Valiant Men of Essex

“VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

COMMEMORATING THOSE AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS IN THE GREAT WAR FROM ESSEX

THE VICTORIA CRO CROSS

The Victoria Cross was introduced as the premier award for gallantry, available for all ranks, to cover actions since the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854; it was allegedly created on the suggestion of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort. The Naval version versio originally had a navy blue ribbon which continued during the Great War. Of the 1354 awards since 1856, 832 have gone to the Army, 107 to the Navy, 31 to the RAF, 10 to the Royal Marines and 4 to civilians. Second bars have been awarded three times. The facility acility for posthumous awards, made retrospective to 1856, began in 1902 and was confirmed in 1907, while the early practice of forfeitures (eight between 1863 and 1908) was discontinued after the First World War. Each VC is still made by the same London jewellers, ers, Messrs Hancocks (now of Burlington Gardens, London, W1 from the bronze of Chinese cannons captured from the Russians at the siege of Sebastopol (large ingots of which are stored at the Army's Central Ordnance Depot at Donning ton ton).

There is a requirement quirement for the award to be approved that at least three witnesses, must make sworn written statements as to the exact circumstances of the action involved.

This means many equally brave acts are not rewarded.

During the he Great War 1914 - 1918 seventeen men associated with Essex were awarded this medal.

This book is written as a tribute to them. It is distributed free so that recent recen generations may remember them and those who fought alongside them.

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PREFACE This book is published in the Centenary year of the outbreak of the Great War 1914 – 1918.

It is intended as a tribute to all those who endured the horrors of that war and to honour the memory of those awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

The seventeen represented here are associated with Essex as encompassed by the county boundaries of that time. Two were awarded the naval version of the Victoria Cross from the Battle of Jutland and Gallipoli.

Those to the Army included the very first given, which were at Nimy Bridge Mons and the Battle of Le Cateau in 1914. On the Western Front they were earned in the Battle of Saint Eloi, Passchendaele and two in the crucial battles March 1918 during the German “Kaiserschlact“ campaign. Another was at Vimy Ridge while the last were in the final weeks of the war at Canal du Nord and at Havrincourt. Their ranks also include a padre and a doctor plus four from the Dominions. Thus this group is fairly representative of all those who earned the award One was earned in Palestine and another in Mesopotamia. In this last case he was seriously considered for a bar to the VC but Lt Gen. Sir S Maud, GOC Troops at Kut did not want to set a precedent - a double VC was unknown at the time.

So please read their stories that they may be remembered and so live on in people’s memories.

Compiled by Ted Sparrow

April 2014

CONTENTS CALVERT Laurence VC MM

(Dagenham}

Laurence Calvert was a sergeant in the 5th Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. His service number was 240194

COLUMBINE, Herbert George VC

{Walton)

Private Herbert George Columbine served with the19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars attached to the 9th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps. His Service Number was 50720.

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CORNWELL, John (Jack) Travers VC

{Leytonstone)

Boy Seaman John Travers Cornwell, VC served on HMS Chester.

CRUICKSHANK, Robert Edward VC

{Southend-on –Sea}

Private Robert Edward Cruickshank VC (17 June 1888 – 30 August 1961) was an AngloCanadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), He served as Private in the 2/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish), which was part of the 60th Division.

DRAIN, Job Henry Charles VC

{Barking)

Driver Job Henry Charles Drain VC served with the 37th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant. His service number was 71787

DREWRY, George VC

(Forest Gate}

Midshipman George Drewry RNR VC served on HMS HUSSAR. Later he was promoted Lieutenant and assumed command of the trawler “William Jackson”

GODLY, Sidney Frank VC

(Epping}

Godley was 25 years old, and a private in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. Years of service were 1909 – 1919. His Service number was13814

GREEN, John Leslie VC

{Felsted School}

Captain John Leslie Green VC served in the Royal Army Medical Corps: attached to 1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters

HALL Frederick William VC

(Leytonstone)

Company Sergeant Major, Service No: 1539, Date of Death: 25/04/1915, Age: 28, He served in the 8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Awards: VC,

MARSHALL, James Neville VC MC and Bar

{Harlow}

Lieutenant Colonel James Neville Marshall, VC, MC and bar, Irish Guards attached 16th Battalion.

Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action 04/11/1918 aged 31, Service number was 31178.

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Reverend MELLISH, Edward Noel VC

{ Saffron Walden/ Dunmow}

He served as a private in the Boer War in the Artist’s Rifles attached to Baden Baden-Powell's Powell's police He gained the rank of Temporary Chaplain in 1915 in the service of the Army Chaplain's Department

MERRYFIELD, William VC MM

( Brentwood}

Private Merryfield enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) on 23 September 1914 and in 1917, at 27 years of age, was transferred to 4th (Central Ontario) Ba Battalion, ttalion, CEF; as a replacement went on to win the Military Medal (MM) for his conduct during the battle of Passchendaele in November of that year.

MUGFORD, Harold Sanford VC

{East Ham}

Lance Corporal served in the machine machine-gun gun detachment of the Essex Yeomanry, in which Mugford was then serving, was transferred to the 8th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 3 March 1916

MYLES, Edgar Kinghorn VC DSO

{East Ham}

Myles had enlisted into The Worcestershire Regiment on 20th August 1914. He was discharged in the rank of Lance-Corporal Corporal on 20th November 1914 on app ointment to a temporary commission as 2/Lieutenant nt in The Worcestershire Regiment. Promoted Lieutenant in The Regiment on 22nd July 1915 he was then given a Regular Commission in The Welch Regiment as a 2/Lieutenant on 7th January 1916 with seniority 4th December 1915. He was transferred to The Worcestershire Worceste Regiment in the rank of 2/Lieut. and promoted Lieutenant on 12th January 1917.

POPE Charles VC

(Navestock School)

He was a Second Lieutenant serving in the 11th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force

SAYER, John William VC

{ Ilford}

Lance Corporal who served in the 8th Battalion of the Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment

WEARNE, Frank Bernard VC

{Essex Regiment}

Second Lieutenant Frank Bernard Wearne served with the3rd Battalion attached to the 10th Battalion of the Essex Regimen Regiment. t. He was killed in action on the 28th June 1917 aged 23.

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CALVERT Laurence VC MM Laurence Calvert was a sergeant in the 5th Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Infantry His service number was 240194

Laurence Calvert was born in Leeds on 16 February 1892 MILITARY CAREER He Joined the Territorial Army on 17 April 1914.

During the attack on Vaulxcourt, France on 2 September 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal and then just ten days later at Havrinc Havrincourt, ourt, France, severe enfilade machine-gun machine fire was creating a difficult situation and Sergeant Calvert went forward alone against a machine-gun machine team, bayoneting three and shooting four. His valour and determination in capturing single-handed single two machine-guns ns and killing the crews ensured the success of the operation. His personal gallantry inspired all ranks. He was 26 years old at the time.

COMMENDATION London Gazette of 12 November 11918 (dated 15 November 1918): War Office, 15th November, 1918.

“His Majesty esty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the under-mentioned mentioned Officers, Non Non-commissioned commissioned Officers and Men: No. 240194 Sgt. Laurence Calvert, M.M... K.O.Y.L.I. (Conisbro'). For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack when the success of the operation was rendered doubtful owing, to severe “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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enfilade machine-gun fire. Alone and single-handed Sergeant Calvert, rushing forward against the machine-gun team, bayoneted three and shot four.

His valour and determination in capturing single-handed two machine guns and killing the crews thereof enabled the ultimate objective to be won. His personal gallantry inspired all ranks.”

London Gazette on: 15 November 1918 He was also made a Chevalier de l’Ordre de Leopold II (of Belgium) for his fighting record in the last few months of the war in the grade of Chevalier.

MEDALS Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum

Victoria Cross: Military Medal: 1914-15 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19) with oak leaf depicting Mention in Despatches: Indian General Service Medal: King George VI Coronation Medal (1937): Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953): Chevalier de l’Ordre de Leopold II (of Belgium) with palm.

POST WAR He was married with three children and lived for a while in Oglethorpe Road, Dagenham.

After the war Calvert moved to Dagenham when he was offered a job as a commissionaire for The National Provincial Bank in London. He died 7 July 1964.

He was cremated - 17 July at South Essex Crematorium. Upminster, Essex. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Remembrance, Rose bed 32, Path A.

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COMMEMORATION

Photo of Memorial in All Saints Church Denaby Main

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5

COLUMBINE, Herbert George VC Private Herbert George Columbine served with the19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars attached to the 9th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps. His Service Number was 50720.

He was born 28th November 1893, son of Herbert Columbine, who had been killed 11th July 1900 while serving in South Africa. His mother was Emma Columbine. He was educated at Melvin Road Council School Penge.

He joined the Army in 1911 as a private in the 19th Hussars. He served in France from August 1914. V C related to his death on the 22nd March 1918 when aged 24.

His mother moved to Walton about the time of his enlistment. She is shown aged 52 living in the Tendring Administration Area in the 1911 Census. Herbert in the same census still shows him

under Farnham.

In 1921 Herbert Columbine's mother gave his Victoria Cross to the Walton on the Naze Town Hall where it was placed on public display. When Walton and Frinton councils amalgamated in 1934 the VC was given to the Royal British Legion where it was displayed in the Legion's headquarters building. However, after a series of break-ins at the Legion club the Victoria Cross was then placed in a bank vault for its safety. “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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Subsequently the Victoria Cross awarded to Private Herbert Columbine, 9th Squadron Machine Gun Corps is held by the Walton on the Naze Branch of the Royal British Legion. In 2014 it was loaned and on display in the Essex Regiment Museum in Chelmsford, Essex.

