CHAPTER CCXXVIII. VICTORIA CROSSES OF THE WAR. (IV.)

NUMBER OF AWARDS-THE SYSTEM OF ANNOUNCEMENT-CROSSES FOR SKIPPERS-THE AFFAIRS OF DRIFTERS AND A SMACK-NAVAL AWARDS-CAPTAIN BISHOP'S GLORIOUS AIR DEEDS-DECORA­ TIONS FOR CANADIANS-BATCHES OF AWARDS-SINGLE-HANDED EXPLOITS-GUARDSMEN'S BRAVERY -BRIGADIER-GENERAL COFFIN-INDIVIDUAL HAULS OF GUNS ~D MEN-A FAITHFUL MESSENGER - CASES OF EXTREME ENDURANCE-GRENADIERS AND BOMBERS-A STOKES SHELL EPISODE- HONOURS FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE CRoss- A CAPTAIN'S VALIANT DEFENCE-SIMILARITY OF CASES­ "EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD WORK "-ATTACKS ON "PILL-BoXES "-A COLONEL'S CRoss-A MACHINE-GUNNER'S HEROISM-T;HJRTY SECONDS' "RECKLESS BRAVERY "-MORE FINE INDIVIDU4L DEEDS-THE AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE-A HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT-A CARRIER OF BANDOLIERS -BAYONET-CHARGE BY A HIGHLANDER-DEVOTION OF A TANK LEADER-POSTHUMOUS AWARDS­ A CORPORAL'S FATE-FEARLESS LEADERSHIP-CAVALRY DASH-THE VICTORIA CROSS ,,1 ARR~NTS.

ARLIAMENT, at the end of October the great honour of the Cross was conferred. 1917, passed a memorable vote of Modern war's appalling forms had evolved a P thanks to the Navy and Army for race of heroes whose acts had no rivals out of their war services. In the House of the realms 6f mythology; the very Sagas Lords the resolution was moved by Earl paled before the glamour of the tales of deeds Curzon, who, in dealing with the work that the fo~ which the Cros3 was charily awarded. naval, military and air forces had done spoke Every fresh development had given British of the extraordinary valour of all ranks. He said fighting men the chance to show that they were that to the Army 301 Victoria Crosses had fully qualified to meet and master it when been awarded, and two bars to the Crosses; victory was needed; and now there was to and 28 Crosses had been awarded to the Navy. come the hero of the drifter, the sm·ack, the These honours were included in a list of awards " pill-box" and the tank . • It was all wonderful which justified the speaker in declaring that and varied to the point of numbing receptivity some of the deeds for which they were given and understanding; yet what even to imagina­ were almost past belief, and as time went on tion seemed impossible proved achievable would be enshrined in legend and form lessons through British enterprise and courage to be taught to the future generations of our The announcements of the awards were race . made for the most part in considerable . It was remarked in Chapter CLl. (Victoria batches, and ill a few cases the official story Crosses of the Wat.-l.) that the new system was of unusual length; but there were of warfare had produced new types of fighters inst.ances when nothing was added to the bare -the airman, the submarine man, the bomber, statement that the Cross had been given for the trenchman, doers of "things unattempted certain special work these being invariably yet in prose or rhyme," and that st~tement in connexion ~ith naval operations. While held good for all the period during which expediency undoubtedly justified the with- Vol. XV.-Part '189. 217 218 THE TIldES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

lOffi cial photograph. A DRIFTER FLEET AT SEA.

holdi ~g of details in such cases it was difficult meetings with the enemy, encounters in to understand the official method of consistently near and distant wat~rs, and in all these using the term "enemy." The system was fights the toilers of the deep sea had upheld well enough adapted to earlier days of the their splendid reputation for courage and Cross, when there was no doubt as to the endurance. identity of the opponent, but it no longer One of the most remarkable fights of all was applied to the very greatly altered circumstances that in the Straits of Otranto on the m~rning of the war, and it was impossible . to suppose of May 15, 1917. The circumstances were very that the use of the word "German" could 1.ffiusual, the forces very unequal, and the odds have conveyed information of any value to the heavily in favour of the enemy. The Allied foe. If a British fighter slew and captured Germans wholesale in straightforward conflict . -and British fighters did both-no one knew the humiliating fact sooner or b etter than the Germans themselves, and no official craft in employing the expression "enemy" could conceal the knowledge from them. Yet " enemy" was persistently, tediously and unilluminatingly employed, and it was left to the reader to choose from the German, Austrian, Turkish or Bulgarian forces; the selection being a matter o ~ personal knowledge or inference. It was not until the war had entered upon its fourth year that a Victoria Cross was bestowed upon a member of that vast army .of auxiliaries who swep.t and patrolled the seas SKIPPER JOSEPH WATT. in such small craft as steam trawlers and drifters. For the most part the crews of these drifter line was attacked by Austriar.. light vessels were fishermen, and they had done cruisers, one of which, at about 100 yards invaluable service in sweeping the seas clear r ange, hailed the drifter Gowanlea and ordered of mines, in hunting and capturing submarines, the skipper, Joseph Watt, to stop and abandon and in patrol and other work. These services h er. The Gowanlea was a typical drifter, with had involved consta~t peri~ and h ardship, with a length of keel of less than 90 feet, a depth of inevitable heavy losses. There had been many less than 10 feet, and a breadth of 18 feet THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 219

occasion that Skipper Watt received the Victoria Cross, the announcement being made on August 29, 1917. That affair of drifters in the Adriatic showed the sterling quality of the fishers' mettle: it was an episode which appealed with special force to the public at home, but there was soon to be given the story of another fisher V.C. hero which, in some respects, made an even deeper appeal, for it contained the elements of splendid tragedy and sacrifice. This was the story of Skipper Thomas Crisp, a fisherman of Lowestoft. The t ale was first told in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister, who

SECOND HAND T. W. CRISP Returning from the Palace wearing his own D.S.M. and his father's V.C. and D.S.G. 6 inches. She had as crew a mere haq.dful of men, and as armament one gun that was almost toy-like in appearance. The size and power of the Austrian cruiser were not stated, but at her stone's-throw distance she must assuredly have towered above h er tiny prey. It was one thing for an Austrian to give an order to a British fisherman turned fighter, but a very different thing for that stanch seaman to obey. So far from heeding the enemy, Skipper Watt, though instant destruction seemed certain, ordered full speed ahead and called upon his crew to give three cheers and fight to a finish. The very audacity of the defiance might well have taken the Austrian aback; at any rate, fire was opened on the cruiser. Then began a short, sharp, clJrious fight. Anything in the shape of a cruiser should have had a very easy and simple task in destroyin,g the drifter, but the Austrian found his opponent so little to his liking that he was content to maintain a running fight, the running on his part being towards the safest part of the battle-area. One round only had been fired from the drifter's 'gun when the weapon was disabled at the SKIPPER THOMAS CRISP. breech. The gun's crew, however, in spite of was paying a glowing tribute to the loyalty and heavy fire, tried to work the g"lill. Luckily for courage of the fishermen; on November 2 the the Gowanlea, the cruiser passed, and then London Gazette announced the POSthUlllOUS Skipper Watt, not content with what he had grant of the Cross to Crisp and the award of the done, and disregarding his own damage, took Distinguished Service Medal to his so~ Second his little ship alongside another drifter, the' Hand Thomas William Crisp. The details Floandi, which was in worse case than his own, which were published were unusually full. and helped to remove the dead and wounded. One August afternoon, shortly before three It was for his gallantry on this strenuous o'clock, the smack Nelson, of which Skipper 189-2 220 THE TIJlrlES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

Crisp was in con~n~and, 'was on the port tack, reIl to the dAck with shattered body the smack

with her trawl down. The skipper was below, I was ' sinking r

to 01.11' fighters, many of whom owed their lives story would have been incredible; for Bishop, to the speed of the birds. Skipper Crisp was single-handed, attacked enemy aerodromes, given as a notable instance-a bird flew away engaged the enemy against overwhelming odds, with his appeal for help for the crew. did much material damage, and finally returned Simultaneously with .the award of the Cross in safety to his station. Bishop had been sent to Skipper Crisp there was announced the award out to work independently. First of all he of the same honour to Lieutenant Charl~s flew to an aerodrome, but finding no machine George Bonner; D.S.C., R.N.R., and P etty about he flew on to another aerodrome some three miles south-east, which was at least t welve miles on the other side of the line. On the ground were seven machines, some with their engines running. From a height of only about 50 feet the captain attacked them, and a

SETTING OUT.

