307817 Lcpl William AMEY VC, MM 1/8Th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment
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307817 LCpl William AMEY VC, MM 1/8th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment DOB: 5th March 1881, Duddeston, Birmingham DOD: 28th May 1940, Lemington Spa VC - London Gazette: 31st January 1919 Place: Landrecies, France, 4th November 1918 MM – London Gazette – 22nd July 1919 Medals: Victoria Cross, Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal (1937) The VC citation reads, “For most conspicuous bravery on the 4th November 1918 during the attack on Landrecies France, when owing to fog many hostile machine-gun nests were missed by the leading troops. On his own initiative he led his section against a machine gun nest, under heavy fire, drove the garrison into a neighbouring farm and finally captured about 50 prisoners and several machine guns. Later single-handed and under heavy fire, he attacked a machine-gun post in a farm-house, killed two of the garrison and drove the remainder into a cellar until assistance arrived. Subsequently, single-handed he rushed a strongly-held post, capturing 20 (30) prisoners. He displayed throughout the day the highest degree of valour and determination.” His gallantry made the capture of Fauborg Sayer possible and meant that the Battalion reached their objective of the lock on the Canal. The 1/8th Battalion were then employed on salvage work in Cambrais until July 1919 and were demobilised at Birmingham on the 1st August 1919. The Victoria Cross was presented to him by the King at Buckingham Palace on the 22nd February 1919. Grave; Lemington Spa Cemetary Location of Medals: Royal Warwickshire Regiment Museum Capt Robert PHILLIPS VC 13th Bn (att’d 9th) Royal Warwickshire Regiment DOB: 11 April 1895, West Bromwich, Staffordshire DOD: 23rd September 1968, St Veep, Cornwall VC - London Gazette: 8th June 1917 Place: River Hai, Kut, Mesopotamia 25th January 1917 Medals: Victoria Cross, 1914 -15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MID Oak Leaf, King George VI Coronation Medal (1937), Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal (1953), Knight – Legion of Honour 5th Class (France) His VC citation reads “After his commanding officer * had been mortally wounded while leading a counter- attack, Temporary Lieutenant Phillips went out under most intense fire to his assistance and eventually succeeded in bringing him back to our own lines. Captain Phillips showed sustained courage in its very highest form and throughout he had little chance of ever getting back alive.” He served as a Temporary Lieutenant and later Captain with the 13th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but was attached to the 9th Battalion with whom he saw active service and won his VC. The 9th Battalion was involved in fierce fighting against the Turks near Kut in Mesopotamia. On the 25th January 1917 a Turkish counter attack had driven the leading British troops out of their trenches. Colonel Henderson * the commanding officer of the 9th Battalion was severely wounded during the Battalion’s attack to regain the position. Captain Phillips showed great courage both during the attack and in bringing Colonel Henderson back to the British trenches. Grave: St Cyrus & St Julietta Churchyard, St Veep, Cornwall Location of Medals: Royal Warwickshire Regiment Museum * Lt Col HENDERSON was awarded a posthumous VC following this engagement. 3719 Pte (Later Sgt) Arthur VICKERS VC 2nd Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment DOB: 2nd Feburary 1882, Birmighham DOD: 27th July 1944, Birmingham VC - London Gazette: 18th November 1915 Place & Date: Hulloch Quarries, France, 25th September 1915 Medals: Victoria Cross, 1914 -15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal (1937), French Croix de Guerre with Palm. His VC citation reads “On 25th September 1915 during the Battle of Loos the 2nd Battalion attacked at 6.30am. In the face of terrific fire, they reached the first line of trenches to find that the wire was not cut. Private Vickers, on his own initiative and with the utmost bravery, ran forward in front of his company and, standing up in broad daylight under heavy fire, cut two gaps in the wire.” Nicknamed ‘Titch’, he was just over 5 foot tall; it took him 6 attempts before he was finally accepted into the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1902. He served for 6 years until 1908 and then re-enlisted a few days after the outbreak of War in 1914. He was posted to France in 1915, and after only four months he was in action in operations before Hulloch in France for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross and the French Croix de Guerre. His gallant action contributed largely to the success of the assault, which resulted in the capture of 60 prisoners and the achievement of the objective. An indication of the severity of the fighting that day is that