OPERATION MICHAEL "KAISERSCHLACT” Over the course of the winter of 1917 -18 the Germans transferred troops no longer needed on the Eastern Front to the West. They sought to make a decisive move to drive the British out of the war before the Americans could swing the advantage to the Allies. They believed that the British were exhausted by the 1917 campaigns at Arras, Messines, Passchendaele and Cambrai. In fact many units had partially been brought up to strength by drafting in rebadged men, who had recovered from wounds and men from the Service Battalions reassigned as infantry.

The offensive would comprise two phases, the first striking the Somme and the second confirming the breach in French Flanders.

Allied Intelligence believed that the Germans had 177 Divisions in France and Flanders, out of their world-wide total of 241. Of these, 110 were in the front line of which 50 faced the relatively short but recently extended British Front. A further 67 were in reserve, with 31 of these also facing the BEF The first phase of the offensive, Operation Michael, was expected to breach the British front at Arras and then head north to cut off their railway supply lines. This would, it was hoped, allow the Germans to envelop the British forces and secure their surrender. The section of the front chosen for the offensive had recently been taken over by the British at the request of the French, The line left by the French was discovered to be poorly defended and the British were required to substantially improve its fortifications. These works had barely commenced when the Germans struck The 5th Army under Hubert Gough which was newly redeployed and had taken over an area where the 3rd and 4th lines of defence were but tokens, not much more than lines on the map.

Launched on 21 March 1918, Operation Michael came as a complete surprise to the British troops who bore the brunt of its violence. Using to great effect their numerical superiority (fiftyeight divisions against sixteen), the Germans created a wide breach in the British front in the space of a few hours. Several divisions were literally annihilated. Those units which were not dislocated made a fighting retreat through the increasing chaos, the congested roads and German artillery adding to the general panic. Amiens soon came under threat and this forced the British to field large numbers of reserves to fill the breach.

Heavy German shellfire had hit all areas of the British front occupied by Fifth Army, most of the front of Third Army, and some of the front of First Army. At 4.40am the main weight of attack fell between Arras and a few miles south of Saint-Quentin The tactics involved a number of new features. The rear echelons involving communications, HQ, heavy guns, railways were subjected to a massive bombardment not only with high explosives but with gas. At the same time storm troopers with flame throwers had punched holes in the Allied lines and continued on to the Allied rear lines. Isolated pockets of Allies were then eliminated by the “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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following German troops. German infantry began attacking between 7.00am and 9.40am.. Many of the besieged esieged British posts and defended villages held out, and only fell once entirely surrounded and hopeless.

(Flamethrower used by the Germans C) IWM The battle raged on for several days, as the o overwhelming verwhelming numbers of Germans in the front against the BEF.. Ultimately, the Germans almost broke through the final line of defence which was held to a large extent by support rather than frontline troops. The Germans had advanced over the debris of 3 years fighting and re--supply became a problem for them. Not onlyy was the terrain difficult the Germans liberated large Allied food dumps and with their troops severely malnourished through the Allied sea blockade momentum was lost The German troops took to looting the dumps especially the wine. However it should not d detract etract from the tenacity of the British troops.

The Commander of the British Fifth Army, General Sir Hubert Gough, was made a convenient scapegoat and was sacked as a result of this battle. This was unfair treatment. His Army had, after all, taken over a line to which David Lloyd George had committed the Army against its advice; had had no time to build suitable defences; and was hit by an overwhelming attack.

The Fifth Army while suffering terrible losses of men and material and giving up ground regrouped ed and held firm. . There is good evidence to show that Gough had grave concerns of the ground he had to cover, with fewer men men,, worse prepared defences and more line than 3rd Army under Sir Julian Byng. These were concerns he had voiced but that seem to have been ignored. The conduct of Gough in these few trying da days bears well, he did not panic. His is men whilst admittedly withdrawing did so with guts and determination. His dismissal from command was seen by many who made up the 5th Army as an insult not jjust ust to their commander but to the rank and file, who had fought gallantly.

This picture is taken from a contemporary German newspaper and shows British POWs captured during the 1918 German Spring Campaign.

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On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched this overwhelming attack on the British lines the following are relevant sections from a Despatch from Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., Commanding-in-Chief, British Armies in France dated 20th July, 1918.

Indications of the Coming Attack.

Towards the middle of February, 1918, it became evident that the enemy was preparing for a big offensive on the Western front. It was known from various sources that he had been steadily increasing his forces in the Western theatre since the beginning of November, 1917. In three and a half months 28 infantry divisions had been transferred from the Eastern theatre and 6 infantry divisions from the Italian theatre. There were reports that further reinforcements were on their way to the West, and it was also known that the enemy had greatly increased his heavy artillery in the Western theatre during the same period. These reinforcements were more than were necessary for defence, and, as they were moved at a time when the distribution of food and fuel to the civil population in Germany was rendered extremely difficult through lack of rolling stock, I concluded that the enemy intended to attack at an early date. Constant air reconnaissances over the enemy's lines showed that rail and road communications were being improved and ammunition and supply dumps increased along the whole front from Flanders to the Oise. By the end of February, 1918, these preparations had become very marked opposite the front held by the Third and Fifth British Armies, and I considered it probable that the enemy would make his initial effort from the Sensee River southwards. As the 21st March approached it became certain that an attack on this sector was imminent, and counter-preparation was carried out nightly by our artillery on the threatened front.

By the 21st March the number of German infantry divisions in the Western theatre had risen to 192, an increase of 46 since the 1st November, 1917.

The Enemy's Dispositions.

From the information at my disposal, it was expected that the enemy's heaviest attack would fall between the Sensee River and the neighbourhood of the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and on this front of some 16,000 yards eighteen German divisions are known to have been employed in line and in immediate reserve on the 21st March. It was correctly anticipated that the Flesquieres salient itself would not be directly attacked in strength, but that the attack would be continued in great force from the southern flank of the salient to St. Quentin. On this front of some 48,000 yards, from Gouzeaucourt to the Oise River at Moy, forty German divisions were set in motion on the first day.

An event which, having regard to the nature of the ground, was not considered probable, was that the enemy would be able to extend the flank of his attack in any considerable strength “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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beyond Moy. The rapid drying of the marshes, due to an exceptionally dry spring, in fact enabled the enemy to attack this lightly held front with three fresh divisions, in addition to the three divisions already in line.

Comparison of Forces Engaged.

In all at least sixty-four German divisions took part in the operations of the first day of the battle, a number considerably exceeding the total forces composing the entire British Army in France.

The majority of these divisions had spent many weeks and even months in concentrated training for offensive operations, and had reached a high pitch of technical excellence in the attack. To meet this assault the Third Army disposed of eight divisions in line on the front of the enemy's initial attack, with seven divisions available in reserve. The Fifth Army disposed of fourteen divisions and three cavalry divisions, of which three infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions were in reserve. The total British force on the original battle front, therefore, on the morning of the 21st March was twenty-nine infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions, of which nineteen infantry divisions were in line.

Launched on a front of about fifty-four miles on the 21st March, the area of the German offensive spread northwards on the 28th March, until from La Fere to beyond Gavrelle some sixtythree miles of our former line were involved. On this front a total of seventy three German divisions were engaged during March against the Third and Fifth Armies and the right of the First Army, and were opposed in the first place by twenty-two British infantry divisions in line, with twelve infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions in close reserve. As soon as it became evident that the enemy had thrown practically the whole of his striking force against this one battle front, it became both possible and necessary to collect additional reserves from the remainder of my front, and hurry them to the battlefield.

Plans previously drawn up to meet such an eventuality were put into execution at once, and before the end of March, by which date the principal German effort had been broken, further force of eight British divisions was brought south and sent into the fight. Prior to the 9th April four other British divisions were engaged, making a total of forty-six British infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions employed on the Somme battle front.

The Attack Opened. (The German offensive Operation Michael) Shortly before 5 a.m. on the 21st March, a bombardment of great intensity, with gas and high explosive shell from all natures of artillery and trench mortars was opened against practically the whole fronts of the Fifth and Third Armies from the Oise to the Scarpe River, while road centres and railways as far back as St. Pol were engaged by high velocity guns. Violent bombardments were opened also on the French front in wide sectors east and north-east of Reims, and on portions of the British front between the Scarpe River and Lens. Our positions from south of the La Bassee Canal to the River Lys were heavily shelled with gas, and battery areas between Messines and the YpresComines Canal were actively engaged. Dunkirk was bombarded from the sea. The hour of the enemy's assault varied in different sectors, but by about 9.45 a.m. a general attack had been launched on a battle front of fifty-four miles between the Oise and the Sensee Rivers. Later in the day, as visibility improved large numbers of low-flying aeroplanes attacked our troops and batteries.

Favoured by a thick white fog, which hid from our artillery and machine gunners the S.O.S. signals “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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sent up by our outpost line, and in numbers which made loss of direction impossible, the attacking German infantry forced their way into our foremost defensive zone. Until 1 p.m. the fog made it impossible to see more than 50 yards in any direction and the machine guns and forward field guns which had been disposed so as to cover this zone with their fire were robbed almost entirely of their effect. The detachments holding the outpost positions were consequently overwhelmed or surrounded, in many cases before they were able to pass back information concerning the enemy's attack. The attack being expected, reserves had been brought forward and battle stations manned.

On all parts of the battle front garrisons of redoubts and strong points in the forward zone held out with the utmost gallantry for many hours. From some of them wireless messages were received up to a late hour in the day, giving information of much value. The losses which they were able to inflict upon the enemy were undoubtedly very great and materially delayed his advance. The prolonged defence of these different localities, under conditions which left little hope of any relief, deserves to rank among the most heroic actions in the history of the British Army. So intense was the enemy's bombardment that at an early hour our communications were severed, and so swift was his advance under the covering blanket of the mist that certain of our more advanced batteries found the German infantry close upon them before they had received warning from their own infantry that the expected attack had been launched. Many gallant deeds were performed by the personnel of such batteries, and on numerous occasions heavy losses were inflicted on bodies of hostile troops by guns firing over open sights at point blank range.