Officer Ernest Pitcher. No details were given in Bonner's case beyond the general statement that the decoration was conferred for services in action with enemy submarines; while in the case of the petty officer it was stated that he had been selected by the crew of a gun of one of H.M. ships to receive the Cross in accordance with the Warrant of 1856. The honours, decorations, and medals which were awarded at this time were an indication of the persir-;ten.t and successful war which had been waged against enemy submarines. A very interesting i t ern in the list was:-" Second bar to the D.S.O. :-Captain G. Campbell, V.C, D.S.O. R .N." The first Cross to be announced in the fourth year of the war was to an airman, a distin­ guished member of the force which had become kuown as the" cavalry of the air," and whose exploits appealed with special force to a p eople CAPT AIN W. A. BlSij:OP. who above all things valued and admired dash Canadian Cavalry and R.F.C. and enterprise in unfamiliar circumstances­ mechanic who was starting O;1.e of the engines though even desperate conflicts high in the air was seen to fall. One of the machines got off were becoming coni mon happenirgs. This re the grolmd, but at a height of 60 feet Bishop cipient was Captain William Avery Bishop, fired fifteen rOlmds into it at very close range Canadian Cavalry and Royal Flying Corps, and it crashed to the ground. His action who, like the lamented yourig hero, Captain apparently goaded the enemy into further Albert Ball, * had already won the D.S.O. and effort, for a second machine got off the ground. the M.C. H ere again was a case exemplifying This aeroplane had little b etter luck than its such astounding . daring and success that predecessor-Bishop, at a range of 150 yards; without the hare official 'facts to prove it the fired 30 rounds into it, and the machine fell * Ch apter CCV., p. 362. into a tree. Twv more m achines then 1'OSd 222 THE TIldES HIS TORY OF THE liVA R. from the aerodrome, and at a height of 1,000 feet Bishop engaged one of them, emptying the rest of his drum of amm"Lmition with such good effect that the machine crashed 300 yards from the aerodrome. The captain had now accounted for three m achines ; into the fourth he emptied a whole drum of ammunition; then, and not t ill then, he m ade for his station. The d emoralizing effect upon the enemy of this single-handed, skilful and inflexible onslaught was such that although four hostile scouts

CAPT AIN (Temp. Lieut.-Colonel) BERTRAM BEST.DUNKLEY, Lancashire Fusiliers. B efore being killed in action, Temporary Captain Harold Ackroyd, M.C., M.D ., R.A.M.C., attached to the Royal Berkshire R egiment, saved the lives of many wO "Lmded officers and men, his courage being shown in circumsta.nces of the greatest p eril, for he worked in the open, LUlder heavy fire from artillery, machine guns, and small arms. The announcem ent of Ack·

THE KING PRESENTING H ER -HUSBAND'S V.C. TO MRS. ACKROYD. w ere about 1,000 feet above B ishop for some ­ thing like a mile of his return jOLU'ney, " they would not attack." These gallant achieve ­ ments aroused the Canadian people to en ­ t husiasm, and this they showed in October 1917, when Bishop, who had b een promoted major, was married in Toronto. In passing it may be noted that at the end of 1917 7,000 decorations had been conferred on m embers of the -Canadian Expeditionary Force for valour in the field and outstanding war service, these awards including 19 Vic· SECOND LIEUT. (Acting Captain) THOS. R. toria Cr osses-seven to officers and twelve COLYER-F ERG USSON, to m en. Northamptonshire Regiment. THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 223

royd's Cross was made known on September 6, against hostile snipers, some of whom, at close 1917, and with it were published eight other range, he stalked and killed. He had safely awards. Of this total of nine no fewer than regained our lines when he had the misfortune five were posthuIn.ous honours, Ackroyd's to be killed. Barratt was a fine marksman, and his accurate shooting caused many casual­ ties to the enemy and prevented their advance. He was an orphan who belonged to the little parish of Tipton. Some of his early years were spent in the workhouse, and in that institution his father died. Running away from it, the boy was cared for by his grand­ mother, who at the time of his death made her living by selling fruit in a poor district. A Welsh Guardsman-Sergeant Robert Bye (Penrhiwceiber, Glamorgan) showed the" most remarkable initiative." He saw that two enemy blockhouses were causing a good deal of trouble, and rushing at one of them he put the garrison out of action; then he rejoined his company, and went forward to the assault of the second objective. When the troops had SERGEANT ROBERT BYE, gone forward to the attack of a third objective, Welsh Guards. and a party was detailed to clear up a line of blockhouses which had been passed, Bye fallen comrades being Captain (T. Lt.-Col.) Bertram Best-Dunkley, Lancashire Fusiliers. Second Lieutenant (acting . Captain) Thomas Riversdale Colyer-Fergusson, N ortha!npton­ shire Regiment, Corporal J ames Llewellyn Davies, Royal Welsh Fusiliers . (Nantymoel, Glamorgan), and Private Thomas Barratt, South Staffordshire Regiment (Tipton). Lieutenant-Colonel Best-Dtmkley, by his bravery and devotion to duty while in com­ mand of his battalion;. added to the alre_ady great reputation which the Lancashire Fusiliers had won in the war. Colyer-Fergusson's conduct was an "amazing record of dash, gallantry and skill, for which no reward can be too great, having regard to the importance of the position won." In his case great skill and bravery were shown when plans had gone CORPORAL JAS. LLEWELLYN DAVIES. wrong, and the tactical situation had de­ Royal Welsh Fusiliers. veloped contrary to expectation. Confronted with serious difficulties, he rose to the situation volunteered to take charge of the party. He with an energy and ability which saved it, and accomplished his object and took many pri­ he performed many acts of personal valour son el'S; and he made more prisoners when he before he was killed by a sniper. Davies was afterwards advanced to the third objective. another example of single-handed exploits In all his operations he gave invaluable help He-fought successfully with the bayonet, then, to the assaulting companies. ( wounded though he was, he led a bombing A Coldstream Guardsman-Private Thomas party in an assault on a defended house, Witham (Burnley)-also very greatly dis-' killing a sniper who was harassing his platoon. tinguished himself during an attack and was The corporal was so severely wOlmded that he the means of ~aving many livE'S and helping subsequently died. Barratt also did fine work the whole line to advance. An enemy machine 224 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

gun was enfilading the battalion on the right, who was to be added to the higher- ranks of and Witham, on his own initiative, immediately the roll. This was Lieut.-Col. (T. Brlg.-Gen.) worked his way from shell hole to shell hole Clifford Coffin, D.S.O., R.E. A conspicuous through our own barrage, and rushed the gun feature of this award was the absence of any and captured it, with an officer and two other special exploit or act such as those for which ranks. the Cross had been usually given: there was no hand-to-hand encounter to record, no dashing assault Oll a "pill-box" or a band of Germalls-the rl~ cord was one of calm consistent bravery under the h eaviest fire from both machine-guns and rifles, and in full view of the enemy. Brigadier-General Coffin showed an utter, disregard of personal danger. He walked quietly from shell hole to shell hole, " giving advice generally, and cheering the men by his presence." His was one of the notable cases of stedfast courage and unconquerable cheerful­ ness on the field of battle, and it was" generally agreed that Brigadier-General Coffin's splendid example saved the situation, and had it not been for his action the line would certainly have been driven back." Extraordinary bravery and persistence were shown by Lieut. John Reginald Noble Graham, PRIVATE THOS. WITHAM, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, attached Coldstream Guards, shows his Vic'toria Cross. Machine Gun Corps, who was four times wounded before loss of blood forced him ' to retire. He A Gordon Highlander-Private George accompanied his guns across open ground McIntosh (Buckie, Banffshire)-b0ing, with under very heavy firc, he helped to carry his company, under machine-gun fire at close range, unhesita~ingly rushed forw'ard under heavy fire, and reaching the emp1acement threw a Mills bomb into it, killing two of the enemy and wounding a third. Entering the dug-out afterwards, he found two light machine guns, which he carried back with him. Corporal Leslie Wilton Andrew, Infantry Battalion, New Zealand Force, completed this list of nine. In his case the objective was the very unattractive one of a machine-gun which had been located in an isolated building. On leading his me~ ' forw"ard he unexpectedly enco'untered' a machine-gun post wbich was holding up the advance of another company Immediately attacking this, he capt'ured the ' gun and killed several of the crew; then he turned his attention to the isolated building and ~ook this post, killed several of the enemy, and put the rest to flight. That self-sacrificing hero, Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, * headed a list of 11 recipients of the Cross whose acts were recorded in .the Lond;)n Gazette of September 14, 1917. That list (-),lso contained the name of another offict:)" CORPORAL (afterward Sergeant) LESLIE W. ANDREW, * Chapter CLXXXV., p. 170; Chapter CCV., p J94. Infantry Battalion, New Zealand Force. THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 225

ammlmition, he disabled his gun so that it should be useless to the enemy, and he brought a Lewis gun into · action with excellent effect until all the ammlU1.ition was finished. His courage and skilful handling of his guns held up a strong enemy attack which threatened to roll up thB left flank of the brigade. A remarkable case was that of Second Lieut. D enis George Wyldbore Hewitt, Hamp­ shire Regiment, who, while waiting for the barrage to lift, was hit by a piece of shell, which exploded the signal lights in his haversack and set fire to his equipment and clothes. Hewitt extinguished the flames, then, in spite of his wound and the severe pain he was suffering, he led forward the rem.ains of a company and captured ~nd consolidated his objective. This gallant young officer was subsequently killed by a sniper while inspecting the consolidation and encouraging his men. Seven machine guns and 45 prisoners were captured in a blockhouse which was assaulted in the n1.ost courageous manner by Sergeant Edward Cooper, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Stock­ ton). From the blockhouse, which was only 250 yards away, machine-guns were holding up the advance of a battalion on the sergeant's left THE KING DECORATING PRIVATE and cau..qing serious loss to his own battalion. GEORGE MclNTO·SH, Cooper, with four men, immediately rushed GordoD Highlanders.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL CLIFFORD COFFIN LEAVING BUCKINGHAM PALACE

, I AFTER RECEIVING THE VICTORIA CROSS. 226 THE T1MES H1STORY OF THE liT-"AR.

ATTACK ON A BLOCKHOU SE.

landers (Lossiemouth), showed the coolness, resource, and bravery which won for him the Cross. He located a hostile machine-gun in a wood, and leading some men against it with great dash and courage killed all the team and capt~ed the gun. Having done this, and though badly wounded in the arm, he crawled out to stalk a sniper who was causing casualties, and killed him also; then, when only one officer was left with the company, the sergeant led his men on l..mtil the farthest objective, on which the success of the operation depended, was captured. Edwards, while continuing his brave and most useful work, was twice wounded on the following day.

