson [016] and BSM G.T. Dorrell [015] each won the VC.

DORRELL, BATTERY SERGEANT-MAJOR GEORGE THOMAS, 1880–1971

Entry No.

015 (A)

Date of action

1 September 1914

Location of action

Néry, Oise

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery

Cremation

Leatherhead, Surrey

When Capt E.K. Bradbury had become seriously wounded while acting as layer, he continued to give instructions. BSM Dorrell took over command with the aid of Sgt D. Nelson after the senior officers of L Battery had been wounded. This was at about 0715 hours on 1 September 1914, after Bradbury had both of his legs taken off by a shell and had himself propped up against a gun. After their ammunition had run out Dorrell and Nelson fired what was to be the last round, their gun having accounted for no fewer than three of the 12 hostile guns. A month later Dorrell was commissioned from the ranks. See also Capt E.K. Bradbury [014], and Sgt D. Nelson [016].

NELSON, SERGEANT DAVID 1886–1918

Entry No.

016 (A)

Date of action

1 September 1914

Location of action

Néry, Oise

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

33419; L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery

Burial

Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais (V.A.16)

Remarks

Also buried here is Cpl W.R. Cotter [112]

Sgt Nelson was one of three VC winners belonging to L Battery, RHA, which was caught up in a ‘David and Goliath’ struggle on a very misty morning at Néry on 1 September 1914, during the continuing British retreat from the Belgian city of Mons. The battery, which had already distinguished itself at Audregnies on 24 August, was camped in Néry as part of 1st Cavalry Brigade. The brigade was unaware of the nearby presence of a force of six German cavalry regiments. The epic action began soon after 0530 hours, when a single German shell fell onto the British positions. This was followed by hundreds more and the tiny horse battery based in an apple orchard became the focus of German attention. The dismounted 2nd Dragoon Guards and 11th Hussars gave as much assistance as they could. After Capt E.K. Bradbury [014] was seriously wounded, BSM G.T. Dorrell [015] took over the surviving gun with the assistance of Sgt Nelson.

FULLER, LANCE-CORPORAL WILLIAM CHARLES, 1884–1974

Entry No.

017 (A)

Date of action

14 September 1914

Location of action

Near Chivy-sur-Aisne, France

London Gazette

23 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

2nd Welsh

Burial

Oystermouth Cemetery, Swansea (373, Section R)

Remarks

Capt Haggard was a nephew of Rider Haggard

L/Cpl Fuller was one of four men to win the VC on the first day of the Battle of the Aisne when his battalion, 2nd Welsh (3rd Brigade), was moving in a north-westerly direction towards a high ridge which protected the small hamlet of Chivy. 2nd Welsh approached the heights across open ground and dug themselves in on the eastern slopes of Beaulne Spur. Beaulne was another small village, to the south-west of Chivy. Fuller spoke later of what happened: ‘We were supposed to be the advance party for the South Wales Borderers, but instead formed a bit to the left and made an advance ourselves. We marched from a wood in the direction of a ridge, and on the way came across a wire fence . . .’ The company was held up by a Maxim gun and Fuller was the only man uninjured. He dragged his wounded officer, Capt Mark Haggard, to safety; although Fuller bandaged his wounds, Haggard later died and was buried in Vendresse.

JOHNSTON, CAPTAIN WILLIAM HENRY 1879–1915

Entry No.

018 (A)

Date of action

14 September 1914

Location of action

Missy, Aisne

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Unit

No. 59 Field Company, Royal Engineers

Burial

Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium (III.C.12)

Remarks

Also buried here is 2/Lt F. Birks [257]

On 14 September 1914, the opening day of the Battle of the Aisne, when four VCs were won, Capt W.H. Johnston and Lt R.B. Flint worked under heavy fire from dawn to dusk in the vital work of attempting to ferry men of 15th Brigade (5th Division) across the River Aisne at a spot called Moulin des Roches, near Missy. They ferried rafts of men and ammunition across the wide river and brought back the wounded. In the afternoon German howitzers targeted the north bank, turning it into a deathtrap for the British troops. According to his brigade commander, Maj Gen Lord Gleichen, Johnston ‘never spared himself an ounce. He was occasionally so dead with want of sleep that I once or twice ordered him to take a night’s sleep, but he always got out of it . . .’ Johnston was later promoted to command No. 172 Company and on 2 May 1915 became a brigade-major with 15th Brigade, but was killed by a sniper on 8 June 1915 on the St-Eloi front.