The Second Day of the Battle. (The day Herbert was killed) On the morning of the 22nd March the ground was again enveloped in thick mist, under cover of which the enemy renewed his attacks in great strength all along the line. Fighting was again very heavy and short-range fire from guns, rifles, and machine guns caused enormous losses to the enemy's troops. The weight of his attack, however, combined with the impossibility of observing beforehand and engaging with artillery the massing of his troops, enabled him to press forward

CITATION An extract from "The London Gazette dated 30th April, 1918, records the following:For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice displayed when owing to casualties Pte. Columbine took over command of a gun and kept it firing from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. in an isolated position with no wire in front.

During this time wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him. Owing to his being attacked by a low-flying aeroplane the enemy at last gained a strong footing in the trench on either side. The position being untenable he ordered the two remaining men to get away and though being bombed from either side kept his gun firing and inflicting tremendous losses.

He was eventually killed by a bomb which blew up him and his gun. He showed throughout the highest valour determination and self-sacrifice."

MEDALS “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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Victoria Cross: 1914-15 15 Star: British War Medal (1914 (1914-20): 20): Victory Medal (1914-19) (1914 Herbert Columbine's mother was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 22nd June 1918. The e Victoria Cross awarded to Private Herbert Columbine, 9th Squadron of the Machine Gun Corps is held by the Walton on the Naze Branch of the Royal British Legion Legion.

GRAVE Herbert Columbine has no known grave. His name is engraved on the Pozieres Memorial, Panel 93 and 94, which is three miles North East of Albert, in France. Also there is a statue of him at Walton-on on - Naze

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CORNWELL, John (Jack) Travers VC Boy Seaman John Travers Cornwell, VC served on HMS Chester.

John "Jack" Travers Cornwell was born as a third child into a working-class family at Clyde Place, Leyton, Essex (now in Greater London) on the 8th January 1900. His parents were Eli and Lily Cornwell. The family later moved to Alverstone Road, East Ham. He attended Walton Road School (renamed after Cornwell in 1929).He joined the 11th East Ham Troop Scout Troop at 14 and worked as a van boy.

At the outbreak of the First World War, ex-soldier Eli Cornwell volunteered for service and was fighting in France under Lord Kitchener. The older brother Arthur also served in an infantry regiment in Flanders.

In October 1915, Jack Cornwell gave up his job as a delivery boy and enlisted in the Royal Navy, without his father's permission. He had references from his headmaster and employer. He carried out his basic training at HMS Vivid Keyham Naval Barracks at Plymouth and received further training as a Sight Setter or Gun Layer and became Boy Seaman First Class. On the Easter Monday of 1916, Cornwell left for Rosyth, Scotland to join his assignment in the navy. He was assigned to HMS Chester, which had been only recently commissioned.

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The ship was laid down on 7 October 1914, launched on 8 December 1915 and entered service in May 1916, three weeks before the Battle of Jutland. At Jutland she fought as part of the 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron and came under withering fire from German forces. She was hit by 17 150mm shells and suffered casualties of 29 men killed and 49 wounded; many of the wounded lost legs because the open backed gun-shields did not reach the deck and give adequate protection.

Chester served with the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron until the Armistice and was subsequently placed in reserve. She was offered for re-sale to Greece but the offer was declined and the ship was sold for scrap on 9 November 1921 to Rees, of Llanelly. The gun served by Cornwell is preserved in the Imperial War Museum in London.

Left painting of the action on HMS Chester

right actual gun turret at the Imperial War Museum

HMS CHESTER

BATTLE OF JUTLAND 31 May 1916 -. HMS Chester was attached to the 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Hon. Horace Hood (flagship HMS Invincible). HMS Chester acted as link ship between the armoured cruiser screen of the battle fleet and three ships of the3 Battle Cruiser Squadron to pass signals visually. “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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2.35pm - Enemy ships sighted.

3.48pm - Action commenced at 18,500 yard range.

5.30pm (approx.) – 3 Battle Cruiser Squadron was steaming in North Sea 25 miles ahead of the battle fleet with HMS Chester 5 miles further forward.

5.40pm (approx.) - 4 enemy light cruisers appeared in sight. HMS Chester turned to open fire but, being outnumbered, was hit by enemy shellfire 17 times in 3 minutes. 3 out of the 10 guns were disabled and 1/5th of the crew were either killed or wounded, including the entire crew of the forward 5.5" turret gun. This is where Cornwell was stationed as sight setter, to take orders from Fire Control and apply any necessary range corrections to the gun. Mortally wounded, he remained awaiting further orders until the end of the action. Other reports include him volunteering to go to the top of the turret to wipe the glass so that the rangefinder could line the target, and another report says that he managed to ram home one last projectile, close the breech and press the firing button and that this projectile exploded on the German ship Wiesbaden, causing damage which led to her sinking.

1 June 1916 - HMS Chester ordered to the Humber. On arrival, the wounded were transferred to Grimsby Hospital, Cornwell amongst them.

Despite being mortally wounded with shards of steel in his chest and dead colleagues lying around him, Jack struggled to his feet and remained at his post for 15 minutes, waiting for orders. He died two days later, before his mother Lily could reach him, and he was buried in Manor Park Cemetery.

His body was later exhumed and re-buried in the same cemetery with full military honours.

LETTER CONDOLENCE Letter received by Jack Cornwell's Mother from the Captain of HMS Chester "I know you would wish to hear of the splendid fortitude and courage shown by your boy during the action of May 31. His devotion to duty was an example for all of us. The wounds which resulted in his death within a short time were received in the first few minutes of the action. He remained steady at his most exposed post at the gun, waiting for orders.

His gun would not bear on the enemy, all but two of the ten of the crew were killed or wounded, and he was the only one who was in such an exposed position. But he felt he might be needed - as indeed he might have been - so he stayed there, standing and waiting, under heavy fire, with just his own brave heart and God's help to support him. I cannot express to you my admiration of the son you have lost from this world. No other comfort would I attempt to give to the mother of so brave a lad, but to assure her of what he was and what he did, and what an example he gave. I hope to place in the boys' mess a plate with his name on and the date, and the words “Faithful unto death." I hope someday you may be able to come and see it there."

CITATION The recommendation for citation from his Commanding Officer, Admiral Beatty, reads:

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"the instance nce of devotion to duty by Boy (1st Class) John Travers Cornwell who was mortally wounded early in the action, but nevertheless remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders till the end of the action, with the gun's crew dead and wounded around him.

He was under 16 years old. I regret that he has since died, but I recommend his case for special recognition in justice to his memory and as an acknowledgement of the high example set by him."

MEDALS

Victoria Cross: British War Me Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19) with Oak leaf designating “Mentioned in Despatches” COMMEMORATED

Manor Park Cemetery.

Mount Cornwell in the Canadian Rockies is named after John Cornwell.

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CRUICKSHANK, Robert Edward VC Private Robert Edward Cruickshank VC (17 June 1888 – 30 August 1961) was an AngloAnglo Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), He served as Private in the 2/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish) Scottish), which was part of the 60th Division.

(c)COPYRIGHT EXPIRED

Robert Cruickshank was born in Winnipeg in 1888, the first of 5 children children,, having two younger brothers, and two sisters, all born in England. His youngest brother, John, died at the age of 10 in 1913, tripping as he alighted from a moving tram and fracturing his skull. He had been out shopping with a friend to buy a Scout's cape. His middle brother, Percy, also volunteered for the Army, and was killed while serving in the Royal Fusiliers on the Western Front in 1917, aged 19. He is buried in i France.

Robert moved to England with his family when he was 3 where he moved frequently. H e ultimately settled in Southend – on – Sea. His is father also called Robert originated from Aberdeen.

His father had apparently been working with the Canadian Pacif Pacific Railway, as an accountant. After the family arrived in England they initially lived in Islington according to the 1891 Census but by the 1901 Census had moved to Woodford Woodford. From 1903–1904 1904 he was educated at Bancroft's School, “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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Woodford, Essex. After leaving ng school, he worked as a travelling salesman, joining first Lipton, then the Lever Company. He was very interested in military matters and joined The Rough Riders, a volunteer unit 1908–1911.

ACTION The 60th Division was involved in the second Trans Trans-Jordan an Raid between the 30th April and the 4th of May 1918. The area of concern was on the eastern edge of the Jordan Valley where the Ottoman Army garrisons at Shunet Nimrin and El Haud, on the main road from Ghoraniyeh to Amman were attacked by the 60th (Lon (London) don) Division many of whom had participated in the First Transjordan attack. On 1 May 1918 east of the Jordan River, the 60th (London) Division fought hard to capture the position at Shunet Nimrin but without success; every attack ran into heavy enfiladed machine gun fire from positions which were so successfully concealed that they could not be found by the infantry's supporting artillery. The fire from the German and Ottoman machine guns was so effectively directed and concentrated on the edge of scrub, w which hich gave cover for the British infantry approach but did not extend to the foot of the hills, that these machine guns defeated all infantry efforts to cross the open ground Palestine. During this action Private Cruickshank volunteered to take a message to company headquarters from his platoon which was in the bottom of a wadi, with its officer and most of the men casualties. He rushed up the slopes but was hit, tried again and was again wounded. After his wounds had been dressed, he tried yet again, but wa wass so badly wounded that he could make no further attempt. He lay all day in a dangerous position, being sniped at and wounded where he lay, but displayed great endurance and was cheerful and uncomplaining throughout.