"Extraordinary coUrage and boldness' I were credited to Sergeant (acting C.Q.-M.S.) W illiam H. Grimbaldeston, King's Own Scottish Borderers (Blackburn), whose conduct resulted in his capturing 36 prisoners, six machine-guns and one trench mortar, and enabled the whole l ine to continue its advance. This Borderer saw SERGEANT EDW ARD COOPER that the l..mit on his left was held up by machine­ Receives his V.C. from the King. gun fire from a blockhouse. He was wounded, towards the blockhouse, though heavily fired but he collected a small party to fire rifle on, and having got within about 100 yards of grenades on the blockhouse; then he got a jt he ordered his men to lie down and fire at vohmteer to help him ' with rifle fire. After the blockhouse. , This firing failing, the sergeant these preliminaries he pushed. on towards the wasted no further time- he rushed straight blockhouse and in spite of very heavy fire at t he machine guns and fired his revolver into reached the entrance, from which he threatened, an opening in the blockhouse, whereupon the with a hand grenade, the machine-g1..m teams machine-guns ceased firing, the garrison sur­ inside. One after another these defenders were rendered and t,he intrepid sergeant and his forced to surrender, leaving to the sergeant's little band were to the good to the extent of credit the heavy total which has b een men­ the seven weapons and 45 captives mentioned. tioned . Though three times wounded in two days, . Very similar to this achievement was the act Sergeant Alexander Edwards, Seaforth High- of Sergeant Ivor Rees (Llanelly), who gave to THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 227

SERGEANT (Acting C.Q.M.S.) SERGT. ALEX. EDW ARD3, SERGEANT IVOR REES, W. H. GRIMBALDESTON, Seaforth Highlanders. South Wales Borderers. King's Own Scottish Borderers. the South Wales Borderers another Cross. coming. Single-handed, Skinner bombed and Having worked ~lP to about 20 yards from a took the first blockhouse; then, leading his six machine-gun which was doin.g a great deal of men towards the other two blockhouses, he damage, the sergeant rushed forward towards skilfully cleared them, taking no fewer than the team, shot one, bayoneted another, then 60 prisoners, three machine-gl.llS, and two bombed the large concrete emplacement, killing trench luortars. five men, taking 30 prisoners, including two Corporal (L.-Sgt.) Tom F]etcher Mayson, officers, and capturing an undamaged machine­ Royal Lancaster Regiment (Silecourt, Cumber­ gun. land), did not trouble to wait 101' orders when a

SECOND LI~UT. D. G. W. HEWITT, LIEUT. J. R. N. GRAHAM, Hampshire Regiment. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Blockhouse operations also gave opening for machine-gtll was barrjng the attack of his the display of uncommon valOlu' and resource platoon, but instantly made for the weapon and by Sergeant (Acting C.S.-M.) John Skinner, bombed it out of action. He wOl.mded four of King's Own Scottish Borderers (Pollokshields, the team, and the remaining three fled. The Glasgow). This non-commissioned ofnc0r 's sergeant followed them to a dug-out, and there deeds were in perfect keepin.g with those of his he killed them with his bayonet. Later, single­ brother Borderer, Grllubaldeston. Skinner was handed, he tackled a machine-gun and killed six wOl.mded in the head, but he collected six m en of the team, crowning his work by taking charge and resolutely worked round the flank of three of an isolated post and holding it until ordered blockhouses from which machine-gLll fire was to withdraw, his ammunition being exhausted. 189-3 228 THE ,TIMES HISTORY OF THE TV AR.

A private from Leeds-Wilfrid Edwards, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and one from Sheffield-Arnold Loosemore, vVest Riding Regiment-completed this list of September 14 ; both cases being specially noticeable because of the brilliant success of individual effort. Edwards showed his uncommon courage when under h8avy machine-lSun and rifle fire from a strong conclete fort. Having lost all his company officers, he dashed forward at great personal risk, bombed through the loopholes,

SERGEANT (Acting C.S.M.) JOHN SKINNER, King's Own Scottish Borderers, receives his Cross.

surmounted a fort, and waved to his company to advance. His fine example" saved a most critical situation at a time when the whole battalion was held up and a leader "LU'gently needed." It was more than brilliant-it was uncommonly successful, for Edwards took three officers amI. 30 other ranks prisoner in the fort. Subsequently he did most valuable work as a runner, and guided most of the battalion CORPORAL (L..Sergt.) T. F. MAYSON, out through very difficult ground. Royal Lancaster Regiment. The" Havercake Lad," Loosemore, as reck­ less of personal safety as his fellow Yorkshire fighter, crawled through partially cut wire, dragging his Lewis gun with hirr;, and single-, handed he dealt with a strong party of the enemy, of whom he killed about 20. Imme ­ diately afterwards his Lewis gun was blown up by a bomb, and three of the enemy rushed hin~; but he shot them all with his revolver. Several more snipers were shot by hin~, though he was each time exposed to heavy fire. Then Loosemore performed one of the acts for which alone the Victoria Cross had been frequently awarded-on returning to his original post he brought back a wounded comrade under heavy fire and at t.he risk of his life. Of nine recipients of the Cross whose awards were announced in the London Gazette of October 17, 1917, one, Sergeant Frederick Hobson, Canadian Infantry Battalion, was killed in the fighting which gave him his honour, and two died of woun,ds- Temporary Second­ Lieutenant Hardy Falconer Parsons, Glouces­ tershire Regiment, and Private Harry Brown, PRIV ATE ARNOLD LOOSEMORE, Canadian Infantry Battalion. Though Hob­ West Riding Regiment. son was not a gunner he rushed from his trench ' THE TIMES HISTOR Y OF THE WAR. 229 on seeing that a Lewis gun was buried by a shell loyal and determined, he continued his way and that with the exception of one man the on through an intense barrage until he reached crew had been killed. H e dug out the gun the close support lines and found an officer. and got it into action against the enemy, who Exhausted, he fell down the dug-out steps, but were advancing down the trench and across the was able to hand over his message and to say, open. The gun jammed, but Hobson, in spite "Important message!" Then he became l.illconscious and in the dressing-station a few hours later he died. Three cases of extreme endurance were furnished, two by Irish Guardsmen, Lance­ Sergeant John Moyney (Rathdowney, Queen's County) and Private ThomasWoodcock (Wigan), and the other by Corporal Sidney J ames Day, Suffolk R egiment (Norwich). The cases of the Guardsmen were obviously closely related to each other. Moyney was commanding 15 men who formed two advanced posts, and in spite of being surrounded by the enemy and having no water and little food, he held his post for four days and four nights. On the morning of the fifth day a large force of the enemy advanced to dislodge him. Moyney ordered his men out of their shell holes and taking PRIVATE WILFRID EDWARDS, the initiative he bombed the advancing enemy, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. while he used his Lewis gun with great effect from a flank. 00 seeing that he was surrounded o,f wounds, left the gunner to correct the stop­ by superior numbers the lance-sergeant led page and, single-handed, rushed at the enemy his men back in a charge through the enemy with bayonet and clubbed rifle and held them and reached a stream which lay between the back until he was killed by a rifle shot. His courage and resO'urce enabled the gun to be got into action again, and, reinforcements arriving, the enemy were beaten back. Parsons also greatly distinguished h'mself in a single-handed exploit, his conduct being special.lY noteworthy because it was}n connexion with a night attack. A strong enemy party attacked a bombing post which was held by the subaltern's com­ mand. The bombers holding the block were forced back, but Parsons remained at his post, and, alone, although badly scorched and burned by liquid fire he "continued to hold up the enemy with bombs l.illtil severely wounded." Private Brown must be added to the very small band of V.C. heroes whose faithful delivery of all-important messages won for them the greatest honour. He and another soldier were ordered TEMP. SECOND LIEUT. H. F. PARSOl\S, to deliver a message at headquarters, at all Gloucestershire Regiment. costs. A position had been captured, and the enemy had massed in force and counter­ posts and the line. Here he instructed his attacked. The situation was very critical, party to cross at once, while he and Private all wires being cut; and it was of the utmost v\Toodcock remained to cover their retirement. importance to get 'word back to headquarters. It was not until the whole of his force, unscathed, Brown's comrade was killed in 'Obeying the had gained the south-west bank that the lance­ orders, and Brown's arm was shattered; but, sergeant himself crossed, and this he did undar 230 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

a shower or bombs. \iV oodcock was one of a exploded. E stablishing himself in an advanced post commanded by Moyney which was sur­ position he remained for 66 hours at his post, rounded by the enemy; but he also held out 'under i~tens e hostile shell and rifle-grenade fire. for ,96 hours. After that remarkable feat he Much resourcefulness had been shown by was crossing a river and heard cries for help. several winners of the Cross in dealing with He returned and waded into the water and grenades and b01'"n bs; but there had not been "' amid a shower of enemy bombs rescued another any exact parallel to the deed of Sergeant m ember of the gallant little band. Day's John Carmichael, North Staffordshire Regi­ a chievement began with killing two machine- ment (Glasgow). He was excavating a trench

LANCE-SERGEANT JOHN MOYNEY AND PRIVATE THOMAS WOODCOCK, IRISH GUARDS.