after the attack the Battalion could only muster 5 officers and 140 men. The rest were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Private Vickers received his gallantry award from King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1916. He continued to serve with the Regiment until 1935 when he retired as a Sergeant and served in the Home Guard during the 2nd World War. Grave; Witton Cemetery, Birmingham Location of Medals: Royal Warwickshire Regiment Museum Capt Julian Royds GRIBBLE VC 10th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment DOB: 5th January 1897, London DOD: 25th November 1918, POW Camp, Kassel, Germany VC - London Gazette: 28th June 1918 Place & Date: Hermies Ridge, France, 23rd March 1918 Medals: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal The VC citation reads “On 21st March 1918 the 10 Battalion was near Velu with orders to hold on in face of heavy German attacks. On the 23rd the Germans broke through on a wide front, but Captain Gribble and his Company would not yield. His orders were to hold on to the last, and he sent back a runner to say that he would stay until ordered to retire. This resolution he inspired his men to accomplish. When last seen he was still fighting, surrounded by the enemy. By his courage and determination the Germans were unable to obtain mastery of the ridge for some hours, and the rest of his Brigade was able to be withdrawn. He was wounded and taken prisoner.” He was wounded and lost consciousness, but was resuscitated by the Germans and taken prisoner. He was held in a camp at Mainz, Germany where he gradually recovered his health. On the news of winning the Victoria Cross his fellow prisoners of war celebrated by carrying him around the camp on their shoulders. Julian Royds Gribble was born into a wealthy family in London on the 5th January 1897. From the age of 13 he attended Eton. Having earlier been turned down by an admiralty board for the Royal Navy in December 1914 he enrolled at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in May 1915. He went to the Front with the 10th Battalion in May 1916. He was never presented with his medal as while waiting to be repatriated at the end of the War he caught pneumonia and died on the 24th November 1918. Comemerative stain glass window with memorial plaque inSt Martins Church, Preston Grave; III. F 4 Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany Location of Medals: The originals were destroyed in a house fire at the home of his brother near Mildenhall, Suffolk in 1958. 267110 Pte (Later Cpl) Arthur HUTT VC 1/7th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment DOB: 12th February 1889, Earlsdon, Coventry DOD: 14th April 1954, Coventry VC - London Gazette: 26th November 1917 Place & Date: Poelcapelle, Belgium, 4th October 1917 Medals: Victoria Cross, 1914 -15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal (1937), Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal (1953) On 4th October, 1917, during the attack by the 48th Division before St.Julien, the 7th Battalion had as their objective Tweed House. "A" Company captured their first objective but when they continued their advance, all the officers and non-commissioned officers in Private Hutt's platoon were hit. Private Hutt then took command and led forward the platoon. He was held up by a strong point on his right, but immediately ran forward alone, shot the officer and three men in the post, and caused forty or fifty others to surrender. Presently realising that he had pushed too far ahead, Private Hutt withdrew his party. He personally covered the withdrawal, sniping the enemy and killing a number of them. Then he carried back a comrade, who had been badly wounded, and put him under shelter. After he had organised and consolidated his position, he learnt that some wounded men still lay out in the open, where they were likely to be taken prisoners. As no stretcher bearers were available, Hutt went out himself and carried in four men under heavy fire. He held his post until relieved on 7/8 October." Grave: Canley Crematorium, Coventery Location of Medals: Private ownership Maj (actg. Lt Col) Edward Elers Delaval HENDERSON VC 7th Bn North Staffordshire Regiment, att’d 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment DOB: 2nd October 1878, Simia, India DOD: 25th January 1917, River Hai, Kut, Mesopotamia VC - London Gazette: 8th June 1917 Place: River Hai, Kut, Mesopotamia 25th January 1917 Medals: Victoria Cross, Africa General Service Medal (1902 -1956) with 3 clasps, ‘N Nigeria’, ‘N Nigeria’ 1902, ‘N Nigeria’ 1903, 1914 -15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MID Oak Leaf. Lieutenant Colonel Hederson was commanding 9th Bn Royal Warswickshire Regiment, when on 25th January, 1917, at the River Hai, near Kut, Mesopotamia, he brought his battalion up to the two front line trenches which were taking heavy casualties, when the Germans made a strong counter attack.