At a hospital in Egypt it was discover discovered ed that Cruickshank had eight different wounds; three explosive bullets in his left leg, one in his left wrist, one in his left arm below the muscle, one in his right arm, one bullet in his right leg and another in his right thigh.

Some of the 50 Ottoman Ottoman/German /German officers taken prisoner during the Second Transjordan operations CITATION The London Gazette, June 21, 1916 “The The platoon to which Private Cruickshank belonged came under very heavy rifle and machine-gun gun fire at short range and was led down a steep bank into a wadi, most of the men being hit before they reached the bottom. Immediately after reaching the bottom of the wadi the officer in “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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command was shot dead, and the sergeant who then took over command sent a runner back to Company Headquarters asking for support, but was mortally wounded almost immediately after; the corporal having in the meantime been killed, the only remaining N.C.O. (a lance-corporal), believing the first messenger to have been killed, called for a volunteer to take a second message back.

Private Cruickshank immediately responded and rushed up the slope, but was hit and rolled back into the wadi bottom. He again rose and rushed up the slope, but, being again wounded, rolled back into the wadi. After his wounds had been dressed he rushed a third time up the slope and again fell badly wounded. Being now unable to stand he rolled himself back amid a hail of bullets. His wounds were now of such a nature as to preclude him making any further attempt and he lay all day in a dangerous position, being sniped at and again wounded where he lay. He displayed the utmost valour and endurance, and was cheerful and uncomplaining throughout.”

POSTWAR Cruickshank survived and returned to England where he was hailed as a hero, receiving his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on October 24, 1918. After the war, he returned to his career in sales and became very active in the British Legion. When the Second World War erupted, Cruickshank volunteered to serve in the Home Guard and reached the rank of Major.

Cruickshank died on August, 30 1961 and his ashes were interred at Glen Parva Parish Church, England.

Medals

Victoria Cross: 1914-15 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19): The1939 – 45 Star: Defence Medal: ): King George VI Coronation Medal (1937): Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).

COMMEMORATION In November 2013 Premier Greg Selinger of Manitoba Province, Canada announced that a lake in Manitoba Province was now to be named Cruickshank Lake in his honour.

He was cremated and his ashes scattered at the north side of All Saints Church, Blaby Leicestershire, England

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DRAIN, Job Henry Charles VC Driver Job Henry Charles Drain VC served with the 37th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant. His service number was 71787

He was born Barking, Essex on October 15, 1895. Date of bravery: August 26, 1914. His wife Patricia Cecilia Drain who was born on 7th October 1899. Job Drain lived at 42 Greatfields Road, Barking. He volunteered for the regular army in 1912, aged 17, as an alternative to unemployment.

Drain served all four years of the First World War. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF), a small force of tough well-trained professional soldiers, first saw action at Mons in Belgium in mid-August 1914. The British force of seventy thousand men and three hundred guns faced a far superior German force comprising a hundred and sixty thousand troops with six hundred guns. Forced to retreat under overwhelming odds, the BEF fell back, inflicting serious casualties on the Germans on the way. Numerous acts of heroism were performed by British troops during this period, one such incident occurred on the 26th August 1914.

The artillerymen of 37th Battery, Royal Field Artillery at Le Cateau, strove to limber up their guns in a hail of fire from enemy infantry, who were within 200 yards of the muzzles. Four of the six

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37 Battery RFA's 4.5 inch howitzers were got away, but to recover the remaining two was a task that seemed suicidal.

Nevertheless, when Captain Douglas Reynolds asked for volunteers there was no shortage of men willing to take on the risk. Two teams galloped forward to what seemed like certain death. One was quickly shot down, but the other got to the gun position, wheeled round, limbered-up and brought one of the howitzers out of action, one of the drivers being hit in the process. Reynolds and Drivers Frederick Luke and Job Drain all received the Victoria Cross.

Captain Reynolds RFA with Drivers Drain and Luke recovering one of the howitzers of 37th Battery during the closing phases of the Battle of Le Cateau on 26th August 1914. All three were awarded the Victoria Cross.

CITATION London Gazette, 25 November 1914 Le Cateau, France, 26 August 1914, Driver Job Henry Charles Drain, 37th Battery, Royal Field Artillery with Driver Frederick Luke at Le Cateau on 26th August, as volunteers, helping to save guns under fire from hostile infantry who were 100 yards away.

MEDALS Job Drain was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V in France on the 1st December 1914.

Victoria Cross: 1914 Star + clasp "5th Aug-22 Nov 1914": British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal ( 1914-19 ): King George VI Coronation Medal (1937): Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).

(Held in the Lord Ashcroft Collection) “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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.POST WAR

Post war he undertook a number of jobs. He worked as a messenger for government offices in Whitehall, then as a fish porter, a local bus driver and finally for the London Electricity Board.

COMMEMORATED Job Drain died at his home in Barking, Essex, on the 26th July 1975, aged 79, and was buried in Rippleside Cemetery. He has a statue at Barking.

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DREWRY, George VC Midshipman George Drewry RNR VC served on HMS HUSSAR . Later he was promoted Lieutenant and assumed command of the trawler “William Jackson”

George Drewry VC was born on 3rd November 1894, the son of Thomas and Mary Drewry of 58 Claremont Road, Forest Gate. He attended Merchant Taylors' School in the City of London.

He joined the Mercantile Marine after leaving school; early during his service he was shipwrecked, and spent 14 days on a desert island, living on edible roots and shell-fish. He joined the P. & O. as an officer cadet in 1912 and in the following year entered the Royal Naval Reserve.

Called up for active service in August 1914, he was appointed Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Hussar.

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He was awarded the Victoria Cross - the first R.N.R./Merchant Navy award - for his outstanding gallantry in the famous landings from the S.S. River Clyde on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915.

Under the guidance of Commander Unwin, the SS River Clyde, an old collier, was prepared for landing thousands of troops on 'V' Beach, Seddul Bahr, Gallipoli. Large holes were cut in the ship's side level with the decks, and sloping gangways suspended by wire hawsers were run out so that the men could rush down them as soon as the ship touched the ground. Barges had been made fast to the sides of the steamer so that a floating bridge could be formed from them if the River Clyde grounded too far from the beach. Alongside were five 'tows' of five boats each, packed with men of the Dublin Fusiliers, who were to land first and cover the disembarkation of the troops.

The open boats and River Clyde touched ground almost at the same moment and no sooner had the first of them grated on the bottom than a terrific fire was opened from the whole of the surrounding hills that dominated the beach. For a considerable distance to seaward the sea bed had been strewn with barbed wire and as the Dublin Fusiliers leapt into the water they found themselves entangled in the wire and were shot down where they stood. The open boats were held fast and their naval crews were wiped out.

As the River Clyde grounded, the barges that were to form the bridge were run out ahead, and the troops began to pour out of the holes in her sides and down the gangways; but the barges failed to reach their proper stations. A gap was left between two of them which made it was impossible for the men to cross, and scores were shot down as they stood helpless on the uncompleted bridge.

Commander Unwin and Able Seaman Williams made a line fast to one of the drifting barges and, dropping over the side, waded through the water towing the barge towards a spit of rock that gave direct access to the shore. Midshipman Drewry, was already in the water wading ashore to secure the towing rope. In the meantime, Commander Unwin and Williams had nearly reached the rock with the barge in tow when they found the rope they had was not long enough.

Drewry at once went back to the ship to get another length, and while the other two were

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waiting, Williams was shot as he stood breast-deep in the water. Unwin carried him back to the barge but Williams was already dead. When Drewry returned with the rope it did not take long to make the barge fast, and then the troops began at once to cross the bridge which remained under heavy fire.

A shot then severed the lashing rope, and again the barges went adrift. Midshipman Drewry was aboard the inshore barge, and was struck in the head by a fragment of shell. He hastily bound his wound with a soldier's scarf, and, jumping overboard with a line between his teeth, swam towards the other barge. Once again the rope was too short but Midshipman Malleson threw himself over the side with a longer rope and lashed the barges together. The rope broke a third time, and although Malleson tried twice more to connect the barges he was unsuccessful.

The SS River Clyde at V Beach by Charles Dixon The London Gazette, 16th August 1915 "Midshipman Drewry assisted Commander Unwin at the work of securing the barges under heavy rifle and maxim fire. He was wounded in the head, but continued his work and twice subsequently attempted to swim from barge to barge with a line".

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Midshipman Drewry is on the left

Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 August 1915 "The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Midshipman George Leslie Drewry, RNR for the conspicuous acts of bravery mentioned in the foregoing despatch".

His sword SUBSEQUENTLY Drewry later achieved the rank of Lieutenant but on 2nd August 1918 he was accidentally killed whilst on active service on HM Trawler ‘William Jackson' at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands. A block fell from a derrick and fractured his skull.

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MEDALS

Victoria Cross: 1914 -1915 Star:: British War Medal (1914 (1914-20): 20): Victory Medal ( 1914-19 1914 ) COMMEMORATION

His body was carried south and buried in the City of London Cemetery, Manor Park. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum. He also has a stained glass window to his memory in All Saints Church, Forest Gate, London.

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GODLY, Sidney Frank VC Godley was 25 years old, and a private in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. Years of service were 1909 – 1919. His Service number was13814

Sidney was born on the14 14 August 1889 at East Grinstead, Sussex. He died ied on the 29 June 1957 Epping, Essex

A drawing by an unknown artist depicting the battle of the Nimy Bridge at Mons on the 23rd August 1914

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During the Battle of Mons in the First World War he performed an act for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. On 23 August 1914, at Mons, Belgium on the Mons-Condé Canal, Lieutenant Maurice Dease and Sidney Godley offered to defend the Nimy Railway Bridge while the rest of the British and French armies retreated for a better defence line on the River Marne. When Lieutenant Dease had been mortally wounded and killed, Private Godley held the bridge singlehanded under very heavy fire and was wounded twice. Shrapnel entered his back when an explosion near him went off, and he was shot in the head. Despite his injuries he carried on the defence of the bridge while his comrades escaped.