TOLLERTON, PRIVATE ROSS, 1890–1931

Entry No.

019 (A)

Date of action

14 September 1914

Location of action

Troyon, Aisne

London Gazette

19 April 1915

Service No. & Unit

7281; 1st Cameron Highlanders

Burial

Knadgerhill Cemetery, Irvine, Ayrshire

Remarks

Irvine is also linked with Capt H.S. Ranken [022]

The fourth man to win the VC on the first day of the Battle of the Aisne was Pte Tollerton of 1st Camerons. The eventful day began at Paissy from whence the battalion moved via Moullins to Vendresse. 1st Camerons then advanced uphill in a north-easterly direction towards their battle positions. 1st Black Watch (1st Brigade, 1st Division) was to the right and 1st Scots Gds to the left. They engaged the enemy close to a sugar factory at the Cerny crossroads and 1st Camerons suffered over 600 casualties from withering German machine-gun fire. South of the former hamlet of Troyon Tollerton’s officer, Lt Matheson, was shot and fell down on his face. Tollerton, who was over six feet tall, carried the officer to a place of safety before returning to the firing line. After the order to retire was given Tollerton returned to Matheson but the two men became surrounded and it was three days before Tollerton could carry Matheson to Chivy, where the latter’s wounds were dressed.

WILSON, PRIVATE GEORGE, 1886–1926

Entry No.

020 (A)

Date of action

14 September, 1914

Location of action

Near Verneuil, Aisne

London Gazette

5 December 1914

Service No. & Unit

9553; 2nd Highland Light Infantry

Burial

Piershill Cemetery, Edinburgh

2nd HLI (5th Brigade, 2nd Division) took part briefly in the fighting at Mons in August 1914 and a few days later were involved in repairing roads at Etreux. On 14 September they were in action with 1st KRRC and 2nd Worcesters in trying to capture a small wood near Moussy-Verneuil, close to the village of Chivy. The Germans had set up a machine gun in the wood which proceeded to take take a high toll of 2nd HLI and 1st KRRC. At this point Pte George Wilson of 2nd HLI took a hand in trying to stem a German advance. On reporting to his officer that he could see two of the enemy – who were soon killed by a sniper – and taking advantage of whatever cover there was, Wilson managed to get the gun team within his sights. Seemingly going berserk and making noises as though he was part of a larger group, Wilson bore down on the hapless enemy who immediately surrendered. Wilson shouted for assistance and handed over the captured Germans.

HORLOCK, BOMBARDIER ERNEST GEORGE, 1885–1917

Entry No.

021 (A)

Date of action

15 September 1914

Location of action

Vendresse, Aisne

London Gazette

25 November 1914

Service No. & Unit

42617; No. 113 Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Commemoration

Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (F.171)

Remarks

Drowned when SS Aragon was sunk, 30 December 1917

On 14 September 1914, a misty morning, Nos. 46 and 113 Batteries, RFA, unlimbered in a quarry to the south-west of Vendresse close to the village of Moussy. They opened fire on the enemy troops at a range of 900 yards. This checked the German advance as they were trying to push the British back to the River Aisne and instead two battalions of 3rd Brigade (1st Division) were able to attack the enemy to the north-west. On the next day the Germans attacked with great verve and Bombardier Horlock worked gallantly under very heavy shell fire. Despite being wounded he returned twice to his gun after having his wounds dressed, although he was ordered to go to hospital. By the end of the day the British line remained intact, although the positions of 4th and 5th Divisions were precarious. Horlock was promoted to sergeant in the field two days later.

RANKEN, CAPTAIN HARRY SHERWOOD, 1883–1914

Entry No.

022 (A)

Date of action

19–20 (or 9–10) September 1914

Location of action

Hauteavesnes, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

16 November 1914

Unit

Royal Army Medical Corps

Burial

Braine Communal Cemetery, Aisne (A.43)

Remarks

Died of wounds, 25 September 1914

The dates when Capt Ranken could have won his VC conflict with what was published in the London Gazette. The KRRC war diary (WO95/1358) confirms that he was indeed tending wounded in the trenches when under fire at Hauteavesnes, but on 9/10 September 1914, not ten days later. Thus his initial VC action has links with the Battle of the Marne rather than the Battle of the Aisne. However, he took an active part in tending the wounded in an exposed edge of La Bouvette Wood and during the afternoon of 19 September one of Ranken’s legs was shattered by a shell from British artillery. A German attack petered out by nightfall and the casualties of 1st KRRC totalled 186. Ranken even continued with his work after he was seriously wounded. He eventually became too weak to carry on and was taken to a dressing station at Braine where his leg was amputated. A few days later he died suddenly of an embolism. See also Pte R. Tollerton [019].

