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Regimental VC`s (Second Boer War)

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Nov 072013

Regimental VC`s ( Second Boer War )

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The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 78 members of the British Armed Forces for action during the Second Boer War. The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour “in the face of the enemy” to members of the armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29th January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War, and takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26th June 1857, when Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park

The Second Boer War was fought from 11th October 1899 to 31st May 1902, between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic). After a set of failed negotiations over foreigner land rights in the territories, led by Joseph Chamberlain, both sides issued ultimatums. When the ultimatums were rejected, war was declared. The war had three distinct phases. First, the Boers mounted pre-emptive strikes into British-held territory in Natal and the Cape Colony, besieging the British garrisons of Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberly. The Boers then won a series of tactical victories against a failed British counteroffensive to relieve the three sieges. The second phase began after British forces under Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts launched counteroffensives with increased troop numbers. After Natal and the Cape Colony were secure, the British were able to invade the Transvaal and the republic’s capital, Pretoria, was captured in June 1900. The third phase began in March 1900, when the Boers engaged a protracted hard-fought guerrilla warfare against the British forces. In an effort to cut off supplies to the raiders, the British, now under the leadership of Lord Kitchener, responded with a scorched earth policy of destroying Boer farms and moving civilians into Concentration Camps.

The British Government had expected the campaign to be over within months, and the protracted war became increasingly unpopular especially after revelations about the conditions in the concentration camps. Emily Hobhouse, a campaigner, had forced the British Government to set up the Fawcett C0mmission, led by suffragist Millicent Fawcett, into the conditions at the camps. Hobhouse published reports from the camps which told of thousands of deaths from disease and malnutrition. These reports helped to sway public opinion against the war. The demand for peace led to a settlement of hostilities, and in 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed. The two republics were absorbed into the British Empire, although the British were forced to make a number of concessions and reparations to the Boers. The granting of limited autonomy for the area ultimately led to the establishment of the Union of South Africa.

The original Royal Warrant , was silent on whether the VC could be awarded posthumously. From 1857 until 1897, 18 recipients were gazetted after their deaths but only 12 of the next of kin received the actual medal. In the other six cases there was a memorandum stating that they would have been recommended for the VC had they survived. By 1899, the precedent had been established that the VC could be awarded posthumously if the recommendation for the award was submitted prior to the recipient’s death from wounds. Two such awards were granted during the Second Boer War, the well known award to Frederick Roberts, the son of Lord Roberts VC and to Francis Parsons. In 1900 and 1901, three memoranda were issued for Herman Albrecht, Robert Digby-Jones and David Younger stating they would have been recommended for the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy restricted to the Second Boer War, it was announced in the London Gazette on 8th August 1902, that the next of kin of the three soldiers mentioned in memoranda would be sent medals. In the same gazette, the first three posthumous awards were gazetted to Alfred Atkinson, John Barry and Gustavus Coulson. In 1907, the posthumous policy was reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the remaining six officers and men. Although the Victoria Cross warrant was not amended to specifically include posthumous awards until 1920, one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous.

Regimental VC`s (Second Boer War)

General Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC, KCB, MVO, DL (20th November 1862 – 28 February 1927) was an English recipient of 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. He was 37 years old, and a captain in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the Second Boer War when he won the VC.

Walter Norris Congreve was the son of William and Fanny E. Congreve of Castle Church, Stafford. He was educated at Twyford School, Harrow School and Pembroke Collage, Oxford. He married Cecilia Henrietta Dolores Blount La Touche at St Jude`s Church, Kensington, on 18th May 1890.

On 15th December 1899 at the Battle of Colenso, South Africa, Captain Congreve with several others, tried to save the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven from their guns. Some of the horses and drivers were sheltering in a donga (gully) about 500 yards behind the guns and the intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Captain Congreve, with two other officers (The Hon. Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts and Harry Norton Schofield), and Corporal George Edward Nurse retrieved two of the guns. All four received the VC for this action. (F.S.H. Roberts was the son in one of the two other father and son pairs of VC winners.) Then, although wounded himself, seeing one of the officers fall, Congreve went out with Major William Babtie, RAMC, who also received the VC for this action, and brought in the wounded man. His citation read:

“ At Colenso on the 15th December, 1899, the detachments serving the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, had all been either killed, wounded, or driven from their guns by Infantry fire at close range, and the guns were deserted. About 500 yards behind the guns was a donga in which some of the few horses and drivers left alive were sheltered. The intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Captain Congreve, Rifle Brigade, who was in the donga, assisted to hook a team into a limber, went out; and assisted to limber up a gun. Being wounded, he took shelter; but, seeing Lieutenant Roberts fall, badly wounded, he went out again and brought him in. Captain Congreve was shot trough the leg, through the toe of his boot, grazed on the elbow and the shoulder, and his horse shot in three places.