when he saw that a grenade had been unearthed and had begun to burn. Rushing to the spot and shouting to his men to get clear, the sergeant put his steel helmet over the grenade, and not content wi~h that he stood on the helmet. The grenade exploded, and Carmichael was blown out of the trench and seriously injured. The courage of his act and the swiftness of his decision will be realized when it is borne in mind that he could have thrown the bomb out of his trench, but that would have endan­ gered the 'lives of the men who were working on top. Fit companion to Carmichael was Private William Boynton Butler, West Yorkshire [Bass:w o Regiment (Hunslet, L eeds) who was picking CORPORAL S. J. DAY, up a Stokes shell which was accidentally fired Suffolk Regiment. in an emplacement. Butler rushed to the gunners and taking four prisoners ",-hen he was entrance, and having urged a party of passing in command of a bombing section and clearing infantry to hurry, Its the shell was" going off." the enemy out of a maze of trenches. A stick he turned round, placed himself between the bomb falling into a trench which was occupied party and the shell and so held it until they by two officers, one of whom was badly wounded, were out of danger. Then ' the private thre\v and three other ranks, D ay seized the missile the shell on ' to the parados and took cover in and threw it over the tr~nch, where it instantly the bottom of the trench. Almost as soon as HISTORY OF THE TVAR. 231 THE TIMES \ it had left his hand the shell exploded and man might receive as much as £1,500, another greatly damaged the trench, Butler, by extra­ would not get a p enny b eyond the allowance ordinary good luck, being only bruised. which went with the award. In January, This list of nine was completed by the case 1918, it was announced that the Mayor of of Acting Lance-Corporal Frederick G. Room, Coventry's Fund on b ehalf of Corporal Hutt, Royal Irish R egiment (Bristol), who, while in Coventry's first V.C., was nearing £1,000; in addition Hutt had r eceived £200 from another source, and his former employers had given him War Bonds of the value of £250. In the earlier days of the awards there had be~n substantial presentations to recipients of the Cross, but there had been a period of quiesc enc~ in this respect; when, however, names of places were officially given there was something of an epidemic of grateful recognition, and in one month alone, at the end of 1917, appreciation was shown qf the valour of soldiers ranging from the rank of brigadier-general to private. The people of Darling,ton, justly proud of their Brigadier-General Bradford, * who was a fellow-townsman, opened a national fund to commemorate his career; the villagers of

Bassano. East Haddon, Northamptonshire, subscribed PRTV ATE W. B. BUTLER, for a gold, watch and chain, which was pre­ West Yorkshire Regiment. sented to Captain H. Reynolds, of the R.oyal charge of his company stretcher-bearers, worked Scots; a gold hunter watch, inscribed with the continuously under intense fire, dressing the St. Pancras borough arms, was presented to wounded and helping to remove them. He was Sergeant Burman, of the Rifle Brigade; War the means of saving many of his comrades' lives. Bonds were given by the people of Tiverton to For a considerable period after the war Private T. H. Sage, a native of the to·wn. began the established method of annot.mcing the award of the Cross was adhered to, but gradu­ ally certain improvements were made, and amongst these none was more successful ' and welcome than the statement, so far as non­ commissioned officers and m en were concerned, of the city, town or village to which they b elonged. For example, Southsea, Notting­ ham, Old Trafford (Manchester), Merthyr Tydvil, Flemington and Kirriemuir were men­ tioned in connexion with winners, the names of the places being added to the names of the regiment. In this way fellow-townsmen were able to share in the honour which had been conferred. and in many instances they took prompt steps to show their satisfaction very practically. There was a feeling that in some r esp ects this custom of adding to the honour ACTING LANCE-CORPORAL F. G. ROOM, of the Cross by making presents of plate or Royal Irish Regiment. money, or both, was overdone, and that it was From the top of the tank which visited Bir­ not altogether desirable, as the distinction of mingham in connexion with the War Saving:; the decoration itself was enough, without the addition of any other gift whatsoever. It was * Chap ter CLXXXV., 'p. 17 4. Bradford's death was made known on December 5, 19 17. H e was only 25 n ot possible, either, to establish an equality of yoars of age. T wice during 19 17 he was reported recognition, and so it happ ened that while cme wounded. 232 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. campaign the Lord 'Mayor presented a ' framed dark by-ways from the station, he reached ' his and illuminated address, which had been voted home while the deputation still held possession by the City Council to Birmingham's fifth V.C. of the station. Subsequently, when the skipper hero, Sergeant A. J. Knight, of the King's was publicly presented with a testimonial, and Royal Rifle Corps. Seamen, too, came into when it seemed that he was fairly captured their own, townspeople of Swanage presenting and must at last utter a few words, however a silver salver and 67 war saving certificates haltingly, pe again circumvented his friends' to First-Class Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher. intentions, for he got someone else to rise and The system of indicating a recipient's native acknowledge the gift on his behalf. town or place of residence occasionally meant Another batch of nine Crosses was announced

PRESENTATION OF AN ILLUMINATED ADDRESS TO SERGEANT A. J. KNIGHT, V.C., BY THE LORD MAYOR OF BIRMINGHAM. a double recognition, for the regiment itself in the London Gazette of November 8, 1917, would be moved to bestow honour on its two of the awards being posthumous. These member, apart from anything which a town cases again. proved the amazing personal had done. Almost invariably a winner of the courage of the recipients of the honour and the Cross found it harder to face an auclience than performance by them of almost incredible deeds. to confront an enemy in overwhelming force. \Vell was it said of the officer whose name was A ca;3e in point was afforded by Skipper vVatt, given first in the list that he showed exception I of Adriatic fame. He was due home on short devotion to duty. This officer, was Captain leave, and his proud fellow-townsmen of Fraser­ , (actin.g Major) Okill Massey LAarmouth, burgh took steps to welcome him officially. Canaclian Infantry, who had already won the A civic reception was prepared, with a deputa­ Military Cross. His company having been tion at the station; but the man who had so temporarily surprised during a determinecl valiantly faced deadly odds at sea had no counter-attack on our new positions, Learmo~Jth pluck for this sort of meeting, and by travelling instantly charged and personally disposed of in-' a train by which he was not expected, and the attackers; after which he carried on "a pur~uing a policy of masterly pilotage by tremendous fight" with the advancing enemy. THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 233

He was mortally wOl.mded and llilder intense defensive party rr:any were killed and an barrage fire, yet he stood on the parapet of the officer and 15 men were made prisonera. trench, and while he continuously bombed the During the whole of the dangerous and impor. enemy h e inspired his men to keep up a gallant, tant work he carried ont Birks showed wonder­ resistance. Tills conduct itself, on the paI't of ful coolness and courage, and he p 3rformed that a man whose hours were numbered, compelled best of all task~-keeping his mer~ in splendid deep admiration, but to add to its m erit he "actually caught bombs thrown at him by I;he enemy, and threw them back." This valiant defence and glorious example Captain Learmouth maintained until his wounds made it impossible for him to carry on; yet, even when so h elpless, he refused to be carried out of the line, and ~ ontinued to give instructiors a nd invaluable advice to his junior officers, finally handing over all his duties b efore he was taken to hospital, where h e died. The Colonies furnished the second case also of the posthumous award, the recipient being Second Lieutenant Frederick Birks, Australian Imperial Force, who showed most conspicuous bravery when, in a.ttack, accompanied only by a corporal, he rushed a strong point which was holding up an advance. A bomb wound'ed the SECOND LIEUT. FREDERICK BIRKS, corporal, but Birks went on alone, killed Australian Imperial Force. the rest of the enemy who held the position, and captured a machine gun. Having done spirits. It was his fate to be killed at his post this, the subaltern organized a small party and by a shell while trying to extricate some of his­ attacked ' another strong point which was men who had been buried by a shell. occupied by about 25 of the enemy Of that There was strong similarity. in the ~ases of Second Lieutenant Hugh Colvin, Cheshire R egiment, Second Lieutenant Montagu sh~i­ worth Seymour Moore, Hampshire Regilnent, Company Sergeant-Major Robert Hanna, Canadian Infantry, Sergeant James Ockenden, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Southsea), and Ser:geant Alfr,ed ,Toseph Knight, London Regiment. (N ottingham). Each of these bold fighters showed a personal courage amolJllting to recklessness, yet it was only by the display of such valour that their acts were possible, fo~ . without exception they fought against very great odds, and f!1irly threw themselves into positions which invited death. Colvin took command of his own and an~ other company when both had suffered severely, and with great dash and success he led them forward in attack, under h eavy machine-gun fire. Seeing the battalion on his right. held up by machine-gun fire, he led a platoon to their help, then he went on with only two men to a dug-out. Leaving the men on the top, he entered the dug-out alone and bl:ought up MAJOR O. M. LEARMOUTH, 14 prisoners. Then he proceeded with his two Canadian Infantry. n'len to another dug-out which, with rifle and t-:) CA!) tj::I.

RECIPIENTS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS IN lHE COURTYARD OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE, SEPTEMBER 26, 1917, Photographed as the King departed. The men are wearing their crosses. Left to right: Mrs. Ackroyd, 'Lieutenant InsalI, R.F.C., Sergeant Bye, Sergeant Cooper. Sergeant Edwards (Seaforths), Sergeant Rees, Private Edwards (K .O.Y.L.I.), Private Ratcliffe. Company Sergeant-Major Skinner. THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 235

machine-gun fire and bombs, had b een holding and men. Moore's position was entirely up the attack. This dug-out was reached, ii:!olated, as the troops on the right had not and the crew were either killed 01' captured advanced; but he dug a trench and throughout and the machine gun was taken. The lieu­ the night he repelled bombing attacks. Forced te~ant was then attacked from another dug­ to retire a short distance next morning, at the out by 15 of the enemy under an officer, and earliest moment he reoccupied his. position. one of his m en was killed and the other Most of his men's rifles had been smashed, wounded. Undaunted still, Colvin seized a but he re-armed his little force with enemy

SECOND LIEUT. M. S. S. MOORE, SECOND LIEUT. HUGH COLVIN, Hampshire Regiment. Cheshire Regiment.