DOBSON, PRIVATE FREDERICK WILLIAM, 1886–1935

Entry No.

023 (A)

Date of action

28 September 1914

Location of action

Chavonne, Aisne

London Gazette

9 December 1914

Service No. & Unit

6840; 2nd Coldstream Guards

Burial

Ryton Cemetery, County Durham

Remarks

Died at Newcastle, 15 November 1935

On the misty morning of 28 September 1914, 2nd Coldstream Gds (2nd Division), heavily involved in the fight for possession of the Chemin des Dames and particularly troubled by an important position called La Cour de Soupir, a farm to the north of the village of Soupir, had been allocated a position which was not only very exposed but also sloped upwards towards the German lines. In the vicinity were three dense woods and the field of fire varied from 50 to several hundred yards. One point, where the lines of the two sides almost met, was opposite a position called Tunnel Post. Three guardsmen were sent out on patrol but when the mist lifted one was immediately killed. Observing this incident, Private Dobson went to the aid of the remaining two men. Finding one dead, he tended the wounds of the other and, with assistance from Cpl A. Brown, the wounded man was brought back to safety. Dobson was awarded a VC and Brown a DCM.

MAY, PRIVATE HENRY, 1885–1941

Entry No.

024 (A)

Date of action

22 October 1914

Location of action

Near La Boutillerie, Nord

London Gazette

19 April 1915

Service No. & Unit

7504; 1st Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Burial

Riddrie Park Cemetery, Glasgow (B146)

Remarks

Died 26 July 1941

Towards the end of October 1914 the German Army strongly renewed its efforts to break through the British lines in its attempt to capture Ypres. On 21 October 19th Brigade, attached to 6th Division, took over territory east of Aubers including Fromelles and La Maisnil. The latter village was heavily shelled and the next morning a new line was established between Rouges Bancs and La Boutillerie, where 1st Middlesex and 1st Camerons were in position. The 19th Brigade Official History noted that it did not fare so well owing to heavy German attacks. At one point to the east of the village, when the enemy were only 50 yards away, Pte May, a regular, assisted in efforts to save a wounded colleague who was later shot dead. Later he helped to save the life of a wounded officer and in all these actions had complete disregard for his own safety. Eleven days later he was wounded and invalided home, returning to France ten days later. He was commissioned in 1918.

KENNY, DRUMMER WILLIAM, 1880–1936

Entry No.

025 (A)

Date of action

23 October 1914

Location of action

Near Ypres, Belgium

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Service No. & Unit

6535; 2nd Gordon Highlanders

Burial

Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey

Remarks

Died in London, January 1936

Drummer Kenny won his VC on 23 October 1914, the fourth day of the First Battle of Ypres when the enemy, desperate to capture Ypres, were pressing on in on the town from nearly all sides. His battalion was part of 20th Brigade (7th Division); the brigade line was south-east of the Menin Road and Gheluvelt. On the south side of the Kruiseecke salient 2nd Gordons had to deal with only minor German attacks. They did suffer from shell and sniper fire, however, and five men who were wounded on 23 October were all rescued by Kenny who, in addition to this gallantry, was also responsible for saving several machine guns and for taking urgent messages over fire-swept ground. Kenny was later promoted to the rank of sergeant.

BROOKE, LIEUTENANT JAMES ANSON OTHO, 1884–1914

Entry No.

026 (A)

Date of action

29 October 1914

Location of action

Near Gheluvelt, Belgium

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Unit

2nd Gordon Highlanders

Burial

Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Belgium (VI.E.2)

Remarks

See also A/Sgt L. McGuffie [445]

On 29 October 1914, a very foggy morning, 1st Grenadier Guards (20th Brigade, 7th Division) were in positions south of Gheluvelt crossroads. Other battalions had been ordered up the night before to provide support but were soon withdrawn because the Germans initially failed to renew their attacks. However, at 0730 hours the Germans began a heavy bombardment and followed it up by a powerful infantry advance which swept down on the front and left flank of 1st Grenadier Guards. Forced back westwards but assisted by 2nd Gordon Highlanders, the guardsmen managed to make two counter-attacks to try and recover the lost ground. However, they were pushed back towards the east of Gheluvelt. On their right 2nd Gordons, commanded by Lt J.A.O. Brooke, managed to hold on to their trenches all day and accounted for at least 240 of the enemy. Tragically Brooke himself was killed by a sniper. He was awarded the VC posthumously.

