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9 June 1952 : Captain John MacGregor VC
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John was the third child of William and Hanna MacGregor. John was brought up on a croft at Newlands of Urchany and was baptised at . He attended Geddes School, Cawdor School and Nairn Academy when he left full time education in 1907. When he left school he was apprenticed to Mr George Tolmie of Nairn as a Master Carpenter and Stone Mason. He …
17 April 1916 : 2/Lt Edward Felix Baxter VC
/on-this-day/17-april-1916-2lt-edward-felix-baxter-vc/
The short biography that follows is based on the account which appears in Gerald Gliddon's 'VCs of the First World War: Cambrai 1917' (The History Press. 2012). Edward Felix Baxter was born on 18 September 1885 at Thornleigh, 35 Hagley Road, Old Swinford, Stourbridge, in Worcestershire. His home later became a YMCA Centre. He was the second son of…
18 August 1917 : Sgt Frederick John Hobson VC
/on-this-day/18-august-1917-sgt-frederick-john-hobson-vc/
He was the son of John Hobson (a stone mason) and Sarah Hobson (née Wallace - Dublin born) then living at 14 Wood St, Pancras. With the death of his father and mother when still young, leaving only one surviving sister, Fred joined the British Army and served with the Wiltshire Regiment during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). After a few years…
3 September 1915 : Lt William Darnell VC
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Parents Henry and Rose Ann. William enlisted, only age 15, in 1901 in the South African Rifles and went to Africa. He returned to Australia 12 years later, became an actor and married Elizabeth (née Smyth) in April 1906. They lived at 'Maktau', Phillips Avenue, Murrumbeena, Victoria. William enlisted when war was declared in August 1914 an…
Billy Congreve. Armageddon Road: A VC’s Diary, 1914-1916. Ed Terry Norman.
/world-war-i-book-reviews/billy-congreve-armageddon-road-a-vc-s-diary-1914-1916-ed-terry-norman/
A VC’s Record. Major William La Touche Congreve, VC, DOS, MC, was killed by a sniper on 20 July 196. He left behind a detailed diary, some sketch maps and photographs, that in the hands of Terry Norman have been turned into a valuable record of the front line service of a galant and resourceful young officer. Mr. Norman’s commentary and notes pr…
021: Winter 1987
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The Road to Victory 1918
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Book review by Anne Clayton. The Road to Victory 1918 covers the fifty days between 8 August and 26 September when the Allied advance gathered momentum, from the first efforts east of Amiens, southwards to Peronne and then swinging to the north-east. Accounts are given of the sixty-four Victoria Crosses won during this time, including Scottish-bor…
The Final Days 1918
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Book review by Anne Clayton. The Final Days 1918 gives details of fifty-six VC winners who gained their awards during the six weeks prior to the Armistice. The last VC before the Armistice was awarded to A / Major B.M.Cloutman for his bravery during the crossing of the River Sambre on 6 November. Cloutman was with 59th Field Company, Royal Enginee…
069: January 2004
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079: April 2007
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Henry May VC : October 1914
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Henry May VC was one of five servicemen to win a VC on the Western Front in October 1914 and will have a commemorative paving stone dedicated to his memory at a ceremony to be held in the City of Glasgow on or around 22 October 2014. His stone will be the second one laid to a Glasgow VC, the one of Capt Harry Sherwood Ranken being the first. Both m…
Harold Mugford VC
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Harold Mugford 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…
Victoria Crosses Won on the Western Front 1914-1918
/world-war-i-articles/victoria-crosses-won-on-the-western-front-1914-1918/
The Victoria Cross (VC) is awarded for 'conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy'. For a medal that is awarded for supreme gallantry, it is a singularly plain, a variable dark brown in colour and relatively unadorned object. It is also quite small, only 1.4 inches by 1.4 inches, weighs less than an ounce overall (about 25 grammes). All t…
How a Stockton man won the VC
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Ted Cooper writes how his granda won the VC. Edward Cooper was born in Stockton on the 4th May 1896. He left school at the age of 13 and by 1914 he was selling fruit for the Co-operative Society. When war was declared, many of the Co-op’s horses were commandeered by the army and Ned was unable to work. He was put on an early holiday, during whi…