rifle and shot no fewer than five of the enemy, rifles and bombs and with these he beat off then, using another as a shield, he forced most more than one counter-attack, the enemy, not of the survivors to surrender. Such was the fo r the first time by many, having been.in '·courage, quickness and resource of this young this way hoist with his own petard. For officer that he cleared several other dug-outs 36 hours the gallant subaltern held this post alone or with one man, taking in all about under continual shell fire, although out of six .50 prisoners. He then skilfully consolidated officers and 130 men who had started the his position, and p ersonally wired his front operation only 10 were available. When at under heavy close-range sniping in broad last he was able to withdraw under cover of daylight, "when all others had failed to do so." a. thick mist he did not do so without getting Official credit was given to Colvin's leadership his wounded away-thus crowning his gallant and courage for the complete success of the deed. .a ttack in this part of the line. It was in attack also that Hanna distinguished Second Lieutenant Moore's exploit was in himself. His company had met with most ·-eonnexion with a fresh attack on a. final objective severe resistance and all the officers had which had not b een captured. He unhesita­ become casualties. The attack was against a tingly volunteered for the duty, and dashed strong point which was strongly protected by forward at the head of about 70 men. Heavy wire and held by a machine-gun. It was "a machine-gun fire, by the tin'le the objective, most important tactical point," and no fewer some 500 yards 'on, had been reached, had so than three assaults by the company had been severely punished the lieutenant's party that driven off with serious losses. These desperate he had only a sergeant and four men left; but conditions gave to Hanna that opportunity of undismayed h e immediately bombed a large personal distinction and determination which dug-out and took 28 prisoners, two machine had marked so many of the achievements of the gLillS and a light field g Llll. Gradually the Canadians. H e calmly set about the task of half-dozen assailants were strengthened to a collecting a party of men, and having got iL Jorce of about 60 by the arrival of more officers together he headed a rush against the strong 236 'l'Hl!J TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. objectIve, and so successful was he that he won in a shell hole; and, unsupported though he through the wire and p ersonally bayoneted was, h e bayoneted two men, s hot a third, and three of the enemy and brained a fourth, the scattered the rest. This t errific plyer of the result being that the point was captured and bayonet, the weapon which, at close quarters, the machine gLUl was silenced. It was due the German justly dreaded, was forced by to Hanna's outstanding eourage and resolute oppressive circumstance to change his tactics leading that a desperate situation was saved. and fall back upon his faithful rifle, another Sergeant Ockenden was acting as company­ arm against which so often the enemy could sergeant-major in attack when he saw the not make a stand successfully. An attack was platoon on the right held up by an enemy being made on a fortified position and it machine gun; whereupon he instantly rushed happened that the sergeant was "entangled

SERGT. JAS. OCKENDEN. CO.-SERGT.-MAJOR R. HANNA, SERGT. A. J. KNIGHT, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Canadian Infantry. London Regiment. the weapon and captured it, killing the crew, up to his waist in mud." H e rose superior to with the exception of one man, who escaped­ the situation, however. Seeing a number of but only for the time, for the sergeant followed the enemy firing on our troops, he instantly, him and "when well in front of the whole nearly buried though he was, opened fire, and line" killed hini and returned to his company. with so much coolness and precision that he This in itself was a deed .worthy of the famous killed six of them. Having now 10 of the enemy Fusiliers to which the sergeant belonged; to his credit, Sergeant Knight got clear of the but his work was only partly done, for having mud and was ready for further calls upon his acc01mted for both gun and crew he led a valour. A fresh demand was made upon him section to the attack on a farm. Rushing when he noticed that the company on his right forward under very heavy fire he called upon flank was held up in an attack on another the garrison to surrender. The enemy, however, farm. He collected some men and took up a continued to fire upon him, and the sergeant position on the flank of this farm, which, as in turn opened fire . so hotly and effectively a result of the heavy fire he brought to bear, that four of the defenders of the farm were was captured. Of the inspiring acts of this killed and the rest, numbering 16, surrendered. member of the London Regiment it was Even more dramatic was the achievement of remarked that all the platoon officers of the Sergeant Alfred J oseph Knight. The sergeant company had become casualties before the first began his "extraordinarily good work" by objective was reached, and , that he took showing exceptional bravery and initiative command of all the m en of his own platoon when his platoon was attacking an enemy and of the platoons without officers. Knight's strong point and came under a machine-gun's individual exploits, performed under heavy very heavy fire. He rushed through our own machine-gun and rifle fire , saved a great many barrage, bayoneted the enemy gunner and casualties and he was the direct cause of the single-handed took the position. Whetted to objectives b eing captured. his work by this success he subsequently rushEd A "pill-box" figured in the conspicuous forward, alone, upon a dozen of the enemy, bravery for which the Cross was awarded to who, with a machine ·gun, had been encountered Temporary Captain H enry R eynolds, M.C., THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 237

Royal Scots. In attack, and when approaching several . t.imes he was knocked down and their final objective, having suffered heavily partially buried by enemy shells. He rescued from machine-gun fire and the "pill-box" a comrade who had been blinded and was which had been passed by the first wave, stumbling about ahead of our trench, in full Reynolds r eorganized his scattered' men, and view of the enemy, who were sniping him; he then proceeded alone by rushes from shell­ brought in another comrade under heavy fire, hole to shell-hole. When near the" piU-box" and on a third occasion he brought in a he threw a grenade, intending that 'it should wounded man "under very h eavy enemy fire go inside ; but this ' p1.11'pose was frustrated of every description." Neither fire, nor exces­ sive work, nor exhaustion deterred him from persisting in his humane work, which was very rightly acknowledged by the award to him of the highest recognition that can be made of devotion to the helpless on the battlefield. Of twenty Crosses gazetted on November 26, 1917, no fewer than six were awarded for gallant. attacks on "pill-boxes," and it was significant of the danger attending the assaults on these strong structures that the only two posthumous honOl.U's in the list were given to members of the half -dozen. Both of these b elonged to the Australian Imperial Force, These recipients were: Sergeant J oseph Lister, Lancashire Fusiliers (Reddish, Stockport), Sergeant Lewis McGee, Australian Imperial Force, Lance-Sergeap.t John Harold Rhodes, Grenadier Guards (Tunstall, Staffordshire), Lance-Corporal William Henry Hewitt, South African Infantry, Private Patrick Bugden, TEMP. CAPTAIN H. REYNOLDS, M.C., Royal Scots. Australian Imperial Force, and Private Frederick George Dancox, Worcestershire Regi­ through the enemy having blocked the entrance. ment (Worcester). D etermined to fulfil his desp erate e~t~rprise, Sergeant Lister's conduct was remarkably the captain crawled to the entrance and forced prompt and courageous and was most helpful in a phosphorous grenade inside the "pill-box." enabling 01.11' line to advance ahnost unchecked This weapon set the place on fire ar-d caused and to keep up with the barrage. His company the death of three of the enemy and the was advancing to the first objective when it surrender of the survivors, seven or eight, with came under machine-gun fire from the direction two machine guns. Afterwards, though of two "pill-boxes." The sergeant saw that wounded, Reynolds led his company against the galling fire would hold up our advance and another objective most successfully, for he prevent our troops keeping up with the barrage. took 70 prisoners and two more machine guns. H e dashed ahead of his m en and found a These brave deeds were done under continuous machine-gun firing from a shell-hole in front heavy machine-gun fire from the flanks. of the " pill-box." Lister shot two of the The old yet ever new and moving tale of enemy gunners, a swift act which inducCJd the succouring the wounded under fire was told rest to 8urrendt'r to h im. H a.vlng d on9 this, of the other member of that noble band of he went on to the " pill-box" and shouted to nine-Private Michael J ames O'Rourke, Cana- the occupap.ts to s1..UTender. This call they , han Infantry. . H e was a stretcher-bearer, obeyed, with the exception of one man, whom and for three days and nights he strove un­ Lister shot dead. The sergeant's intrepid ceasingly to bring the wounded into safety ., conduct and his obvious determination to rout dressi.ng them, and getting them food and the enemy at all costs compelled about 100 of water. D1..U'ing those prolonged operations the enemy to come out of sh ell-holes farther to O'Rourke worked in an area which was swept the rear, and surrender. by shell, machine-glffi and rifle fire; and Sergeant McGee's exploit was single-handed 238 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

STRETCHER-BEARERS UNDER FIRE . . and he was armed only with a revolver when he in consolidating the position, contributing showed the valour which was rewarded with largely to the success of the company's opera­ the Cross and was the prelude to his subsequent tions. death in action. In the advance to a final Rhodes, the Grenadier, belonged - to the objective his platoon was sl:lffering severely enterprising, band of V.C. heroes who in and machine-gun fire from a "pill-box" addition to showing the highest personal courage stopped the company's advance. It was then and capturing prisoners managed also to that the sergeant, alone, rushed the post and secure valuable information. He was in charge by shooting some of the crew and capturing of a. Lewis gun section covering the consolida­ the rest enabled the advance to proceed. tion of the right front company and in carrying Coolly and deliberately he reorganized the out his task he accounted for several of the remnants of his platoon, he was foremost in enemy with his rifle, as well as by L ewis gUll the rest of the advance and he did splendid work fire. Seeing three enemy leave a "pin-box," 'THE 'TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 239