HOGAN, SERGEANT JOHN, 1884–1943

Entry No.

027 (A)

Date of action

29 October 1914

Location of action

Near Festubert, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

22 December 1914

Service No. & Unit

2nd Manchesters

Burial

Chadderton Cemetery, Oldham, Lancashire

Remarks

Hogan also served in the Boer War

It is virtually impossible to separate the roles of 2/Lt Leach [028] and Sgt Hogan when they both won the VC near Festubert on 29 October 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres. The Germans were pressing to break the Allied line in order to capture the Belgian town and then to advance to the coast. The deed was a joint effort and the results were fairly spectacular, with eight enemy killed, two more wounded and 16 taken prisoner. On 14 December 1914, another day when Ypres was under strong attack, Hogan was badly wounded in the face by shrapnel from a shell and nearly lost the sight of one eye. He was invalided home.

LEACH, 2ND LIEUTENANT JAMES, 1892–1958

Entry No.

028 (A)

Date of action

29 October 1914

Location of action

Near Festubert, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

22 December 1914

Unit

2nd Manchesters

Cremation

Mortlake Crematorium, London

Remarks

Died at Shepherd’s Bush, London, 15 August 1958

Sir John Smyth, VC, described the Festubert area in October 1914 as being heartily disliked by the British and in particular the Indian Army, being ‘low-lying and swampy and the trenches in winter . . . generally half-filled with water, snow, ice or mud.’ It was here that two members of the Manchesters won the VC. As part of 14th Brigade, 2nd Manchesters had been under heavy attack for several days. On 29 October 1914, 2/Lt Leach was with 34 men in an advance trench. This small party was overwhelmed by the enemy and despite Leach, together with Sgt Hogan [027], carrying out two counter-attacks, they did not succeed. Not to be outdone, Leach and Hogan called for ten volunteers to make a bayonet attack. The Germans were caught off balance and the attackers created a lodgement in the trench. Eight Germans were killed and two wounded, while 16 surrendered. In addition the British had won back all of their previous positions.

MARTIN-LEAKE, SURGEON-CAPTAIN ARTHUR, 1874–1953

Entry No.

029 (A)

Date of action

29 October–8 November 1914

Location of action

Near Zonnebeke, Belgium

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Unit

Royal Army Medical Corps (att. 5th Field Ambulance)

Burial/Ashes

High Cross Churchyard, Ware, Hertfordshire

Remarks

He won his first VC in 1902 in South Africa

Having won a VC during the Boer War, Capt A. Martin-Leake became the first man to win a second VC when he showed very considerable bravery over a period of ten days, at a time when the German Army was making extremely determined efforts to capture the town of Ypres. At Zonnebeke at the end of October 1914 British forces made an attack of their own but intense German machine-gun and rifle fire overwhelmed them. This failure resulted in a great number of dead and many wounded who had to be brought back to safety. While the Germans, obviously expecting a second attack, were feeling ‘jumpy’, Martin-Leake, at great risk to himself, crawled out to bring in as many of the wounded as he could. Many of these casualties would certainly have perished if it had not been for Martin-Leake’s bravery. Apart from these exploits, which were spread over a long period, Martin-Leake was also commended for his work at a dressing station when it was heavily shelled by the enemy. See also Capt N.G. Chavasse, VC & Bar [152 and 238].

KHUDADAD KHAN, SEPOY, 1888–1971

Entry No.

030 (A)

Date of action

31 October 1914

Location of action

Hollebeke, Belgium

London Gazette

7 December 1914

Service No. & Unit

129th Baluchis, Indian Army

Burial

Rykhan Village Cemetery, Pakistan

Remarks

Died at Rykhan, Pakistan, 8 March 1971

129th Baluchis (Ferozepore Brigade, Lahore Division) took over part of the Allied line to the north-east of Messines on 23 October 1914 when they relieved 3rd Cavalry Brigade. The Indians were close to the Ypres–Comines railway, parallel to the Comines Canal and close to the village of Hollebeke. Unusually for this period, the Indian positions were very strong in this sector. On 26 October, units of 2nd Cavalry Division advanced towards the village of Houthem only to find themselves with new but inferior trenches. With the struggle for Gheluvelt continuing to the south-west the Allied line was becoming very thin. On 31 October, 2nd Cavalry Division attacked the line from Wytschaete to the Comines Canal. Some 600 of the 3,250 attacking troops were drawn from 129th Baluchis. During this fighting and after all his machine-gun crew had been killed, Khudadad Khan, though wounded, continued to man his gun and won the VC.

