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The Royal British Legion Cambridgeshire & August 2017 THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CAMBRIDGESHIRE & HUNTINGDONSHIRE NEWSLETTER SOHAM RBL BRANCH – Affiliation with East Cambridgeshire Police Cadets Soham RBL Branch have recently affiliated with the East Cambridgeshire Police Cadets. 1 Pictures from the night Branch and Cadets Officers signed the affiliation certificates. World War 1 Victoria Cross Recipients 10 April – 12 April 1917 John George Pattison VC - Pattison was 41 years old, and a private in the 50th (Calgary) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. On 10 April 1917 at the Battle of Vimy Ridge when the Canadian’s advamce was held up by an enemy machine-gun which was inflicting severe casualties. Pattison, with utter disregard of his own safety, sprang forward and jumping from shell-hole to shell-hole, reached cover within thirty yards of the enemy gun. From this point, in the face of heavy fire he hurled bombs killing and wounding some of the crew, and then rushed forward overcoming and bayoneting the surviving five gunners. Horace Waller VC - was As a 20-year-old private in the 10th Service Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. On 10 April 1917 south of Heninel, France, when with a bombing section forming a block in the enemy line. A very violent counter-attack was made by the enemy on this post, and although five of the garrison were killed, Pte. Waller continued for more than an hour to throw bombs, and finally repulsed the attack. In the evening the enemy again counter-attacked the post and all the garrison became casualties, except Pte. Waller, who, although wounded later, continued to throw bombs for another half an hour until he was killed. Donald MacKintosh VC– He was 21 years old, and a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, Duke of Albany's). On 11 April 1917 north of Fampoux, France, during the initial advance, Lt. Mackintosh was shot through the right leg, but although crippled, continued to lead his men, and captured the trench. He then collected men of another company who had lost their leader and drove back a counter-attack, when he was again wounded and although unable to stand, nevertheless continued to control the situation. With only 15 men left he ordered them to be ready to advance to the final objective and with great difficulty got out of the trench, encouraging them to advance. He was wounded yet again and was killed. Harold Sandford Mugford VC – was 22 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in 8 Squadron, Machine Gun Corps. On 11 April 1917 at Monchy-le-Preux, France, under intense fire, Lance-Corporal Mugford got his machine-gun into a forward, very exposed position from which he dealt very effectively with the enemy. Almost immediately his No. 2 was killed and he was severely wounded. He was ordered to go to a new position and then have his wounds dressed but he refused, staying to inflict severe damage on the enemy with his gun. 2 Soon afterwards a shell broke both his legs, but he still remained with his gun and when he was at last removed to the dressing station he was again wounded. John Cunningham VC – was 26 years old, and a corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment. On 12 April 1917 at Bois-en-Hache, near Barlin, France when in command of a Lewis Gun section on the most exposed flank of the attack. His section came under heavy fire and suffered severely. Although wounded he succeeded almost alone in reaching his objective with his gun, which he got into action in spite of much opposition. When counter-attacked by a party of twenty of the enermy he exhausted his ammunition against them, then, standing in full view, he commenced throwing bombs. He was wounded again, and fell, but picked himself up and continued to fight single-handed with the enemy until his bombs were exhausted. He then made his way back to the lines with a fractured arm and other wounds. Corporal Cunningham died in hospital from the effects of his wounds. ANZAC COMMEMORATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. Stetchworth and Dullingham Branch Chairman Robert Venner, was visiting family in Australia at the time when the ANZAC commemorations took place. In Redcliffe just north of Brisbane the Ceremony begins at 0500 with a parade and ends with a sunrise over the South Pacific. Thousands and thousands of people turned out for the Parade. TV has 24-hour coverage of events across the country. They do the same for Remembrance Sunday. 3 QUIZ TIME: PARTNERS Answers Page 6 1. Who were the sons of Adam and Eve? 6. Which pair make up the constellation Gemini? 2. Who was Stan Laurel's comic partner? 7. Who was closely associated with Dr Jekyll in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic? 3. Who was Louis XVI's wife, guillotined in 8. According to legend, which two brothers 1793? founded Rome? 4. What were the Montgolfier brothers 9. Who was Bertie Wooster's impeccable known for? manservant? 5. Who was Othello's wife in Shakespeare's 10. Who was Franklin D Roosevelt's wife, play? who helped draw up the Declaration of Human Rights in 1945? 14 April - 25 April 1917 John William Ormsby VC MM – was 36 years old, and a sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. On 14 April 1917 at Fayet, France, during operations which culminated in the capture of an important position, Sergeant Ormsby, acting as company sergeant-major showed complete indifference to the heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and set a fine example. After clearing a village he pushed on and drove out many snipers from locations further forward. When the only surviving officer was wounded he took command of the company and led them forward under heavy fire for 400 yards to a new position, holding it until relieved. Charles Pope, VC – was a 34 year old Lieutenany in the Austrailian Imperial Force, On 15 April 1917 at Louverval, France, during the Battle of Lagnicourt, he was in command of a very important picquet post, with orders to hold it at all costs amidst a heavy German attack. The enemy, in greatly superior numbers, attacked and surrounded the post and ammunition was running short. Pope, in a desperate bid to save the position, was seen to charge with his men into the enemy force, which they overpowered although heavy losses were inflicted. He had obeyed the order to hold out to the last and his lifeless body, along with those of most of his men, was found amongst 80 enemy dead. Charles Melvin VC– was 31 years old private in 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). On 21 April 1917 Pte. Melvin's company were fighting in Istabulat, Mesopotamia. The Company had advanced to within fifty yards of the front-line trench of a redoubt, where, owing to the intensity of the enemy's fire, the men were obliged to lie down and wait for reinforcements. Pte. Melvin, however, rushed on by himself, over ground swept from end to end by rifle and machine-gun fire. On reaching the enemy trench, he halted and fired two or three shots into it, killing one or two enemy, but as the others in the trench continued to fire at him, he jumped into it, and attacked them with his bayonet in his hand, as, owing to his rifle being damaged, the enemy fled to their second line, but not before Pte. Melvin had killed two more and succeeded in disarming eight unwounded and one wounded. Pte. Melvin herded his eight unwounded prisoners before him, and supporting the wounded one, he hustled them out of the trench, marched them in and delivered them over to an officer. He then provided himself with a load of ammunition and returned to the firing line where he reported himself to his platoon sergeant. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Reginald Noble Graham, 3rd Baronet VC OBE - was a 25 year old lieutenant in the 9th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s) – attached to the Machine Gun Corps. 4 Near Istabulat on the evening of 22 April 1917, Lt. Graham accompanied his guns across open ground, under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire, and when his men became casualties, he assisted in carrying the ammunition. Although twice wounded he continued during the advance to control his guns and was able, with one gun, to open an accurate fire on the enemy, who were massing for a counter-attack. This gun was put out of action by the enemy's rifle fire, and he was again wounded. The advancing enemy forced him to retire, but before doing so he further disabled his gun, rendering it useless. He then brought a Lewis gun into action with excellent effect till all the ammunition was expended. He was again severely wounded, and forced through loss of blood to retire. Arthur Henderson VC, MC - was 23 years old, and an Acting Captain in the 4th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). On 23 April 1917 near Fontaine-les-Croisilles, France, During an attack on the enemy trenches, although almost immediately wounded in the left arm, he led his Company through the front enemy line until he gained his final objective. He then proceeded to consolidate his position, which, owing to heavy gun and machine gun fire and bombing attacks, was in danger of being isolated. By his cheerful courage and coolness he was enabled to maintain the spirit of his men under most trying conditions.
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