he went out alone through our own barrage our advance was held up by strongly-defended and hostile machine-gun fire and performe, ~l "pill-boxes." In the face of ".devastating the dangerous exploit of entering the" pill-box." fire from machine guns" he led small parties Having done this, he captured nine of the· in assaults on these strong points and silenced enemy, amongst whom was a forward observa­ the guns with bombs and captured the garrison tion officer who was connected by telephone with at the point of the bayonet At another tllne, his battery. Rhodes brought these prIsoners, when a corporall?-ad been made prisoner by the enemy and was being taken to the rear, Bugden, single-handed, rushed to his rescue, shot one of the enemy, bayoneted the other two, and so released his comnide. Five times he rescued wounded men under intense shell and machine-gun fire, constantly showing the greatest contempt of danger. One of a party of about 10 men de­ tailed as " moppers-up," Private Dancox and his comrades found it very difficult to work round a flank, owing to the posi­ tion of an enemy m.achine-gun emplace­ ment on the edge of our protective bar­ rage. The emplacement was of concrete and the gun had caused many casualties ancl considerably hampered our work of consolida­ tion. In spite of the difficulties of the situation PRIVA TE MICHAEL J. O'ROURKE, Private Dancox gallantly worked his way round Canadian Infantry. through the barrage and entered the "pill­ "together with valuable information," back box" from the rear, threatening the garrison . with him. with a Mills bomb. Soon afterwards he "re- Hewitt's attack on a "pill-box" was of the most desperate and determined nature. With his section he assaulted his objective and tried to rush the doorway; but the garrison very stubbornly resisted. In his efforts the lance-corporal was severely wounded; nevertheless he h eld on. Foiled in one direction he, like a skilful and resourceful fighter, tried another which might promIse more encourage­ ment. Turing from the inhospitable doorway, he daringly made his way to the loophole of ' the" pill-box" and did his best to put a bomb into it. Again he was wounded, in the arm ; but neither. "founds nor failures daunted him. H e at last got a bomb inside, and this missile dislodged the occupants, of whom it was significantly recorded that" they were success­ fully and speedily·· dealt with by the remainder SERGEANT JOSEPH LISTER, of the section." Lancashire Fusiliers. To the lasting fame of Private Patrick Bugden it was told of him that he was always appeared with a machine-gun under his arm. foremost in volunteering for any dangerous followed by about 40 enemy." . The weapQn mission and that it was during the execution was brought back to our p<9sition by DanGox, of one of them that he was killed. His deeds who kept it in .action throughout the day. The were of the sort which were specially associated picture suggested of this re s~lute and cheerful with the many Australians who had won the soldier" with a machine-gun under his arm, (;t·oss. Twice he distinguished himself when followed by about 40 of the enemy " WaS calcm- 240 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

lated to have upon his comrades precisely the machine-gun emplacement causing casualties effect which it exercised, for their moral was and giving an opening for the display of fine maintained "at a very high standard under courage and resource. While these losses were extremely trying circumstances." being sustained and the troops were working The Germans made a boast-one of many­ round the flank, the colonel rushed at the that when a new device was used against them emplacement and forced the garrison to in the field by the British they found a means capitulate by the effective means of firing of overcoming it. This they specially claimed his revolver through the loophole. He to have done in relation to the Tanks; but was severely wounded in the shoulder after there was no record, even in the German capturing the first objective; . but he refused statements of claims, that they ever succeeded to be bandaged, and re-formed the troops, pointed out all future objectives, and once more led his battalion forward. Colonel Evans was again badly wounded, yet he held on to his command until the second objective had been won and consolidated; then he collapsed from loss of blood, but as there were many casualties he refused help, and his indomitable spirit enabled him at last to reach a dressing station. The East End gave two more Londoners to the Roll of the Cross. These were Sergeant William Francis Burman, Rifle Brigade (Step­ ney), and Lance-Corporal Harold Mugford, Machine Gun Corps (East Ham). Burman distinguished himself in an attack when his command was held up by machine-gun firing at point-blank range. Shouting to the men next to him to wait a few minutes, he went for­ ward alone. Death seemed certain, but thf>

LANCE·CORPORAL W. H, HEWITT. South African Infantry,

in finding a remedy for the unconquerable daring which alone made possible such deeds as those of Private Dancox and his gallant comrades who beat and battered at the doors and loopholes of "pill-boxes" until their urgent call was . heard and obeyed. PRIVATE F . G. DANCOX, A field officer who had been already awarded Worcestershire Regiment. the D.S.O. was included in the sco~e . This was Major (Acting Lieut.-Colonel) Lewis Pugh sergeant showed such dash and resolution that Evans, D .S.O., Royal Highlanders, command­ he killed the enemy gunner and then carried the ing a battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. It was gun to the company's objective, where he recorded of this officer that h e took his battalion subsequently used it with great effect. Through in perfect order through a terrific enemy bar­ this" exceptionally gallant deed" the progres'3 rage, personally formed up all units and led of the attack was assured. Sergeant Burman them to the assault. Again, a case arose of a had already done great things, but he was very THE- TlMES HlSTORY OF THE WAR. 241

ATTACKING A GERMAN BLOCKHOUSE.

-soon to surpass them. About 15 minutes later culties, he got his gun into a forward and much .it was seen that the battalion on the right was exposed position, and from this point he was being impeded by about 40 of the enemy, who able to deal most effectively with the enemy, were enfilading them. The sergeant, this time who were massing for cOlmter-attack. The with two other men, ran forward and got corporal's No. 2 was killed almost immediately, behind the enemy, killing six and capturing two and he was himself severely wounded at the -officers and 29 other ranks. same moment. Mugford was then ordered to M"ugford also showed uncommon daring in a new position and told to go into a dressing­ handling a machine-gun under intense shell station fJS soon as the position was occupied. ,and machine-gun fire. In spite of these diffi- He, however, refused, and insisted on con- 242 THE TIMES HIS TORY OF' THE W A R.

SERGT. W. F. BURMAN, LANCE-CORP. H. MUGFORD, CORP. E. A. EGERTON, Rifle Brigade. Machine Gun Corps. Notts and Derby Regiment.· tinuing on duty wi.th his gun, with the result at tack, and consequently the two leading that he severely punished the en,em y . So far waves of the attack passed over some hostile this machine-gunner had covered himself with dug-outs without clearing them. From t hese glory, h e had won an enviable renOwn by his dug -outs rifles and m achine-guns caused heavy consist ent bravery , an d it seem ed as if he could casualties amongst the advancing waves. When not do m ore ; yet, as so often happened with volunteers were called for to help to clear up t he t he officers and m en who won the Cross, he situation, E gerton at once jmnp ed up and excelled even his own gallant preliminary p er ­ dashed for the dug-outs under heavy fire, at formances. Soon after he had refused to go short range. " H e shot in succession a rifleman , to a dressing-station Mugford was again a bomber, and a gunner, by which ti:r:ne he was wounded-this time t erribly, for both of his supported, and 29 of the ~ n emy surrendered." legs were broken by a shell. Even now, a hero A swift, smart piece of work was also credited among heroes, he remained with his gun, and, to Private Albert Halton, King's Own Royal thinking only of his comrades, he b egged them Lancaster Regirrlent (Carnforth), who, after the to leave him and take cover. But he had no objective had been reached, rushed forward option in. the matter; h e .was no longer able to about 300 yards under very heavy rifle a nd refuse t !1 be removed, and so he was taken to a shell fire and captured a machine-gun and its dressing-station, where he was again wounded, crew' which was causing many losses to our men. in the arm. For the third time, therefore, this The IJrivate then went out again and brought in n qn-commissioned officer had been wounp.ed, about a dozen prisoners, showing the greatest and it was not until he was absolutely helpless disregard of his own safety and setting a fine that he allowed his shattered body to be carried example to those around him. from the field of battle. Well indeed was it put It was officially told of Acting Corporal Filip on record concerning this lance-corporal of the Konowal, Canadian Infantry, that h e alone Machine Gun Corps that his valour and initiative kille4 at least sixteen of the enemy ; and of were instrumental in breaking up the enemy's Lance-Corporal WaIter P eeler, Australian Im­ impending counter-attack. perial Force, that he "actually accounted for There had been frequent assertions that on over 30 of the en emy." Konowal was in charge many occasions the enemy had become de­ of a section in attack and to that section fell the moralized in the presence of the British and difficult task of "mopping up " cellars, craters that they had collapsed under the amazing and machine-gun emplacements. His direction audacity of some of the minor assaults of British was so successful that all resist ance was over­ units. These declarations were substantiated come and h eavy casualties were inflicted on the by several of the records of deeds which won enemy. These " mopping-up" enterprises in­ the Cross. Swift and successful was the act of volved m any desp erat e encounters with an Corporal Ernest Albert Egerton, Nottingham­ enemy at b ay , and in all sorts of odd holes an d shire and Derbyshire R egiment (Longton),. corners, at unexpected times, there were whose" reckless bravery" relieved in less than m eetings which inevitably m eant death to at 30 seconds an extremely difficult situation. Fog least som e of the combatants. That these and smoke had obscured visibility during an encounters were not shirked by British fighters, THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE 11fT AR. 24:i

ACTING CORPORAL F. PRIVA TE A. HALTON, LANCE-CORPORAL W. KONOWAL, King's Own Royal Lancaster PEELER. Canadian Infantry. Regiment. Australian Imperial Force. and indeed esp ecially appealed to their com­ described the lance-corporal "actually ac­ bative and sporting instincts, was shown by counted for over 30 of the enemy," thus ·such cases as that of this Canadian Infantryman. adding to a list of ex~eptional perfor­ In one cellar h e himself bayoneted three enemy mances. and attacked, single-handed, seven others in a Another member of the Australian Imperial -crater, killing them all. When the objective Force, Sergeant John James Dwyer, Australian was reach ed the corporal found that a machine­ Machine Gun Corps, distinguished himself in glill was holding up the right flank and causing connexion with machine-~ fighting. He was many casualties. Rushing forward, he entered in charge of a Vickers machine -gun and went the emplacement and having killed the crew forward with the first wave of the brigade . brought the gl.ill back to our own lines. Such When he reached the final objective he rushed was the one day's toll of Corporal Konowal. his gun forward in advance of the captured The next day, still single-handed, h e again position, so that he could obtain a commanding attacked another machine-gun emplacem ent, spot. Seeing an enemy machine-gun firing on killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun our right flank and causing casualties, Dwyer and emplacement with explosives. The exact miliesitatingly rush ed his weapon forward to total to his credit was not, apparently, known within 30 yards of the enemy gun and by with certainty; but there were at least the firing point blank put out of action and killed . 'ixteen m entioned-and the corporal carried on the crew. Snipers from the rear of the enemy ·continuously during the two days' actual position made a strong effort to destroy Dwyer, fighting until h e was severely wounded. but totally ignoring them he seized the gun and Of Lance-Corporal WaIter Peeler the story carried it back across the shell-swept ground to was told in the London Gazette that when, with our front line; then he established both thiE gun a L ewis gun, h e was accompanying the first and the Vickers gun on the right flank of our wave of an assault he encountered an enemy brigade. The sergeant now commanded these party sniping advancing troops from a shell­ guns with much coolness and gave great help in hole. The position was immediately rushed by 'tepulsing counter-attacks. Next day, when the ) P eeler, who accounted for nine of the enemy and position was heavily shelled, Dwyer took up ·cleared the way for the advance. Twice after­ several positions. His Vickers gun, with which wards he .perfonned similar acts of valour, he had done so much useful work, was blown up .accounting each time for a number of the enemy. by sh~ll fire; but he conducted his gun team B eing directed to a position from which an back to headquarters through the enemy ·enemy machine-gm'l was being fired on our barrage, and having secured one of the reserve troops he located and killed the gunner, and the .guns, rushed it back without delay to our rest of the enemy party ran into a dug-out which position. was n ear. They were, however, dislodged from So far in this batch of 20 four members of the shelter by a bomb, and 10 of the enemy ran the Australian Imperial Force have been dealt ·o ut. "These he disposed of," was the cold official with; there remains a fifth-Private Reginald .i3xplanation of their fate. In the manner Roy Inwood, who showed the greatest courage 244 THE TLNIES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