BENT, DRUMMER SPENCER JOHN, 1891–1977

Entry No.

031 (A)

Date of action

1/2 November 1914

Location of action

Near La Gheer, Belgium

London Gazette

9 December 1914

Service No. & Unit

8581; 1st East Lancs

Cremation

West Norwood, London

Remarks

Died in London, 3 May 1977

1st E Lancs (11th Brigade, 4th Division) were involved in all of the main campaigns in France and Flanders from their arrival in August 1914. During the First Battle of Ypres, 19 October–22 November 1914, Drummer Bent earned his VC. There were at least four components to his VC citation. The small village of La Gheer was on the eastern edge of Ploegsteert Wood and was captured by the Germans on 21 October. The village was retaken and then fought for over a period of several days during which time Bent, in constant danger, took up ammunition to the forward trenches. The night of 1/2 November was a crisis for 1st E Lancs. Next morning a colleague was wounded in the stomach and, despite being sniped at near a wall of the convent, Bent brought the man to safety by hooking his feet under the man’s arms. Eight days later Bent was himself wounded in the leg and invalided home to England.

BRODIE, CAPTAIN WALTER LORRAIN, 1885–1918

Entry No.

032 (A)

Date of action

7 November 1914 (11 November on VC

citation)

Location of action

Near Becelaere, Belgium

London Gazette

12 December 1914

Unit

2nd Highland Light Infantry

Burial

Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais (XVIII.F.15)

Remarks

Killed Behagnies, 23 August 1918

During the First Battle of Ypres, 2nd HLI (5th Brigade, 2nd Division) were in positions on the extreme left of 2nd Division, close to Polygon Wood. To their right was 3rd Division and beyond them units of the French Army. Together these units provided protection for the beleaguered town of Ypres. In this area the two lines were occasionally as close as 15 yards from one another. On 7 November, although expecting an imminent attack, B Company, 2nd HLI, was suddenly rushed by parties from the German 53rd Reserve Division and, as there was no time to open fire, bitter hand-to-hand bayonet fighting ensued. In the morning light it was discovered that as many as 80 Germans had been killed, mostly by the bayonet and the rest by Capt Brodie’s machine guns. In addition about 54 men were taken prisoner. 2nd HLI suffered 45 casualties of their own. Brodie, recently appointed captain, was in charge of 2nd HLI’s machine-gun detachment.

VALLENTIN, CAPTAIN JOHN FRANKS, 1882–1914

Entry No.

033 (A)

Date of action

7 November 1914

Location of action

Zillebeke, Belgium

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Unit

1st South Staffords

Commemoration

Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium (Panels 35 and 37)

1st S Staffords entered the lines on 22 October 1914, three days after the First Battle of Ypres began. During a brief period of service with 20th Brigade, they lost 13 officers and 440 other ranks during heavy fighting. They were also engaged the next day and 30 October, when Capt Vallentin was wounded and sent to hospital. Learning that his regiment was due to take part in renewed fighting he got himself discharged. As the most senior surviving officer, he would take command of the battalion. At 0400 hours on 7 November 22nd Brigade was sent into the line alongside 3rd Brigade, 500 yards north-east of Zwarteleen. The counter-attack began at 0615 hours with 1st S Staffords in support. The German first line was reached and three machine guns captured. However, the French, who had been scheduled to take part, failed to appear and 22nd Brigade returned to reserve with a further 314 casualties. Capt Vallentin was killed by machine-gun fire.

DIMMER, LIEUTENANT JOHN HENRY STEPHEN, 1883–1918

Entry No.