CITATION London Gazette on November 25, 1914. His citation read: “For coolness and gallantry in fighting his machine gun under a hot fire for two hours after he had been wounded at Mons on 23rd August.

Godley defended the bridge for two hours, until he ran out of ammunition.[5] His final act was to dismantle the gun and throw the pieces into the canal. He attempted to crawl to safety, but advancing German soldiers caught him and took him to a prisoner of war camp. His wounds were treated, but he remained in camp until the Armistice”.

Originally it was thought that he had been killed, but some time later it was found that he was a prisoner of war in a camp called Delotz at Dallgow-Döberitz. It was in the camp that he was informed that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross. Godley left the camp in 1918 after the guards fled their posts.

POST WAR On 2 August 1919, Godley married Ellen Eliza Norman. He worked as a school caretaker in Tower Hamlets, London.

MEDALS He received the actual medal from King George V, at Buckingham Palace, on 15 February 1919.

Victoria Cross: 1914 Star + clasp "5th Aug-22 Nov 1914": British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19): King George VI Coronation Medal (1937): Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).

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COMMEMORATED He died on 29 June 1957. He was buried with full military honours in the town cemetery at Loughton, Essex, where he latterly resided.

MEMORIALS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

n Cemetery, Church Lane, Essex.

Headstone, Loughton Victoria Cross plaque at Civic Centre, Lewisham, London London.

Sidney Godley VC House, Digby Estate, Tower Hamlets, London London.

Blue plaque, Torrington Drive, Loughton, Essex Essex.

Memorial plaque at site of action, Nimy Bridge, Mons, Belgium Belgium.

Memorial plaque, town council offices, East Grinstead, West Sussex Sussex.

Godley VC Housing Estate, tate, Bexley, Kent . Named on Victoria Cross mural, Lewisham

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GREEN, John Leslie VC Captain John Leslie Green VC served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to 1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters

Born in Buckden, Huntingdonshire to John George and Florence May Green, Green attended Felsted School, and went on to study medicine at Downing College, Cambridge, and St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. At the outbreak of World War I he had not yet completed his medical studies, but was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps. Green married Miss E M Moss on 1 January 1916.

Military career Green served as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, British Army, attached to 1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). He saw action in the Battle of Loos. He was 27 years old, when he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

FIRST DAY ON THE SOMME On the evening of June 30th 1916, the Sherwood Foresters were positioned in their jumping off trenches opposite Gommecourt. They were on the extreme left of the British line and at its “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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northernmost tip. Their attack the following morning was mainly designed to be diversionary to make the Germans believe that this sector was to be the main thrust of the British attack.

They advanced that morning on a line to the north of the village of Gommecourt, leaving the trenches at 7.30. The leading waves suffered heavy casualties as they were swept by machine gun fire.

Captain Green was advancing towards the rear of his battalion as they struggled to reach the German wire. When John Green did reach the entanglements he found a badly wounded officer caught in the wire and suffering greatly. He managed to free the man and dragged him to a nearby shell-hole where he dressed his wounds.

With this done and despite being under almost constant bomb and rifle fire, Captain Green started back across over two hundred yards of No-Man’s Land in an attempt to get his wounded colleague to safety.

They had almost made it when the wounded man was hit again. They stopped and John Green started to tend to the man again when he himself was hit and killed instantly. Captain John Green was twenty six years old.

His fellow officer was Captain Frank Bradbury Robinson, 1st 6th Battalion and he did manage to reach the British line but sadly he also died later in hospital.

Capt Green was ignoring explicit orders NOT to assist the wounded back to the lines. MOs and other medical staff had been ordered to stay with the advance. Lt Col Beevor, the ADMS of the 46th Division wrote later: “I have to record a sad lesson to us all. Capt. Green, M.O. 5th Sherwood Foresters, had stopped to dress a friend’s wounds in the abdomen close to the German first line wire. Capt. Green was also hit but he was struggling back to our lines with his wounded comrade when a bullet killed him instantly, piercing his brain. Now, I repeat that, in a charge, no-one should stop to assist the wounded, vide my scheme, War Diary, June, Appendix III. Capt. Green was a valiant and most capable officer and has been with us since mobilisation and is a great loss. His battalion was then left with no M.O.” Citation London Gazette, No. 29695, 5 August 1916 For most conspicuous devotion to duty.

Although himself wounded, he went to the assistance of an officer who had been wounded and was hung up on the enemy's wire entanglements, and succeeded in dragging him to a shell hole, where he dressed his wounds, notwithstanding that bombs and rifle grenades were thrown at him the whole time. Captain Green then endeavoured to bring the wounded officer into safe cover, and had nearly succeeded in doing so when he himself was killed.

MEDALS Captain John Leslie Green's Victoria Cross can be seen today at the Army Medical Services Museum in Aldershot

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Victoria Cross: 1914 - 15 Star:: British War Medal ((1914-20) :Victory Medal (1914--19) COMMEMORATION

His body was recovered from the battlefield and lies today in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery.

There is also a commemorative stone in the village of Buckden to Captain Green and his brother, Lieut Alan Edward Green who was killed at the Battle of Loos. The stone erected by their father opposite the entrance to the Towers Towers.

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HALL Frederick William VC Company Sergeant Major, Service No: 1539, Date of Death: 25/04/1915, Age: 28, He served in the 8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Awards: VC,

Hall was born in Kilkenny, Ireland on 21 February 1885. His father was a British Army soldier from London. He was the son of Mary Hall, of 43, Union Rd., Leytonstone, Essex and the late Bombardier. F. Hall. Hall emigrated to Canada approximately 1910, and lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba He enlisted at Valcartier, Quebec on September 26, 1914. His record shows he was 5 Feet 8 Inches tall with a 36 inch test. His next of kin is shown as Mrs M Hall (Mother), 260 Young St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, which implies they both emigrated together.

It was on the night of April 24, 1915 during the Battle of St. Julien which was the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium that Hall discovered a number of men were missing. On the ridge above he could hear moans from the wounded men. Under cover of darkness, he went to the top of the ridge on two separate occasions and returned each time with a wounded man.

By nine o'clock on the morning of the 24th there were still men missing. In full daylight and under sustained and intense enemy fire, Hall, Cpl Payne and Private Rogerson crawled out toward the wounded. Payne and Rogerson were both wounded, but returned to the shelter of the front line.

When a wounded man who was lying some 15 yards from the trench called for help, Company Sergeant-Major Hall endeavoured to reach him in the face of very heavy enfilade fire by the enemy.

He then made a second most gallant attempt, and was in the act of lifting up the wounded man to bring him in when he fell, mortally wounded in the head. The soldier he had attempted to help was also shot and killed.

CITATION “The London Gazette," No. 29202, dated 23rd June, 1915, records the following:“THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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"On On 24th April, 1915, in the neighbourhood of Ypres, when a wounded man who was lying some 15 yards from the trench called for help, Company Serjeant Serjeant-Major Major Hall endeavoured to reach him in the face of a very heavy enfilade fire which was being poured in by the enemy. The first attempt failed, and a non-commissioned commissioned officer and private soldier who were attempting to give assistance were both wounded. Company Serjeant Serjeant-Major Major Hall then made a second most gallant gal attempt, and was in the act of lifting up the wounded man to bring him in when he fell mortally wounded in the head."

MEDALS Medal entitlement of Company Sergeant Major Frederick Hall Hall, 8th Battalion,, Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Victoria Cross: 1914-15 15 Star: British War Medal (1914 (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19) 19) COMMEMORATED

Menin Gate

Panel Reference Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30.

Frederick lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1925, Pine Street was renamed Valour Road because three of Canada's Victoria Cross recipients resided on the same 700 block of that street: Frederick Hall, Leo Clarke and Robert Shankland. It is believed to be the only street in the British Commonwealth to have three Victoria Cross recipients to llive ive on it, let alone the same block. A bronze plaque is mounted on a street lamp at the corner of Portage Avenue and Valour Road to tell te the tale of these three men.

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MARSHALL, James Neville VC MC and Bar Lieutenant Colonel James Neville Marshall, VC, MC and bar, Irish Guards attached 16th Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action 04/11/1918 aged 31, Service number was 31178.

He was born Manchester, 12 June 1887. James Neville initially attended Wellesbourne House School, Acocks Green (Birmingham) and then won a scholarship to King Edward’s Grammar School, Camp Hill, Birmingham. He remained there until March 1902 when he left, probably for family financial reasons. He became a clerk at the Birmingham and Midland Institute and later worked in the Medical Faculty of the University of Birmingham in a clerical capacity. It does not appear that the twenty-three year old James Neville Marshall was living with his family in 1911.

By that date his father had committed suicide by hanging (May 27th 1910) and his widowed mother appears to have run some kind of private school in Acocks Green with the help of her unmarried daughters, Nannie and Mary. Their home was noted as ‘Eastbourne House, Warwick Road, Acocks Green. Dorothy, then aged 20, was described as a university student. His younger brother, Klein, was still living at home and earnt his living as a clerk. There was now a live-in servant, May Byrne, aged 17 and born at Fradley, near Lichfield. The family were living at ’Eastbourne’ in May 1910 and James Henry appears to have committed suicide at the house itself.

James Neville Marshall left Birmingham as a young man and by 1911 had moved to Harlow, Essex, and, although not qualified, set himself up as a veterinary worker (became a veterinary surgeon - Birmingham Despatch 4.2.19), working mainly with horses and became well known in horse circles.