during an advance to a second objective. Jumped out of the trench and, calling for some­ Alone he moved forward through our barrage one to follow him, he rushed for the house. t,o an enemy strong post, and t his he captured The sergeant was ahead of his gallant followers~ with nine prisoners, killing several of the enemy, and by the time they arrived he was" in the During the evening Inwood vohmteered for a thick of a hand-to-hand fight." This combat , special all-night patrol, which went out 600 was brief and very decisive-the enemy sur­ : yards in front of our line, and there his coolness rendered, and in addition to the dead and ', and S01.IDd judgment enabled him to secure and ~end back some very valuable information as to the enemy's movements. ' In the early morning of September 21 Inwood located a machine-gl-m which was causing several casualties. Again acting alone, he bombed the gun and team, killing all but one, and that man he brought in captive with the weapon. A hand-to-hand fight characterized the

exploits for which the Cross was given I to Sergeant John Molyneux, Royal Fusiliers (St. Helens). There were in this little affair the elements of a stirring drama. There was a house, and a trench in front of it, and from that 'trench a machine-gLm was doing grievous mis­ chief to our men in an attack. The assault was being held up by the weapon This was the sort of opportunity for which the British

ACTING CORPOR'AL F. GREA YES, Notts and Derby Regiment. wounded between 20 and 30 prisoners were taken. The achievement in itself was brilliant ;' it irresistibly appealed ;to the British fighter anell. aroused in him all that was best of his sporting qualities, but more than that the affair was important because it prevented a slight check from becoming a serious block in the advance. and saved many lives. Another stirring ,example of initiative and leadership in non-commissioned and lower ranks was afforded by the case of Acting Corporal Fred Greaves, Nottinghamshire and D erbyshire Regiment (Balborough). Machine­ gun fire from a "concrete stronghold" tem­ porarily held up his platoon, and the platoon

[Bass.'tno , commander and sergeant were casualties ~ SERGEANT J. J. DWYER, ~eeing this, and realizing that unless this post Australian Machine Gun Corps. was quickly taken his men would lose the fighter longed, and when it came he took it. barrage, Greaves, followed by another non­ "Sergeant Molyneux instantly organized a commissioned officer, rushed forward, reached. bombing party to clear the trench in front of the the rear of the building, bombed the occupants, house. Many enemy were killed, and a. killed or captured the garrIson, and took no rn~chine-gun captured." The Fusilier had fewer than ~our machine-gl.IDS It was solely opened his work well; ~e promptly finished it. due to his personal pluck and initiative that This p eri~ous ob tac'le havmg been cleared, he the assaultmg line at his point was not held up THE TIMES HISTORY " OF THE WAR. 245 and that our troops escaped serious casualti.j 3. " pill-box" or man-handling an "enemy group; A most critical stage of the battle arose later it was an exhibition of sheer calm pluck and in the afternoon, when the troops of a flank disregard of personal danger which was specially brigade had temporarily given way under a , noticeable even in the annals of the Crosses of heavy counter-attack and all the officers of the the war. eompany were cas1J.alties. Quickly grasping " The.re was more of the joy of adventure and t.he situation, Greaves threw out extra posts the thrill of action in the case of a member of

PRIVATE CHAS. MELVIN, CORP. J. B. HA.MILTON, SERGT. JOHN MOLYNEUX, Royal Highlanders. Highland Light Infantry. Royal Fusiliers. on the threatened flank and opened up rifle another North Country regiment. This was ;tnd machine-gun fire to enfilade the advance. Private Charles Melvin, Royal Highlanders It was recorded of the corporal that the effect (Kirriemuir), whose cpnduct added lustre to the of his conduct on his men could not be over­ famous Black Watch. His company had estimated, and that those under his command advanced to within 50 yards of the front-line gallantly responded to his exam.ple. trench of a redoubt; they were then forced to A display of perfect coolness in circumstances lie down, owing to the enemy's intense fire, of the utmost danger was rewarded with the and await reinforcements. Delay, however, Cross in the case of Private . (Acting Lance­ was not to the liking of Private Melvin, and he Corporal) John Brown Hamilton, Highland rushed on alone over ground that was swept Light Infantry (Lanarkshire). In this incident from end to end by machine-gun and rifle fire , there were wanting those thrilling surround­ Halting when he reached the enemy trench, he ings which marked the honours that have been fired two or three shots into it and killed one already dealt with; yet his bravery was of the or two of the enemy. This warning failing to highest character. One of 'those crises had scatter the enemy, who went on firing at hin~, arisen in which there was great difficulty in the Highlander jumped into the trench and supplying small-arm ammunition to the front attacked the foe with his bayonet in his hand, and support lines. The supply had reached for he had not been able"to :fix it on his damaged a seriously low ebb and Hamilton on several rifle. So resolute and gallant was this single­ occasions, on his own initiative, carried bando..: handed assault that most of the enemy fled to liers of ammunition through the enemy's belts the second line; but not before the private had of fire to the front and su;pport lines; then, killed two more and disarmed eight unwounded passing along these lines in full view of the and one woUnded opponents. True to the hostile snipers and machine-glmners, at close British-tradition of humanity, he attended to the range, he distributed the ammunition to the hurts of the wounded man and then, " driving men. This courageous conduct not only his eight unwounded prisoners before him, and ensured the steady continuance of the defence supporting the wounded one, he hustled them ?y rifle fire, but the moral effect of the lance­ out of the trench, marched them in and corporal's example inspired and heartened all delivered them over to an officer." This might who saw him. There was ~ot in this case any have satisfied most m en, but Melvin was not of the glamour or excitement of rushing a content until he had provided himself" with a 246 THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE vVAR.

load of ammunition. and returned to the firing­ prisoners if left, no stretcher-bearers being line, where he reported himself to his platoon available, Hutt went out and carried in four sergeant. The valour of these acts was men under heavy fire. heightened by the fact that all were performed Standing well out in a list of ten awards l.mder intense rifle and machine-gun fire, and 111.ade known on December 18,1917, was a Tank that the whole way back Melvin and his pa~ty leader whose devotion cost him his life. This were exposed to a very h eavy artillery barrage was Second Lieutenant Clement Robertson, fire. Completing the score was Private Arthur Hutt, Royal vVarwickshire R egiment (Earlsdon, Coventry), who distinguished himself greatly both as a leader and a fighter. When all the officers and non-commissioned officers of No. 2 Platoon had become casualties he took command of and led forward the platoon. Being held up by a strong post on his right, he at once ran forward alone in, front of the platoon and E'hot the officer and three m en in the post, causillg between forty and fifty others to surrender. Fi.ncling that he had pushed too far, he withdrew his party, personally covering the withdrawal by sniping the enemy and killing a number. He then carried back a badly wounded man and put him l.llder shelter. Having organized and consolidated PRIVATE ARTHUR HUTT, his position, and learning that some wounded Royal Warwickshire Regiment. men were lying out and were likely to become Royal West Surrey Regiment, S.R., Temporary Lieutenant, Acting Captain, Tank Corps. Here again was one of the cases in which VC. awards indicated the remarkable developments of the methods of modern warfare, and the success of a purely British invention. Robert­ son was leading his Tanks in attack under h eavy shell, machine-gun and rifle fire, and his «ourse Jay over ground which shell-fire had h eavily ploughed. H~ knew to the full how great was the risk of the Tanks missing their way, yet he continued to lead them on foot, "guiding them carefully and patiently towards their objective, although he must have known that his action would almost inevitably cost him his life." Such, indeed, was the end of the , brave captain, who was killed after his objective had been reached; but death did not come until his skilful leading had assured successful action. To apprecia~e fully this officer's devotion to duty it is only necessary to bear in mind the desperate enterprises on which Tanks were sent, the l.llCOmmOn perils into which these land-forts were driven, and the considerable protection which was lost by a man who voluntarily left the shelter of the metal structure and coolly exposed himself to the intense mixed ~ECOND LIEUT. CLEMENT ROBERTSON, fire with which a Tank was invariably greeted Royal West Surrey RegiQ'lent, S.R. (Temporary Lieutenant, Acting Captain, Tank Corps.) by the enemy when at close quarters. THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE T¥ AR. 247