034 (A)

Date of action

12 November 1914

Location of action

Klein Zillebeke, Belgium

London Gazette

19 November 1914

Unit

2nd King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Burial

Vadencourt British Cemetery, France (II.B.46)

Remarks

KIA, 21 March 1918

During the final days of October 1914, 2nd KRRC (2nd Brigade, 1st Division) was engaged in the fierce fighting at Gheluvelt. Later the battalion was in action to the south-east of the town. On 12 November the Germans shelled the French troops out of the village of Zwarteleen to the north-east of Klein Zillebeke and the German 39th and 30th Divisions then attacked in large numbers. 2nd KRRC was in positions adjacent to the French and Lt J.H.S. Dimmer was in charge of four machine guns. Early on, three of his men were killed and he himself was wounded in the shoulder. Despite this he staggered to one of the guns and managed to fire off 900 rounds before becoming unconscious.

RENDLE, BANDSMAN THOMAS EDWARD, 1884–1946

Entry No.

035 (A)

Date of action

20 November 1914

Location of action

Near Wulvergem, Belgium

London Gazette

11 January 1915

Service No. & Unit

7079; 1st DCLI

Burial

Maitland No. 1 Cemetery, Cape District, South Africa

Remarks

Died in South Africa, 1 June 1946

On 19 November 1914, 1st DCLI (14th Brigade, 5th Division) was in positions from the east of Mont Kemmel to Wulvergem, south-west of Ypres. The battalion had taken over part of the line hastily vacated by troops from the French XVI Corps, who left the trenches in a very poor state. The battalion tried hard to improve these defences, between 50 to 150 yards from the enemy. On the following day, when German snipers were very busy, the enemy began a heavy artillery bombardment at 0900 hours. One shell unfortunately hit the centre of A Company’s positions, burying about 15 men and killing or wounding several others. With the shelling at its height, 2/Lt R.M. Colebrooke was wounded and in need of medical attention. At this point Bandsman Rendle crawled out to rescue the officer, all the while under the gaze of German snipers. He dressed Colebrooke’s wounds and, carrying him on his back, reached safety.

DARWAN SING NEGI, NAIK, 1881–1950

Entry No.

036 (A)

Date of action

23/24 November 1914

Location of action

Near Festubert, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

7 December 1914

Service No. & Unit

1/39th Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army

Cremation

Kafarteer Village, United Provinces, India

Remarks

Died at Kafarteer, United Provinces, 24 June 1950

The Indian Corps arrived on the Western Front at the end of October 1914 and was ill-used by the British High Command in conditions which hardly suited its troops. They were often attached to British formations and fed piecemeal into the fighting. 39th Garhwal Rifles relieved 1st E Surreys (14th Brigade, 5th Division) on 29/30 October during the battle for La Bassée and for the next three weeks the Indians were in and out of the trenches on this front. At Festubert on the morning of 23 November, Ferozepore Brigade (Lahore Division) lost a section of its trenches and, despite the brigade trying hard to recapture them, the enemy still occupied a 300-yard portion of them at dusk. 1/39th Garhwal Rifles took part in a well-executed attack at 0300 hours that night and by 0730 hours the trenches had been recaptured. Two machine guns were captured and the enemy suffered 143 casualties. Naik Darwan Sing Negi, though twice wounded, was instrumental in this achievement.

DE PASS, LIEUTENANT FRANK ALEXANDER, 1887–1914

Entry No.

037 (A)

Date of action

24 November 1914

Location of action

Near Festubert, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Unit

34th Poona Horse, Indian Army

Burial

Béthune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais (I.A.24)

Remarks

A schoolfellow of Rupert Brooke at Rugby

The Indian Corps did not take part in the First Battle of Ypres and was based in the La Bassée–Armentières area. On 23 November 1914 a detachment of the 34th Poona Horse took over trenches previously held by part of the Ferozepore Brigade (Lahore Division). On arriving in the line at 0400 hours on 24 November they found the enemy had driven a sap up to the parapet, which had been destroyed, making an eight-foot gap and exposing the trench. A party under Lt de Pass guarded the breach but at 0800 hours the Germans began throwing bombs from their side of the traverse, causing casualties. De Pass asked for permission to put an end to this bombing and, together with two Indians, entered the sap and reached the German traverse. Using a charge of gun cotton he destroyed the traverse completely. Later in the day, accompanied by Pte Cook, de Pass rescued a wounded sepoy. The Germans returned next day and during further fighting de Pass was killed by a sniper.

ROBSON, PRIVATE HENRY HOWEY, 1894–1964

Entry No.