At first he lodged in Harlow but at some point moved to Bromleys Farm, Latton, Harlow. On September 20 1911 he married Edith Maud Taylor, who was also interested in horses, at the parish church in Latton, Essex. Edith was aged 25 and lived at Great Parndon; her father Henry Algernon “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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was a maltster. There is an air of mystery about the wedding certificate. James Marshall’s age was given as 32 when he was actually 23. He now had a third Christian name of ‘Wellesley’ which is not encountered in any earlier source. A great mystery is that his father was named as James Henry Wellesley Arthur Marshall and not declared as deceased despite his suicide the year before and was given the occupation of soldier when we know he had been an haberdasher. It appears that James Neville was concealing evidence about his background; indeed did Edith know the truth at that time?

His own occupation is given as ‘gentleman’ on the marriage certificate which also appears to be stretching the truth. James Neville now spent a considerable time abroad and was serving in a Scottish Regiment at the outbreak of war, being engaged in the remount department buying horses in the Argentine (1) MEDALS

Victoria Cross: Military Cross with Bar: 1914-15 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19): Officier Order of Leopold, Chevalier Order of Leopold, Croix de Guerre (Belgium) CITATION An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31178, dated 13th Feb., 1919, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, determination and leadership in the attack on the Sambre-Oise Canal, near Catillon, on the 4th November, 1918, when a partly constructed bridge came under concentrated fire and was broken before the advanced troops of his battalion could cross. Lt. Col. Marshall at once went forward and organised parties to repair the bridge. The first party were soon killed or wounded, but by personal example he inspired his command, and volunteers were instantly forthcoming. Under intense fire and with complete disregard of his own safety, he stood on the bank encouraging his men and assisting in the work, and when the bridge was repaired attempted to rush across at the head of his battalion and was killed while so doing. The passage of the canal was of vital importance, and the gallantry displayed by all ranks was largely due to the inspiring example set by Lt. Col. Marshall."

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COMMEMORATED

His grave is in line with row A. 22. At O ORS COMMUNAL CEMETERY Reference

(1) Information supplied on the Great War Forum Posted 24 February 2011

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Reverend MELLISH, Edward Noel VC He served as a private in the Boer War in the Artist’s Rifles attached to Baden-Powell's police He gained the rank of Temporary Chaplain in 1915 in the service of the Army Chaplain's Department.

Captain Mellish was the first member of the army chaplaincy to win the VC. Edward Noel Mellish was born on Christmas Eve 1880 at Oakleigh Park, Barnet, North London, the son of Edward and Mary Mellish. He was educated at Saffron Walden Grammar School and on completing his studies was to become a member of the Artists Rifles which stood him in good stead for the future .

BOER WAR In 1900 aged 20 he went to South Africa and served with Baden-Powell's police against the Boers.

One who served with him at this time described him as the bravest man he knew; "On one occasion his unit being surrounded by Boers there seemed little hope for them. Edward Mellish was given the task of summoning help. Somehow he got through but then with his duty done he returned to his comrades to tell them help was on the way and to assist with the defence until reinforcements arrived".

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After the war he returned to England for a while only to return to South Africa to take up a post in the diamond mines at Jagersfontein.

During his time there he assisted at a local church and native mission where he would read the lessons and also minister to the sick and needy. He made a great impression on the local populace, one of whom was to remark; "It is such men as Mr Mellish who restore one's faith in mankind."

Feeling that his work in Africa was over Edward Mellish returned to England to study at Kings College London taking holy orders in 1912 to become curate at St Pauls Church in Deptford. Here he did great work with the Church Lads Brigade taking over an old public house behind the Empire Music Hall and turning it into a boys club. The youngsters insisted on naming it after their curate and it became known as the Noel Club

WORLD WAR 1 When the war broke out Edward Mellish had no hesitation in offering his services to the chaplaincy and was to serve from May 1915 until February 1919.

Tragedy was to befall him however when on September 25th of 1915 his brother 2nd Lieutenant Richard Coppin Mellish was killed in action whilst serving with the 1st Middlesex Regiment at the Battle of Loos.

Early 1916 found the Reverend Mellish attached to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers who at that time were serving in the notorious Ypres Salient.

The "Action of the St Eloi Craters" went on from late March until mid April 1916 but it was to be the first three days of this action that were to bring the award of the Victoria Cross to Edward Mellish.

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The object of the operation was to cut away a German salient that encroached on the British lines over a front of about six hundred yards. Tunnelling companies had prepared six mines which were blown in the early hours of March 27th. Following this at 4-15am was the 4th Royal Fusiliers with the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers and some Canadian units went over the top to come up against withering rifle, machine gun and artillery fire from the Jaeger regiment manning the enemy trenches. Despite the opposition the attackers did manage to take the German first line trench but then had to consolidate, so weakened were they by the ferocity of the opposition.

Artillery duels then commenced which went on for several days. Eventually the beleaguered British units were relieved, yet local attacks went on in the area until the middle of May." It was however the three day period of 27th - 29th March which would see the Reverend Mellish move into the annals of the Victoria Cross.

A quote from a letter by an officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers who had witnessed these actions: "Nothing could be finer than the way Captain Mellish did his duty and more than his duty during the time he was near us. Immediately the troops captured the trenches and while the wounded were picking their way painfully back, the enemy's guns were turned on full blast and the intervening ground was deluged with shell and machine gun fire. Into this tempest of fire the brave Parson walked with a prayer book under his arm as though on church parade in peace time.

He reached the first of the wounded and knelt down to do what he could for them. The first few he brought in himself without any aid and it made us think a bit more of parsons to see how he walked quietly under fire assisting the slow moving wounded and thinking more of saving them from discomfort than of his own safety.

It was only during a lull in the fighting when the ambulance parties could get out that he finally took a rest.

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Next day he was out again unconcerned as ever. Some of the men would not have survived the ordeal had it not been for the prompt assistance rendered to them by Mr Mellish."

On the 27th March, Mellish went out in the battleground and brought back ten badly wounded men from an area that was potentially lethal as it was covered by the arc of fire from many machine guns.

On the 28th March, the Royal Fusiliers had been relieved but undeterred Mellish once more went out into the killing ground to bring in twelve more men and as dusk came on the 29th, Mellish led a party of volunteers to recover any wounded who remained.

For those who question why men serve as Chaplains in a military setting - perhaps the words of a (Cockney) wounded soldier from the 1914-18 conflict, who he had brought to safety and previously been notoriously anti-church, will sum it up: Safe in hospital talking to his mates he was asked "What religion is 'e".? When told he replied,"Well I'm the same as 'im now and the bloke as sez a word agen our church will 'ave 'is ****** 'ead bashed in.

POST WAR He was vicar of St. Marys Church Great Dunmow in Essex from 1928 to 1948 WORLD WAR 2 During the Second World War, Mellish served as an Air Raid Warden.

MEDALS

Victoria Cross: 1914-15 Star: Military Cross: Queen’s Medal SA: King’s Medal SA: 1914-1915 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19): King George VI Coronation Medal (1937): Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).

The medals are kept at the Royal Fusiliers Museum at the Tower of London CITATION London Gazetted, April 20th 1916 His citation for the VC reads:- "On three consecutive days, the 27 to 29 March 1916, during the heavy fighting at St. Eloi, Belgium, he went to-and fro continuously between the original trenches and the captured enemy trenches, attending to and rescuing wounded men. The first day, from an area swept by machine-gun fire, he rescued 10 severely wounded men.

Although his battalion was relieved on the second day, he returned and rescued 12 more of the wounded. Taking charge of a group of volunteers, on the third day, he again returned to the trenches

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in order to rescue the remaining wounded. This excellent work was done voluntarily and was far outside the sphere of his normal duties" The he Revd Mellish was awarded the Victoria Cross which he received from the King at Buckingham Palace on June 12th 1916 COMMEMORATED

He was vicar of St. Marys Church Great Dunmow in Essex from 1928 to 1948 and this memorial plaque in the church commemorates his valiant deed during the Great War He died on 8 July 1962 at South Petherton, Somerset, England He was cremated emated at Weymouth Crematorium in Dorset and his ashes scattered

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MERRYFIELD, William VC MM Private Merryfield enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) on 23 September 1914 and in 1917, at 27 years of age, was transferred to 4th (Central Ontario) Battalion, CEF, as a replacement. He went on to win the Military Medal (MM) for his conduct during the battle of Passchendaele in November of that year.

Merrifield was a native of Brentwood, Essex, England, who had emigrated to Canada for employment On 1 October 1918 at the battle of the Canal du Nord in France, only a month before the armistice, Sergeant Merrifield was trapped with his comrades under the fire of two German machine-gun posts. Merrifield gathered up bombs (grenades) and single-handedly attacked and destroyed the two machine guns. Dashing from shell-hole to shell-hole, he killed the occupants of the first post and, although wounded, continued to attack the second post and with a bomb killed the occupants. He refused to be evacuated and led his platoon until he was again severely wounded.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions.

The 4th (Central Ontario) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force is perpetuated today by The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI), which contributed the majority of the soldiers to the unit.

PICTURES Canal du Nord, Field dressing station, September 1918 and Infantry moves into open country

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MEDALS

Victoria Cross: Military Medal: 1914 - 15 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): 20): Victory Medal (1914-19): (1914 King Geee VI Coronation Medal (1937) COMMEMORATED After being discharged in April 1919, William Merrifield moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where a school is named after him in recognition of his service to his country William Merrifield died in Toronto, Ontario on 8 August 1943, and is buried in West Korah Cemetery, ery, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

A memorial paving stone is being dedicated in 2014 in his Bentwood

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MUGFORD, Harold Sanford VC Lance Corporal served in the machine-gun detachment of the Essex Yeomanry, in which Mugford was then serving, was transferred to the 8th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 3 March 1916

HAROLD SANFORD MUGFORD VC was born at 149 Keetons Road, Bermondsey, London on 31 August 1894, the second son of Richard John Sanford and Rose Lillian Mugford (nee Parsons). The family later moved to 2 Gillett Avenue, East Ham where he attended the Shrewsbury Road School.