There were three moro 1 osthmnous awards having organized a party, he rushed an em.­ in this particular list; making no fewer than placement and capt-t:cred four machine-g~ns and four out of a total of ten. These awards were 35 prisoners, after which he led his company to Major Alexander Malius Lafone, Yeomanry; forward under extremely heavy enemy artillery Captain Clarence Smith J effries, Austrahan barrage and enfilade machine-gun fire to the hnperial Force, and Corporal vVilliam Clamp, objective. Later he again organized a success­ Yorkshire R egim ent (Flernington). Major ful attack on a machine-gun emplacement, this time capturing tw.o machine-guns and 30 more prisoners, so having to his credit six machine ­ guns and no fewer than 65 . prisoners. The gallant J effries was killed during the second attack, but it was entirely due to lus courage and initiative that the centre of the attack was not. held up for a lengthy period. The fate which had befallen not a few V.C. lllen frOlll snipers' bullets overtook Corporal \iVilliam Clamp when he had shown very great bravery in attacking concrete blockhouses. Intense machine-gun fire from these and from snipers in ruined buildings checked an advance; but the corporal with two men dashed forward and tried to rush the largest blockhouse, The two men having been Imocked out, Clamp's CORPORAL WILLIAM CLAMP, brave effort failed; but instantly collecting Yorkshire Regiment. some bombs and callin.g upon two men to follow Lafone's was one of the very rare cases in which him, he again dashed forward. The corporal enemy cavalry were mentioned, and the details was the first to reach the blockhouse, and indicated one of the engagements which appealed hill'ling in the bombs he killed many of the with exceptional force to a man of Lafone's occupants. Then he entered and brought out a resource and fighting power. For more than machine-gun and about 20 prisoners, whom. he seven hours he held a position against vastly superior enemy forces, his task being made the harder because heavy shelling of his position made it very difficult to see. In one attack enemy cavalry 'charged his flank; but the major drove them back with heavy losses. In • anoth~r charge the enemy left 15 casualties within 20 y~rds of the major's trench, Lafone himself bayoneting one man who reached the trench. The time came in this desperate affair when all Lafone's men except three had been hit and the trench was so full of wounded that it was difficult to move and fire; then the major ordered those who could walk to move to a trench slightly in the rear, and from his own post he maintained "a most h eroic resistance." When at last he was slJrrounded and charged by the enemy - MAJOR ALEXANDER M. LAfONE, he stepped into the open and went on fight- Yeomanry. . . ing until he was mortally wounded and fell unconscious. took back under heavy fire from neighbouring Captain J effries showed his high courage and snipers. This was one of the critical situations inspiring example in an attack when his which so often arose and with which men like company was held up by enemy machine-gun Corporal Clamp so successfully dealt. In this fire from concrete emplacements. In the first , case he again went forward and encouraged his 248 THE TllYIES HISTORY UP THE WAR.

T11en, cheering t.hem and rushing several snipers' posts. This high courage and cheerful example the corporal maintained l.mtil a sniper's bullet killed him. Fearless leadership w'lder most difficult con­ ditions, in darkness and in an l.mlmown country, was recognized by the award of the Cross to Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Drummond Borton, D.S.O., London Regiment. In these most unfavourable and dangerous circmnstances he deployed his battalion for attack, and at dawn Jed his attacking companies against a strongly held position. The colonel showed an utter contempt of danger when a ~ithering machine­ gun fire checked the leading waves, and under heavy 'fire he moved freely up and down his lines. He reorgaJnized his command and lead­ LIEUT.-COLONEL A. D. BORTON, D.S.O., ing his men forward captured the position. At London Regiment. a later stage of the fight Colonel Borton led a party of volunteers against a battery of field enemy line of machine-gun posts, then, with the guns in action at point-blank range, capturing surviving men, he led the charge on the enemy the guns and the detachments. It was re­ battery, killing seven of the gunners with his corded of him that his fearless leadership was an sword. This valiant personal example re­ inspiring example to the whole Brigade. sulted in all the gunners beipg killed and the The dash and daring of our cavalry whenever battery silenced; then Strachan rallied his it was possihle for the mounted' arm to act was men and fought his way back, at night, through shown by the conduct of Lieutenant Henry the enemy's line, not only bringing in all Strachan, M.C., Canadian Cavalry. The squad­ unwounded men safely but also 15 prisoners. ron leader was kilied while galloping towards The result of this uncommonly gallant opera­ the enemy front line and Strachan took com­ tion was the silencing of an enemy battery, the mand. He led the squadron through the killing of the whole battery personnel and many infantry, and the cutting of three main lines of telephone communication two_miles in rear of the enemy's front line. Within a month of the announcement of the award to Captain Strachan there was a large gathering in Bo'ness (Linlithgowshire) Town ' Hall on the occasion of the presentation of a sword of honour to him. A very interesting feature of the report of the ceremony which appeared in The Times was the statement that the Cross was awarded to Cap~ain Strachan "for his daring leadership of cavalry at the break through at Cambrai." Lord Rosebery was present, and in a characteristic speech he said he was proud to congratulate Captain Strachan on. the honour he had brought to his ~ative town and the county. It was not a bad thing, he added, when the warlmnbered slowly ' along, that they should receive occasionally the encouragement of feeling that they had a hero of their own Ahother Canadian officer-Lieutenant Robert LIEU'! ENANT HENRY STRACHAN, M.C., Shankland, Canadian Infant.ry-showed great Canadian Cavalry. courage and resource under critical and ' THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR. 249 adverse conditions and gave to all ranks that and forced to return, having snstained nine inspiration which was so invaluable in times casualties. Subsequently he again went out Qf special. stress. Shankland had gained a with five m en to capture this position, but po.sition in action and then rallied the remnant seeing a considerable number of the enemy Qf his platoon and m en of other companies and adval{cing he withdrew his detachment man by disposed them to command the ground in man. He was the last to retire and was able to front. The lieutenant inflicted h eavy casual­ report that the enemy were forming for a ties upon the retreating enemy, and later h e counter-attack. dispersed a counter-attack and so enabled This list of 10 was completed with Private s upporting troops to come up ~olested. Shankland having shown his grit as a fighter, displayed ' first-rate qualities as an intelligence officer, for h e personally communicated to battalion h eadquarters an a ccurate and valu­ able report .as to the position of the brigade fronta g~ , after which he rejoined his command and carried on until h e was relieved. It was owing to his courage, skill and splendid example that a very critical position was undoubtedly saved. "He bayoneted fifteen of the enemy," "he led the final assault with the utmost skill," "this gallant non-commissioned officer re­ peatedly went out under heavy fire and brought wounded back to cover, thtL."l saving . . , many lives," he was " conspicuous in rallying and leading his co.qunand " -':"'these were things said of the conduct of Acting Corporal John Collins, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Merthyr Tydvil), who provided yet one more instance of extra­ ordinary courage and leadership in the lower ACTING CORPORAL JOHN COLLINS, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. ranks in the Army. The corporal's conduct was the more n~ticeable because, after deploy­ Thomas Henry Sage, Somersetshire Light ment before an attack, his battalion was forced Infantry (Tiverton), whose act was the result of to lie out in the open under heavy shell and great promptness and presence of mind, and machine-gun fire which caused many casualties. nearly cost him his life. He and eight other Destructive fire and uncut wire were powerless men were in a shell-hole. One of the men was to r estrain him, great odds melted before his shot while throwing a bomb. The bomb fell powerful plying of the payonet, and after that into the shell-hole, and Sage immediatp,ly exploit with the steel he pressed on with a Lewis threw himself on it, "thereby undoubtedly gun section beyond the objective and most saving the lives of several of his comrades, effectively covered the reorganization and con­ though he himself sustained very severe solidation, although isolated and under fire from wounds." guns and snipt>rs. The Victoria Cross Warrants had been so The sa..m e cool leadership and inspiring ex­ framed .that it was possible for civilians to w ~ n ample characteri :ed the acts of Sergeant Harry the decoration, and there were three well-known Coverdale, Manchester R egiment (Old Trafford, instances of civilian recipients-Mr. Thomas Manchester), who in attack on enemy strong Henry Kavanagh, Mr. Ross Lowis Mangles and points, and when close to his objective, killed an Mr. William Fraser McDonell, all members '0£ offic'er and took two men prisoners, the three the Bengal Civil Service; and all three of being snipers; then he rushed two machine­ whom were awarded the Cross for acts of bravery guns, killing or wounding the t eams. Later he ~ the Indian MutinX in 1857. The original reorganized his platoon in order to capture Warrant of January 29, 1856, exprt>ssly a.nother position; but after getting within 100 ordained that the Cross should only be awarded yards of it he was held up by our own b:::.rl'do.Je to those officers or men Wll0 had served in the 252 THE TI1V1ES HISTORY OF THE WAR.

PARSONS, Temp. 2nd LieU:t. Hardy Falconer, ROOM, Pte. (Acting Lee. CorpI.) FIe G., Royal Gloucestershire Regt. Irish Regt. (Bristol). PEELER, Lee. CorpI. WaIter, Australian Imperial SAGE, Pte. Thos. Hy., Som ,~rsetshire Light Inf. Force. (Tivertoll). PITCHER, Petty Officer Ernest. SHANKLAND, Lieut. RQbt., Canadian Inf. SKINNER, Sergt. (Acting C.S.M.) John, King's REES, Sergt. Ivor, South Wales Borderers Own Scottish Borderers (Pollokshields, Glas­ (Llanelly). gow). REYNOLDS, Temp. Capt. Henry, M.C., Royal STRACHAN, Lieut. Hy., M.C., Canadian Cavalry.. Scots. RHODES, Lee. Sergt. John Harold, Grena~ier WATT, Skipper Joseph, R.N.R. Guards (Tunstall, Staffordshire). WITH AM, Pte'. Thos., Coldstream Guards (Burn­ ROBERTSON; 2nd Lieut. Clement, Royal West ley). Surrey Regt., S.R. (Temp. Lieut., Acting WOODCOCK, Pte. Thos., Irish Guards (Wigan, Capt., Tank Corps). Lancashire ).