The story of how 2nd Lieut. Edward Felix Baxter was awarded the VC : 16 April 1916
The short biography that follows is based on the account which appears in Gerald Gliddon's 'VCs of the First World War: Cambrai 1917' (The History Press. 2012). E.F. Baxter At Ransart near Blairville, France, 17/18 April 1916 Nearly three weeks after Edward Mellish won his VC at St Eloi, Belgium, a fourth Western Front VC of 1916 was gained appr…
Lance Corporal William Cotter : 14 March 1916
/world-war-i-articles/lance-corporal-william-cotter-14-march-1916/
The following account is based on Gerald Gliddon's account of Cotter's career published in 'VCs of the First World War: Cambrai 1917' published by The History Press. Lance/Corporal (Acting) Corporal William Cotter was the second Allied soldier to win the Victoria Cross on the Western Front in 1916. He was a member of the 6th (Service) Battalion Th…
11 August 1918 : Lieut. Alfred Edward Gaby VC
/on-this-day/11-august-1918-lieut-alfred-edward-gaby-vc/
The seventh child of parents Alfred and Alicia Gaby. Alfred went to school in Scottsdale and after school worked on the family farm. He then spent some time in southern Tasmania. While working on his father's farm he had joined the militia and served for three years with the 12th Infantry Battalion (Launceston Regiment). Two elder brothers had …
Stand To! No.1 to No.133 Full Contents Listing
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Stand To! 1-133 Content Stand To 1 Spring 1981 Editorial Notes (Peter T. Scott) Serving members of the Western Front Association Early Days, New Paths and Acknowledgements Inaugural Meeting: John Terraine's Address. Historian John Terraine berates those who indulge in ‘purely tragic pilgrimages to the Western Front’. The Loving Care of the…
Pension Records: Famous, Infamous, Extraordinary and Ordinary
/world-war-i-articles/pension-records-famous-infamous-extraordinary-and-ordinary/
The Western Front Association's Pension Record Card and Ledger archive which has been published online by Ancestry is a magnificent set of never-seen before material which massively helps those looking for 'Great Uncle Bill' to not track down their relative but also put a little bit of extra information on the serviceman's story. It has been said …
The Coldstream Guards and Irish Guards at Cuinchy 1915
/world-war-i-articles/the-coldstream-guards-and-irish-guards-at-cuinchy-1915/
Cuinchy is a village astride the La Bassée Canal and is referred to by Robert Graves in his classic memoir Goodbye to All That: 'Cuinchy bred rats. They came up from the canal, fed on the plentiful corpses, and multiplied exceedingly. While I stayed here with the Welsh, a new officer joined the company... When he turned in that night, he heard a s…
The Liverpool Scottish at Bellewaarde
/world-war-i-articles/the-liverpool-scottish-at-bellewaarde/
This article is intended to briefly tell the story of one not particularly well known action that took place on 16 June 1915. The starting point in the story is this photograph. Taken near Hooge, a photo of the first attack on Bellewaarde Farm by the Liverpool Scottish, 6 am, 16 June 1915. Photo by Private F.A. Fyfe, 'Z' Company, 1/10th King's …
Victoria Crosses awarded on the Western Front
/world-war-i-articles/victoria-crosses-awarded-on-the-western-front/
The Victoria Cross (VC) is awarded for 'conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy'. For a medal that is awarded for supreme gallantry, it is a singularly plain, a variable dark brown in colour and relatively unadorned object. It is also quite small, only 1.4 inches by 1.4 inches, weighs less than an ounce overall (about 25 grammes). All thi…
Cyrus Peck, Piper Paul and the Canadian Scottish at Amiens
/world-war-i-articles/cyrus-peck-piper-paul-and-the-canadian-scottish-at-amiens/
This article looks at one battalion's action on 8 August 1918, and is largely based on a chapter of the battalion's history by H.M.Urquhart, published in 1932. The battalion in question was the 16th Battalion, CEF the Canadian Scottish, a 'kilted' battalion which was led for a large part of the war by Lt-Col Cyrus Peck. It is fair to say he had str…
'Five Warwick VCs' with Ian Binnie
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Ian Binnie, local teacher and historian, explores the VCs awarded to Warwickshire men, during the First World War. Ian will be about the five Royal Warwickshire Regiment who won the V.C. during WW1. I will provide details of their early lives, their military service, the events that led to the award of the V.C. a d their subsequent career. A tal…
The Five Warwick VCs by Ian Binnie.