The Somme

Congreve commanded 6th Division from May 1915 and then XIII from November 1915. As commander of XIII Corps, Lt-Gen Congreve led the battles for Longueval and Delville Wood between 14th July and 3rd September 1916. The rapid advance of his Corps in the southern sector of the Somme offensive had brought about a situation where the allied front was set at a right angle – the left sector facing north and the right, facing east from Delville Wood. This meant that an advance on a wide front would result in the attacking forces diverging from one–another as they advanced. In order to “straighten the line,” General Sir Douglas Haig had decided to exploit the advances which had been made by Congreve in the south by taking and holding the town of Longueval and Delville Wood. Being on fairly high ground and providing good spotting opportunities for artillery fire, an occupied Longueval would protect the right flank and allow the Allies to advance in the north and align their left with that of Congreve’s XIII Corps on the right. XIII Corps succeeded in securing Delville Wood, but it was one of the bloodiest confrontations of the Somme, with both sides incurring large casualties. During WWI, Congreve lost a hand in action.

In later life Congreve continued his war service becoming General Officer Commanding VII Corps in 1918. Later Congreve rose to the rank of general and was knighted. He was General Officer Commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between 1919 and 1922 and then Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command between 1923 and 1924.

From 1924 to 1927, he served as the governor of Malta, where he died. At his request, he was buried at sea in the channel between the coast and Filfla Island; there is a small monument to him on the coast between Hamriia Tower and the prehistoric site of Mnajdra; the channel between Malta and Filfla is unofficially known as Congreve Channel (the official name is ‘Il-Fliegu ta’ Filfla’). The presence of Congreve’s monument in a place of prehistoric worship is considered a colonial sacrilege by many Maltese people, and there have been repeated calls for its removal.

There is also a stone bearing his name above the gate to the “Scouts” HQ in Floriana, Valletta.

Congreve was the father of Major William La Touche Congreve, VC – they are one of only three father and son pairs to win a VC. His younger son Geoffrey Cecil Congreve was created a baronet, of Congreve in the County of Stafford, in July 1927 (see Congreve baronets).

Congreve’s Victoria Cross is on display at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Alfred Edward Durrant VC, ISM (4th November 1864 – 29 March 1933) was an English recipient of 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.

He was 35 years old, and a Private in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place on 27th of August 1900 at the Battle of Bergendal, South Africa, for which he was awarded the VC:

“ At Bergendal, on the 27th August, 1900, Acting-Corporal Wellar having been wounded, and being somewhat dazed, got up from his prone position in the firing line, exposing himself still more to the enemy’s fire, and commenced to run towards them. Private Durrant rose, and pulling him down endeavoured to keep him quiet, but finding this impossible he took him up and carried him back for 200 yards under a heavy fire to shelter, returning immediately to his place in the line.

He later achieved the rank of lance-corporal. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Major General Llewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies VC ,CB, CMG, DSO (30th June 1878 – 26th December 1965) was an English recipient of 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.

Price-Davies was 23 years old, and a Lieutenant in The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place at Blood River Poort for which he was awarded the VC:

“ At Blood River Poort, on the 17th September, 1901, when the Boers had overwhelmed the right of the British Column, and some 400 of them were galloping round the flank and rear of the guns, riding up to the drivers (who were trying to get the guns away) and calling upon them to surrender, Lieutenant Price Davies, hearing an order to fire upon the charging Boers, at once drew his revolver and dashed in among them, firing at them in a most gallant and desperate attempt to rescue the guns. He was immediately shot and knocked off his horse, but was not mortally wounded, although he had ridden to what seemed to be almost certain death without a moment’s hesitation.

He later achieved the rank of Major General. His grave and memorial are at St Andrew`s church yard in Sonning, Berkshire.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts VC (8th January 1872 – 17th December 1899), son of the famous Victorian commander Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, was born in Umballa, India, and received 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.

Roberts attended Eton Collage and joined the army soon after completing his studies. The son of Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts one of the greatest commanders of the Victorian era, it was only natural that he should follow his father into the British Army, and after the Royal Military Collage, Sandhurst, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the King`s Royal Rifle Corps on 10th June 1891.After joining the Army he was soon involved in action, fighting in the Wariristan Expeditionin 1894 and 1895, where he was Mentioned in Dispatches. He came to the attention of senior officers for his effective leadership. In 1898 he took part in the Nile Expedition following which he was promoted to lieutenant and awarded Order of Meijidieh of the Forth Class.

At the age of 27, Roberts went with the King’s Rifles to the Second Boer War, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 15th December 1899 at the Battle of Colenso, South Africa, Roberts, with several others, tried to save the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven from their guns. Some of the horses and drivers were sheltering in a donga about 500 yards behind the guns and the intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Roberts with two other officers ( Walter Norris Congreve and Harry Norton Schofield) and Corporal George Edward Nurse helped to hook a team into a limber and then to limber up a gun. While doing so, he fell badly wounded and two days later died of his wounds at Chieveley, Natal. The action was observed by the Commander-in-chief, Redvers Buller who recommended Roberts for the VC in a despatch written on 16 December, before Roberts had died from his wounds.