On leaving school, he found employment as a clerk with a shipping company, Furness Withy. Harold was a keen cricketer, enjoyed other outdoor pursuits, and was a member of the Essex Yeomanry.

He was mobilised in August 1914, and after a period of training in Suffolk went overseas with the Regiment when it embarked for France on 29 November 1914. Mugford saw action in the Ypres Salient in the early part of 1915 and again in May, where Yeomanry distinguished themselves at the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge. He was with the Regiment at the Battle of Loos on the 27/28 September 1915, a sector to which they returned in the early part of 1916. Mugford had his share of adventures and narrow escapes, being buried on no less than three occasions when high explosive shells exploded close to his post.

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The machine-gun detachment of the Essex Yeomanry, in which Mugford was then serving, was transferred to the 8th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 3 March 1916, although they remained attached to the Regiment.

On 9 April 1917, the British First and Third Armies launched a major offensive on a 14-mile front from Vimy Ridge to Croisilles; the main thrust being in the central sector, east of Arras. The German front was broken and advances of nearly four miles were made in some places on the first day, and it seemed likely that a wider breakthrough might be achieved. Cavalry units were brought forward in the hope of exploiting the early success.

Early on the morning of 11 April, the 8th Cavalry Brigade (of which the Essex Yeomanry formed part) were ordered to move forward and to capture the high ground on the east and north east of Monchy-le-Preux, which it was believed had been taken by infantry units of the 37th Division.

Heavy enemy fire from the village of Roeux in the north forced a change in the direction of the Yeomanry's advance into Monchy itself. It was found that that although the enemy had withdrawn, the village was not defended and was under imminent threat of counter-attack. The Regiment therefore took steps to secure and hold the village. The Germans put down a heavy box-barrage on the village and brought up a large numbers of reinforcements during the day. The 8th Machine Gun Squadron did great work in helping to keep the attackers at bay, and it was the extraordinary bravery of Harold Mugford that earned him the Victoria Cross.

Soon after he was wounded again a shell breaking both his legs. He still remained with his gun, begging his comrades to leave him and take cover. Shortly afterwards this non-commissioned officer was removed to the dressing-station where he was again wounded in the arm.

The valour and initiative displayed by Lance Corporal Mugford was instrumental in breaking up the impending counter-attack of the enemy. For his conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Harold Mugford was not expected to survive his dreadful wounds. He was in a critical condition when he was brought back to England, and underwent six operations. Both his legs were amputated above the knee and, in addition to the wound to his arm, shrapnel was removed from his hip, tongue and jaw. Despite his injuries and suffering, he remained cheerful - indeed "quite jolly" to use his mother's words.

It must have been a terrible time for his parents because they had two other sons serving in the army, and had not heard from either of them for some months. Their eldest son, Sgt Richard Mugford, had returned from employment as a Customs Official in China and joined up soon after the outbreak of war and was serving in the 1st King Edward's Horse (The King's Overseas Dominions Regiment). Fortunately, Richard was to survive the war but their youngest son, Pte Percy Mugford, of the 4th Essex, who had been reported ‘wounded and missing' following the First Battle of Gaza on 26 March 1917, was not to return. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.

CITATION “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when under intense shell and machine-gun fire at Monchy-le-Preux, Lance Corporal Mugford succeeded in getting his machine-gun into a forward and very exposed position. From this point he was able to deal most effectively with the enemy, who “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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were massing for counter-attack. His No 2 was killed almost immediately, and at the same moment he himself was severely wounded. He was then ordered to a new position and told to go to the dressing-station, but continued on duty with his gun, inflicting severe loss on the enemy.”

POST WAR Harold Mugford was discharged from the Army on medical grounds and married Amy Key at All Saints' Church, Forest Gate on 23 April 1919. They moved to Chelmsford in the late 1920s. Their first home was at Mill House, Little Waltham, later moving to 'Ashburton' in Chignal Road, Chelmsford. Despite his disability, Harold Mugford involved himself in the life of the town and was a supporter of a number of local organisations, most notably of the Chelmsford Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (a banjo he made is now in the Essex Yeomanry and Regiment Museum, Chelmsford). He died on 16 June 1958 at the age of 63. He was afforded the honour of a military funeral in Chelmsford Cathedral, prior to cremation at the Southend Crematorium. Mrs Mugford died in 1978. They had no children.

MEDALS HRH King George V presented Harold Mugford with the Victoria Cross at an open-air investiture in the grounds of at Buckingham Palace on 3 July 1918. This was followed, in August, by a public presentation by the Mayor of East Ham of a cheque for £300, the proceeds of a fund raised in the Borough as a token of appreciation of the honour conferred upon him.

Victoria Cross:: 1914 - 15 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal (1914-19).

The Victoria Cross awarded to Harold Mugford was bequeathed, in Amy Mugford's will, to Furness Withy & Company Ltd., his pre-war employers, who had continued to pay her husband an ill health pension up to the time of his death. The medal is on long-term loan to the Imperial War Museum where it can be seen in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery.

Surprisingly, perhaps, other than the display of Harold Mugford's VC and associated information at the Imperial War Museum, there was no permanent memorial to Harold Mugford until June 2006 when a plaque was unveiled by Lord Petre, HM Lord Lieutenant for Essex, in St Peter's Chapel in Chelmsford Cathedral. The idea for a memorial stemmed from a proposal by the Essex Branch of The Western Front Association, which was carried forward jointly with the Essex Yeomanry Association; it also received the enthusiastic support of the Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades Association and The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. All four organisations shared the cost of the project.

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MYLES, Edgar Kinghorn VC DSO Myles had enlisted into The Worcestershire Regiment on 20th August 1914. He was discharged in the rank of Lance-Corporal on 20th November 1914 on app ointment to a temporary commission as 2/Lieutenant in The Worcestershire Regiment. Promoted Lieutenant in The Regiment on 22nd July 1915 he was then given a Regular Commission in The Welch Regiment as a 2/Lieutenant on 7th January 1916 with seniority 4th December 1915. He was transferred to The Worcestershire Regiment in the rank of 2/Lieut. and promoted Lieutenant on 12th January 1917.

Edgar Kinghorn Myles was born July 1894 in East Ham. As a boy he moved with his family to Blake Hall Crescent, Wanstead. He went to East Ham Council School, Shrewsbury Rd and thence to East Ham Technical College, which, some years later became East Ham Grammar School. The School opened in 1905. On leaving school, he became a Clerk for the Port of London Authority On 20 August 1914 he enlisted as a private in the 9th Bn. Worcs. Regt. In November of that year he was commissioned as a temporary 2nd Lt. and became a Captain in 1917. He served in Gallipoli from August 1915 to January 1916 before being transferred to Mesopotamia in March 1916. He stayed there until April 1918.

He saw action, was twice wounded and was present at the attempted Relief of Kut. On 9th April 1916 at Sanni-I-Yat, Mesopotamia, now in Iraq, he was awarded a Victoria Cross.

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He was also hit by enemy fire while carrying a wounded man, but staggered on and brought him to safety.

On 25 January 1917 at Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia he gained a DSO. The recommendation for DSO was originally intended to be for a second VC, but Lt Gen. Sir S Maud, GOC Troops at Kut did not want to set a precedent - a double VC was unknown at the time.

CITATION The citation reads: FOR THE VC "Edward Kinghorn Myles, Lieutenant The Welch Regiment for most conspicuous bravery. He went out alone on several occasions in front of our advance trenches, and, under heavy rifle fire and at great personal risk, assisted wounded men lying in the open. On one occasion he carried in a wounded officer to a place of safety under circumstances of great danger."

FOR THE DSO On 25th January 1917, still serving with the 9th Battalion at Kut-Al-Amara whilst he was acting Captain, he was created a companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

The Citation for this reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When all the officers except two had become casualties, he, for five hours, inspired confidence in the defence against two counter-attacks and sent back most accurate and valuable reports of the situation. His courage and fine example were largely responsible for the steadiness of all ranks under him."

POST WAR He transferred to the King's Regiment (Liverpool) as a Lieutenant in 1923 and was later promoted to Captain.

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He married in 1947 at Hatfield when he was about 53. Captain Edgar Kinghorn Myles, V.C., D.S.O., died at Bishopsteignton, Devonshire, on the 31st January 1977 at the age of 82. Captain Myles' funeral took place at Torbay and he was buried at the Crematorium Torquay. The Regiment was represented by Major A. J. Gutch, M.C. MEDALS

15 Star: British War Medal (1914 (1914-20): 20): Victory Medal (1914-19) (1914 the oak leaf Victoria Cross: DSO:1914-15 depicts his “mention in despatches”: King George VI Coronation Medal (1937): Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953) His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Worcestershire Regiment Museum, Worcester, England COMMEMORATED On 26th May 2010 the Newham Recorder announced that a memorial plaque to both Edgar Myles VC and Jack Cornwell VC had ad been unveiled at the Miller's Well pub in the Barking Road, almost opposite the Town Hall.

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POPE Charles VC He was a Second Lieutenant serving in the 11th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force

He was born in Mile End, London, on 5 March 1883, Charles Pope's parents were William, a Metropolitan Police constable, and Jane Pope (born Clark). He attended school in Navestock, Essex, before moving to Canada where he worked for Canadian Pacific Railways. He returned to England in 1906 and joined the Metropolitan Police. Later that year, at St Luke's Anglican Church in Chelsea, he married Edith Smith, with whom he would have two children, Edith Maude and Charles In 1910 William Pope resigned from the police force and moved his family to Perth, Western Australia. He took up work as a furniture salesman and then took on a role in the insurance sector.