038 (A)

Date of action

14 December 1914

Location of action

Near Kemmel, Belgium

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Service No. & Unit

2nd Royal Scots

Burial

York Memorial Cemetery, Toronto, Canada

Remarks

Died at Toronto, 4 March 1964

Having taken part in the heavy fighting during the First Battle of Ypres, 2nd Royal Scots were also involved in an attack to the north of the village of Kemmel, south-west of Ypres, against a position known as Petit Bois. The British trenches were just to the front of Irish Farm. On 14 December 1914, during an attack by 8th Brigade (3rd Division) which included 1st Gordons on the right, 2nd Royal Scots to the left attacked the German trenches at Petit Bois and to the south of it with partial success. Elsewhere the attack failed but Robson distinguished himself by rescuing a wounded NCO, having crawled through mud while under heavy fire to reach him. When trying to save another man Robson was hit as he left the trench and as he crawled forward a second bullet struck him. He was incapacitated; rescued later in the day, he was invalided back to hospital in England. His battalion remained in the Kemmel area for the rest of the year.

BRUCE, LIEUTENANT WILLIAM ARTHUR MCCRAE, 1890–1914

Entry No.

039 (A)

Date of action

19 December 1914

Location of action

Near Givenchy, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

4 September 1919

Unit

59th Scinde Rifles, Frontier Force, Indian Army

Commemoration

Neuve-Chapelle Memorial, Pas de Calais

Bruce won his VC during fighting near Givenchy, west of La Bassée, when he was in charge of a small party that had captured a German trench during a night attack. After the enemy had made signs of wishing to surrender, some of Bruce’s party put their heads above the parapet and were immediately shot at. Bruce himself was badly wounded in the neck but remained at his post, walking up and down and encouraging his men to hang on. The enemy fired all day and also used bombs during their counter-attacks against the Indian positions. Eventually Bruce was killed, but his place was taken by Havildar Dost Mahomed, who kept the enemy at bay. The German casualties began to pile up in front of the Allied trench and the small party held on until dusk, when the enemy brought up a trench mortar. When ordered to retire the Indians refused, claiming that Lt Bruce Sahib had ordered them to hold on to the end. Finally only two men crawled out alive.

MACKENZIE, PRIVATE JAMES, 1884–1914

Entry No.

040 (A)

Date of action

19 December 1914

Location of action

Rouges Bancs, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Service No. & Unit

8185; 2nd Scots Guards

Commemoration

Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (Panel 1)

Remarks

One of three VCs commemorated here; see also Sapper W. Hackett [119] and A/Capt T.T. Pryce [353]

On 18/19 December 1914, 2nd Scots Gds (20th Brigade, 7th Division) were at Rouges Bancs, to the north-west of Neuve-Chapelle. 2nd Borders, another battalion in 20th Brigade, attempted an attack to establish a lodgement. The attack failed, partly because the enemy had adequate warning of their intended approach. As a result 2nd Borders faced murderous fire at point-blank range and suffered heavy losses. The Germans then drove the remaining attackers back to their own start lines. A second attack by 2nd Borders was called off when it was found to be hopeless to continue. These failures created problems for 2nd Scots Gds, a neighbouring battalion whose own supporting attack had failed to materialise. During this fighting Private Mackenzie saved the lives of several severely wounded men and in trying to repeat these deeds later in the day was shot in the heart by a sniper.

NEAME, LIEUTENANT PHILIP, 1888–1978

Entry No.

041 (A)

Date of action

19 December 1914

Location of action

Near Neuve Chapelle, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Unit

No. 15 Field Company, Royal Engineers

Burial

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Selling, Kent

Remarks

KBE, CB, DSO

On 18/19 December, No. 15 Company, RE, (8th Division) and men from 2nd Devons were due to attack German positions at a farm building known as the Moated Grange, between Neuve Chapelle and Armentières. The sappers cut the wire in front of the German positions and attempted to connect the German trench system to the British one by digging new trenches in no man’s land. 2nd Devons were later relieved by 2nd W Yorks and at dawn the enemy, using bombs, began to counter-attack. Neame was then told to consolidate positions at the Moated Grange and moved up with a party of 36 sappers to the British front line. Hearing a commotion, he found that British bomb-throwers were having trouble through a lack of fuses. Neame gathered up all the bombs he could and began to throw them at the German positions with great success.

ACTON, PRIVATE ABRAHAM, 1892–1915

Entry No.

042 (A)

Date of action

21 December 1914

Location of action

Rouges Bancs, Pas de Calais

London Gazette

18 February 1915

Service No. & Unit

10694; 2nd Borders

Commemoration

Le Touret Memorial, France

Remarks