Confirmation of the award was made on 2 February 1900, the citation reading:

War Office, February 2, 1900.

Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officer, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty’s approval, for their conspicuous bravery at the battle of Colenso, as stated against their names:—

The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) Captain W. N. Congreve

At Colenso on the 15th December, 1899, the detachments serving the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, had all been either killed, wounded, or driven from their guns by Infantry fire at close range, and the guns were deserted.

About 500 yards behind the guns was a donga in which some of the few horses and drivers left alive were sheltered. The intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire.

Captain Congreve, Rifle Brigade, who was in the donga, assisted to hook a team into a limber, went out; and assisted to limber up a gun. Being wounded, he took shelter; but, seeing Lieutenant Roberts fall, badly wounded, he went out again and brought him in. Captain Congreve was shot through the leg, through the toe of his boot, grazed on the elbow and the shoulder, and his horse shot in three places.

Lieutenant the Honourable F. H. S. Roberts (since deceased). Lieutenant Roberts assisted Captain Congreve. He was wounded in three places.

Roberts and his father were one of only three father-son pairs to win the VC, his father having won it in 1858 for an action at Khudaganj during the Indian rebellion.

F.H.S. Robert’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum in Chelsea.

Sourced from Wikipedia

original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

Regimental VC`s (World War Two)

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Nov 072013

Regimental VC`s ( World War Two )

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The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded 628 times to 627 recipients for action in the First World War (1914–1918). The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour “in the face of the enemy” to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The award was officially constituted when Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29th January 1856 that was gazetted on 5th February 1856. The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War. The first awards ceremony was held on 26th June 1857, where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in a ceremony in Hyde Park.

The Victoria Cross was awarded 182 times to 181 recipients for action in the Second World War. The war, also known as World War II (WWII), was a global military conflict that involved a majority of the world`s nations, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war involved the mobilisation of more than 100 million military personnel, making it the most widespread war in history. In a state of “total war”, the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Throughout the six-year duration of the war, weapons and technology improved rapidly, including the use of jet aircraft, radar and nuclear weapons. More than 70 million people, the majority of whom were civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.

The start of the war is generally held to be 1 September 1939, with the German invasion of Poland and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by most of the Crown Colonies of the British Empire and Commonwealth, and by France. The first Victoria Cross of the war was awarded to Gerard Roope for action whilst in command of HMS Glowworm. The war at sea began immediately after war was declared with the Battle of the Atlantic, in which German U-Boats attempted to disrupt and destroy allied convoys. Throughout the war the Royal Navy was tasked with guarding vital shipping lanes and enabling amphibious operations across the globe; the St Nazaire Raid saw five Victoria Crosses awarded. The Battle of the Mediterranean was fought throughout the war and included the Battle of Taranto and Battle of Matapan, as well as protecting convoys including the Malta convoys. In total, 23 servicemen from the Royal Navy were awarded the Victoria Cross including one Royal Marine. Aerial Warfare came into its own in World War II with several distinct roles emerging. The role of fighter planes developed during the Battle of Britain, where the Royal Air Force fought for air superiority against the Luftwaffe. The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces. It was the largest and most sustained bombing campaign up until that date. Initially, RAF airfields were attacked, however as the battle progressed, operations were extended to the strategic level with The Blitz. Britain also conducted controversial strategic bombing campaigns in Europe and Asia; they involved hundreds of aircraft dropping tens of thousands of tons of munitions over a single city. Tactical strikes were also carried out by the RAF including Operation Chastise, where No.617 Squadron RAF attacked German dams in the Ruhr valley using ” bouncing bombs”; Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

The war on the land did not begin until May 1940, as Britain and France were involved in a so-called Phoney War between Germany and the Franco-British alliance. The phoney war ended with the Battle of France where Germany invaded Benelux and subsequently France, which forced British troops to escape from Dunkirk. In 1941, war spread to the Middle East and North Africa as well as the East African Campaign. The United States officially joined the war in December 1941 after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1942, British forces under Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery defeated the Axis forces of General Erwin Rommel in the Second Battle of El Alamein, which marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign and the North African Campaign. It ended Axis hopes of occupying Egypt, taking control of the Suez Canel, and gaining access to the Middle Eastern oil fields. Nine VCs were awarded for action in the Western Desert Campaign. By 1943, the war was being fought in several theatres, including the Pacific, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Burma Campaign of the Pacific War took place from 1942 to 1945, and saw 29 Victoria Crosses awarded. By 1944 and the Allied invasion of Normandy, the Allies were making ground in several theatres including advances in the Burma Campaign. In Europe, the unsuccessful raid on Arnhem saw five soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross, four posthumously. In May 1945, the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces, celebrated with Victory in Europe Day. The war in the Pacific was ended with the surrender of Japan on board USS Missouri on 2 September 1945.