/branches/united-kingdom/heart-of-england/events/the-five-warwick-vcs-by-ian-binnie/
This talk will include biographical details of the five soldiers who were awarded the Victoria Cross whilst serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment during World War One. There will also be a focus on the actions in which their bravery was recognised, including background, key events and the consequences. ~ ~ ~ Ian Binnie is the recently appo…
'Soldiers of God' by Dr Rodney Attwell
/branches/united-kingdom/somerset/events/soldiers-of-god-by-dr-rodney-attwell/
Dr Rodney Attwell will be giving a talk he calls 'Soldiers of God'. This talk will look at the brave men of the Royal Army Chaplain's Service who in the most part went to war armed only with their faith, many were decorated for their bravery including winning three VCs . "If the men can't go to church then the church must go to the men." Thi…
10 March 1915 : Gabar (Rifleman) Singh Negi
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Singh Negi joined 2nd Bn Garhwal Rifles October 1913. He was sent to France from India as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force at the end of September 1914. Making it to Marsellies, they were trained north to Orlean and beyond. Gabar Singh Negi took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March the following year. The night before the attack…
Albert Ball, VC
/world-war-i-articles/private-memorials-on-the-western-front/albert-ball-vc/
Capt A Ball, VC, DSO**, MC 7/Sherwood Foresters, attd 58 Sqn, RFC Killed in action 7 May 1917 Buried at Annoeullin Communal Cemetery, German Extension. (About 20Km East of Béthune)Memorial: Small stone column in a field about 800m NNW of the Cemetery.Car access to within 300m.Location on Google Map.Guardian: Nottingham High School. Captain Alber…
2 April 1917 : Captain Robert Alister Field MC
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His parents were Joseph (a hat manufacturer and employer) and Frances (née Ross) He was educated at Rokeby School, Wimbledon and Dulwich College which he attended 1909-1912. In 1901, age 6, Robert was at home (91 Worple Road, Wimbledon) with his family (parents, two sisters and 11 month old brother). Ten years later, in 1911, and now 16 yea…
ONLINE : 'The Last Father & Son VCs: The Remarkable Lives of Walter and William Congreve'
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The presentation will be live and online. This talk by Dr Spencer Jones explores the remarkable lives of Walter and William Congreve, a fearless father and son from one of Britain's most famous military families. Walter was a stoic ironman who overcame physical disability through sheer force of will, whilst his son, William, was a firebrand who …
Britain's Most Decorated Soldier in the First World War
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There are many categories and definitions of ‘hero’, but the main thread is associated with physical and moral courage, usually envisaged with aggression and typically armed action. This is only part of the story. There have only been three VCs with Bar awarded, and two of those were earned during the First World War and both by Royal Army Medical …
The Yorkshire Landings at Suvla
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It is often thought that the first time the volunteers raised by Lord Kitchener went into action was at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. Whilst this was the first time in the Great War that Kitchener’s men had been used in large numbers, their first action took place nearly a year earlier. The ‘Lancashire Landing’ at Gallipoli is very well kn…
The Battle of Hill 70: Victoria Cross awards
/world-war-i-articles/the-battle-of-hill-70-victoria-cross-awards/
A number of Canadians earned the highest award for valour during the Battle of Hill 70. Private Harry Brown, 10th Battalion, 1st Canadian Infantry Division From The London Gazette For most conspicuous bravery, courage and devotion to duty. After the capture of a position, the enemy massed in force and counter-attacked. The situation became very…
George Peachment: one of the youngest recipients of the Victoria Cross : 25 September 1915
George Peachment was, when he enlisted, not much different from many other young volunteers in that he lied about his age to try to 'do his bit' for King and Country. His first attempt to enlist was unsuccessful (according to a family member, to try to make him look older, he borrowed his father's bowler hat when he tried to enlist aged 17 years an…
The Cavalry at Monchy-le-Preux
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The Battle of Arras started on 9 April, Easter Monday, 1917. The most famous action in this battle is the storming of the heights of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps on the left of the British attack. Success elsewhere on the front was good, if not quite so spectacular. Cyril Falls (who wrote the volume of the Official History covering 1917) state…
St George’s Day at Zeebrugge
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One of the reasons for Britain and her Empire going to war in 1914 was because of the perceived danger to the UK’s maritime trade posed by a hostile Germany controlling the ports on the European side of the English Channel and North Sea. The German conquest of much of Belgium, including the Belgian coast line, brought about this feared scenario wit…
William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse – the first aviator VC
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One of the original ‘magnificent men’, the story of William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse is truly fascinating. What may not be widely known is that he was of Maori descent from his grandmother. His paternal grandfather was William Barnard Rhodes, a Yorkshireman, who by the early 1830s was Master of his own ship. Above: William Barnard Rhodes He so…
Ep. 212 - Lt Col John Sherwood Kelly VC - Philip Bujak