Viola Massey Pope, Lloyd, and Charles Pope “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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MILITARY CAREER Amidst the backdrop of the First World War, Pope enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 31 August 1915, volunteering to serve overseas as part of Australia's commitment to World War I. Assigned as a reinforcement to 11th Battalion, which had been formed largely from Western Australians and was at the time fighting at Gallipoli, after training he was quickly made a sergeant. By February 1916, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and four months later sailed for England, to join the battalion, which had been transferred to Europe following its evacuation from Gallipoli, along with a batch of reinforcements. Sailing on HMAT Ajana, he arrived at Plymouth on 1 September 1916.

On 9 December 1916, Pope arrived on the Western Front reporting to the 11th Battalion, which was camped around Bazentin le Grand for the winter having fought at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm earlier in the year. Later that month he was promoted to lieutenant and in early 1917 he attended the divisional school. Pope subsequently fought in actions around Flers, Le Barque, and Ligny–Thilloy. On 15 April 1917 at Louverval, France, during the Battle of Lagnicourt, he was in command of a very important piquet 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 a superior enemy force, by which they were 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.

The 11th Battalion, despite suffering over 245 casualties, was subsequently able to hold their sector of the line. For his actions at the Battle of Lagnicourt Pope was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

MEDALS

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

CITATION POPE, Lt. Charles, V.C. 11th Bn. Australian Inf. 15th April, 1917. An extract from The London Gazette, dated 8th June, 1917, records the following: - For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in command of a very important piquet post in the sector held by his battalion, his orders being to hold this post at all costs. After the piquet post had been heavily attacked, the enemy, in greatly superior numbers, surrounded the post. Lt. Pope, finding that he was running short of “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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ammunition, sent back for further supplies. But the situation culminated before it could arrive, arr and in the hope of saving the position, this very gallant Officer was seen to charge with his piquet into a superior force, by which it was overpowered. By his sacrifice Lt. Pope, not only inflicted heavy loss on the enemy, but obeyed his order to hol hold d the position to the last. His body, together with those of most of his men, was found in close proximity to eighty enemy dead - a suree proof of the gallant resistance ance which had been made.

COMMEMORATION He is buried at Moeuvres Communal Cemetery Extension in France

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SAYER, John William VC Lance Corporal who served in the 8th Battalion of the Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment

He was born in Ilford, Essex, on 12th April 1879. He joined the Army on 25th July, 1916 and served on the Western Front from December 1916 until he died from wounds at Le Cateau in 1918.

John William Sayer was the son of Samuel and Marguret Sayer. His father was a farmer and the family home was at Wangye Hull Farm, Chadwell Heath. He was the husband of Edith Louise Sayer, of 35, Old London Rd., Hastings, Sussex.

Date of Act of Bravery 21st March 1918 at Shepherd’s Copse, Le Verguier. This was the first day of Operation Michael described in the section devoted to Private Herbert Columbine.

His platoon commander in the report of the Shepherds Copse action described Lance Corporal Sayer “defending against all attacks of the very much stronger enemy by bayonet and rifle with almost incredible bravery. Although for two hours he was continually exposed to enemy machine gunfire and bombs, he used his own rifle as coolly as if at the butts. Corporal Sayers showed the utmost contempt for danger and the enemy and inspired everyone by his conduct.” Le Verguier is a small village about 15 kilometres East of Peronne in the Somme region and Shepherds Copse is some 2 kilometres North East of the village. There were three separate posts connected by trenches on the British front line. He was wounded, losing a leg. He died later in German captivity leaving a widow Edith Sayer and 6 children.

CITATION His Citation in the London Gazette of the 9th June 1919 reads:“THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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“For most conspicuous bravery, determination and ability displayed on 21st March 1918, at Le Verguier, when holding for two hours, in face of incessant attacks, the flank of a small s isolated post. Owing to mist, the enemy approached the post from both sides to within thirty yards before being discovered. L/Cpl Sayer, however, on his own initiative and without assistance, beat off a succession of flank attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Although attacked by rifle and machine-gun gun fire, bayonet and bombs, he repulsed all attacks, killing many and wounding others. During the whole time he was continuously exposed to rifle and machine machine-gun gun fire, but he showed the utmostt contempt of danger, and his conduct was an inspiration to all. His skilful use of fire of all description enabled the post to hold out till nearly all the garrison had been killed and himself wounded and captured. He subsequently died as a result of woun wounds ds at Le Cateau”.

MEDALS He was awarded the Victoria Cross: British War Medal (1914 (1914-20): 20): Victory Medal (1914-19) (1914

John Sayer's Medals. © The Queen's Royal Surrey Regimental Association.

Association GRAVE He was buried in Le Cateau Cemetery, France, Plot 1, Row B, Grave 59. Headstone bears inscription “Never shall his memory fade.”

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WEARNE, Frank Bernard VC Second Lieutenant Frank Bernard Wearne served with the3rd Battalion attached to the 10th Battalion of the Essex Regiment. He was killed in action on the 28th June 1917 aged 23.

Frank was the Son of Frank and Ada Wearne of The Manor Lodge Worcester Park Surrey. He was born on March 1, 1894 in the Kensington section of London, he was one of three brothers who served; only one survived the war. Two of the three brothers attended Bromsgrove School: F. B. Wearne joined in 1908, at the age of fourteen, and left in 1912. He was followed to the School by his younger brother, G. W. Wearne, who later served with the Canadians and was the only brother to survive the war. The eldest brother, Keith Morris Wearne, did not attend Bromsgrove but became a regular army officer, joining the First Battalion of the Essex Regiment from Sandhurst before the First World War. After leaving school Frank went up to Corpus Christi, Oxford as a commoner in 1913 At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Frank volunteered for service in a Public School Battalion. He later obtained a commission in the 3rd Battalion of the Essex Regiment. After training he was sent to the Western Front and received his baptism of fire at the Battle of the Somme, where he was badly wounded on July 3rd, 1916. So severe were his wounds that he was only deemed fit enough to return to active service in May the following year, 1917.

May 1917 was a sad month for the Wearne family. It saw the return of Frank Wearne to the Front and the death of his older brother, Captain K. M. Wearne, on the 21st. When Wearne returned to the Front in May 1917 he was attached to the 11th Battalion of the Essex Regiment. This was based near the town of Lens in Northern France, and was manning trenches facing the enemy just east of Loos or resting at a small village behind the front called Les Brebis.

Frank was awarded his V.C. for actions during a raid on a German trench position known as “Nash Alley,” east of Loos, France. Wearne’s raiding party was to attack, capture and hold a section “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX”

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of the German line, taking prisoners for interrogation, destroying dugouts, and blowing up German tunnels which had been dug in the direction of the British lines

MEDALS The VC was presented to Wearne's father at Buckingham Palace by King George V

He was awarded the Victoria Cross: 1914 - 15 Star: British War Medal (1914-20): Victory Medal

(1914-19) CITATION The London Gazette dated 31st July, 1917, records the following:"For most conspicuous bravery when in command of a small party on the left of a raid on the enemy's trenches. He gained his objective in the face of much opposition and by his magnificent example and daring was able to maintain this position for a considerable time, according to instructions. During this period 2nd Lt. Wearne and his small party were repeatedly counter-attacked.

Grasping the fact that if the left flank was lost his men would have to give way, 2nd Lt. Wearne, at a moment when the enemy's attack was being heavily pressed and when matters were most critical, leapt on the parapet and, followed by his left section, ran along the top of the trench, firing and throwing bombs. This unexpected and daring manoeuvre threw the enemy off his guard and back in “THE VALIANT MEN OF ESSEX�

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disorder. Whilst on the top of the trench 2nd Lt. Wearne was severely wounded, but refused to leave his men. Afterwards he remained in the trench directing operations, consolidating his h position and encouraging all ranks. Just before the order to withdraw was given, this gallant officer was again severely hit for the second time, and while being carried away was mortally wounded. By his tenacity in remaining at his post though severely wounded, and his magnificent fighting spirit, he was enabled to hold on to the flank COMMEMORATION Memorial at Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire. His original burial site was destroyed in later fighting; his remains were never recovered. Memorials: Dud Corner orner Cemetery, Loos-en-Gohelle, Loos France; Panel 85 to 87.

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SOURCES 1. “THE V.C. AND D.S.O. BOOK: THE VICTORIA CROSS 1856 -1920” Naval & Military Press 2. The London Gazette 3. Imperial War Museum collection of pictures 4. Commonwealth War Graves Data Bank.

5. 1911 Census, 1901 census 6. Despatch from Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., Commanding-in-Chief, British Armies in France dated 20th July, 1918.

7. The War Graves Photographic Project 8. The Victoria Cross Organization 9. Veteran Affairs Canada 10. Find a grave memorials 11. The Scouting Pages web site 12. Royal Naval Museum Library 13. The “HELL FIRE CORNER” website 14. The “Long Long Trail” website 15. The “Worcestershire Regiment” website 16. The 13 volumes entitled the “Great War” publisher/ authors not given but believed possibly issued by the Daily Mail in the 1920s 17. Biography - Charles Pope - Australian Dictionary of Biography PLEASE NOTE that we obtained special dispensation from a number of agencies including the CWGC and the War Graves photographic project regarding copyright on their material used in this book. The IWM have granted a non commercial licence for their material used in this book. This was granted in view of the nature of the book being commemorative rather than published for commercial reasons.

(C) NOTE THEIR COPYRIGHT STILL REMAINS ON THIS MATERIAL USED ELSEWHERE.

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