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Author Philip Bujak talks about his latest book on John Sherwood Kelly DSO VC and his career and action-filled life during and after the First World War. This book is published by Pen & Sword. Your browser does not support the audio element. …
Q-21 - HMS Prize and William Sanders VC
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HMS Prize also Q-21 was previously known as HMS First Prize and originally the German ship Else. She had the distinction of being the first ship captured in the war in August 1914 (hence the name First Prize). Auctioned off by the Admiralty, her new owners, the Marine Navigation Company, later offered her to the Navy for decoy work in November 1916…
Major Mick Mannock KIA 10 July 1918 and the ongoing mystery of his grave
/world-war-i-articles/major-mick-mannock-kia-10-july-1918-and-the-ongoing-mystery-of-his-grave/
On 10 July 1918, Major Edward Mannock, who had recently been appointed to command 85 Squadron of the newly created RAF, heard that his friend James McCudden had been killed in a flying accident. This news seriously depressed ‘Mick’ as he was known, but also motivated him into a killing spree. On top of his already impressive haul, he shot down six …
Cork VC's of the Great War with Gerry White
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During the Great War, a total of thirty-seven Irish servicemen were awarded the Victoria Cross. Of that number, five had connections to the city and county of Cork. These were: Corporal Michael O’Leary of the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards; Corporal William Cosgrove, 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers; Captain Gerald O’Sullivan, 1st Battalion, Roy…
ONLINE: From Gallipoli to the Caspian Sea, the Life of Eric Gascoigne 'Kipper' Robinson VC
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The presentation will be live and online. One of the most intriguing characters of the Great War, Eric 'Kipper' Robinson served notably in the Gallipoli Campaign, Palestine and The Caspian Sea. He was decorated on numerous occasions and appears on the fringes of seemingly endless moments of history from the Boxer Rebellion, through the…
3 August 1917 : Lieut. Robert Combe VC
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His parents were James and Elizabeth Combe. Robert emigrated to Canada age 26 in 1906 having already completed his schools and qualified in London as a pharmacist. He initially joined the staff of a drug store in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, several years later opening his own store in Melville. After the outbreak of war he continued to work unti…
ONLINE : 'Gallipoli Gallantry: Consistent Courage, Inconsistent Recognition' with Stephen Snelling
The next Gallipoli Association Zoom talk is called 'Gallipoli gallantry: Consistent courage, inconsistent recognition' and wis with Stephen Snelling. In re-examining some of the most celebrated Victoria Cross actions of the 1915 Dardanelles campaign Stephen will look at the bureaucracy behind some of the awards as well as the erratic nature of som…
"Private Martin Moffatt VC and the Liberation of Ledegem"
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This is our annual joint meeting with the Leinster Regimental Assn. "Private Martin Moffatt VC and the Liberation of Ledegem" "The town of Ledegem, in Belgium had been under German occupation throughout the war until it was liberated by the 2nd Leinsters on 14th October 1918. In the course of the battle, two Leinster Regiment soldiers, Private Mo…
My Uncle - The Battle of Britain VC
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In his talk to us last year Jim Nicolson detailed the stories of four RFC/RAF VCrecipients with some jaw-dropping accounts of the actions for which they wereawarded their decorations. Jim is no stranger to aerial VCs, being the nephew of JamesNicholson, the only fighter pilot to be awarded the VC in WW2, and in his follow-upvisit Jim will detail hi…
Never Fired A Shot –The Story of William Coltman VC MM & bar, DCM & bar
Tim Coltman, great grandson of William Coltman VC, gives our next talk on the most decorated other rank of the First World War. William volunteered to help his country in the bloody conflict known as the Great War and would go on to become a hero whose great deeds are still honoured in his hometown of Burton over a century later. William, just 5ft …
“Non-Combatants - Really? Decorated Bandsmen 1914-45” by Stephen Mason
“Non-Combatants - Really? Decorated Bandsmen 1914-45” by Stephen Mason The talk will look at decorations awarded during both World Wars to serving or former British Army bandsmen. These range from the Victoria Cross to a posthumous Mention in Dispatches. In addition to the expected role of stretcher bearer which was the task normally assigned to m…
The Story of the Unknown Warrior of Westminster Abbey by Gerry White
The tomb of the Unknown Warrior, which is located at the west end of the Nave of Westminster Abbey in London, symbolizes the courage and sacrifice made by members of the British armed forces who fell during the Great War. Ever since the Unknown Warrior was interred in the abbey at a State Funeral on 11 November 1920, his tomb has become a place of …
The Staffords at Gallipoli in North Persia, Italy and Mesopotamia
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A special day with the Gallipoli Association to remember the important theatres of the First World War, away from the Western Front The service of the Staffords on the Western Front during World War One is familiar to many. Less well known is their contribution to the wider war. Battalions of both the North and South Staffords served in Gallipoli,…
The First World War story of Captain A.D. Blair, Harley Couper's great-grandfather.
At the back of my parents' wardrobe sat a pirate's chest. It would grumble and sigh camphor when opened, hinting at distant lands and adventures. The pirate was Captain A.D. Blair, my great-grandfather. His adventures, my mother hinted, included smuggling guns in the Middle East, sailing the seas with a pet lion aboard, and earning a medal from the…