Charles Upham received the Victoria Cross and Barr; two awards for two acts. Upham was only the third recipient of the Victoria Cross and Bar, and the first for combatant actions; the previous two recipients were medical officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Regimental VC`s (World War Two)

John Beeley VC (8th February 1918 – 21st November 1941) was an English recipient of 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.

Beeley was 23 years old, and a rifleman in the 1st Battalion The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British army during Operation Crusader in the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 21st November 1941 at Sidi Rezegh, Libya, at an airfield being attacked by Rifleman Beeley’s company, progress was held up by short range fire. All the officers of the company were wounded so, on his own initiative the rifleman ran forward over open ground, firing his Bren gun and at 20 yards range put an anti-tank gun and two machine-guns out of action. He was killed but his bravery inspired his comrades to further efforts to reach their objective, which was eventually captured, together with 100 prisoners.

He is buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

A street in Openshaw, Manchester, has been named John Beeley Avenue in his honour

Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Buller Turner VC,CVO (17th January 1900 – 7th August 1972) was an English recipient during the Second World War of 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. His older brother Alexander had previously been awarded a posthumous VC during the First World War.

Victor was born in Reading in Berkshire, the son of Major Charles Turner of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and his second wife, Jane Elizabeth, only daughter of Admiral Sir Alexandra Buller. He was the younger brother of Second Lieutenant Alexandra Buller Turner VC and had a family connection with General Sir Redvers Buller VC.

He was educated at Wellington Collage and the Royal Military Collage Sandhurst before commissioning as Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade in 1918. He served in the campaign in Iraq in 1919–20, was promoted Major in 1938 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1942 while serving in the Middle-East before the act in which he won the VC.

He lived at Thatcham House before moving to Suffolk after the war and retired from the army in 1949.

In 1950 was appointed to the Royal Household receiving a position in the ceremonia King`s Bodyguard of the Guard of the yeoman of the Guard and rose to be “Clerk of the Cheque and Adjutant” of the Guard in 1955. He was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1966 in connection with his services to the Royal Household and was promoted to Lieutenant of the Queen’s Bodyguard in 1967.

He was 42 years old, and a temporary lieutenant colonel in The Rifle Brigade of trhe British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27th October 1942, at El Aqqaqir (Kidney feature), Western Desert, Eygpt, during the Second Battle of El Alamein, Lieutenant Colonel Turner was commanding a battalion of the Rifle Brigade. After overcoming a German position, the battalion fought off desperate counter-attacks by 90 tanks, destroying or immobilising more than 50 of them. During the action, one of the 6-pounder guns was left with only one officer and a sergeant, so Colonel Turner joined them as loader, and between them they destroyed another five tanks. Not until the last tank had been repulsed did he consent to having a wound in his head attended to.

The citation for his award was published in the London Gazette on 20 November 1942 and reads as follows:

“ Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Victor Buller Turner (17630), The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) (Thatcham, Berks).
For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the 27th October, 1942, in the Western Desert.
Lieutenant-Colonel Turner led a Battalion of the Rifle Brigade at night for 4,000 yards through difficult country to their objective, where 40 German prisoners were captured. He then organised the captured position for all-round defence; in this position he and his Battalion were continuously attacked from 5.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., unsupported and so isolated that replenishment of ammunition was impossible owing to the concentration and accuracy of the enemy fire.
During this time the Battalion was attacked by not less than 90 German tanks which advanced in successive waves. All of these were repulsed with a loss to the enemy of 35 tanks which were in flames, and not less than 20 more which had been immobilised.
Throughout the action Lieutenant-Colonel Turner never ceased to go to each part of the front as it was threatened. Wherever the fire was heaviest, there he was to be found. In one case, finding a solitary six-pounder gun in action (the others being casualties) and manned only by another officer and a Sergeant, he acted as loader and with these two destroyed 5 enemy tanks. While doing this he was wounded in the head, but he refused all aid until the last tank was destroyed.
His personal gallantry and complete disregard of danger as he moved about encouraging his Battalion to resist to the last, resulted in the infliction of a severe defeat on the enemy tanks. He set an example of leadership and bravery which inspired his whole Battalion and which will remain an inspiration to the Brigade.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Sourced from Wikipedia

original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

Regimental VC`s (Somaliland Campaign)

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Nov 072013

Regimental VC`s (Somaliland Campaign)

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Between 1900 and 1920, the British, assisted by the Ethiopians and Italians, fought a series of campaigns in Somaliland- sometimes called the Anglo-Somali War—against the Dervishes led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, nicknamed the “Mad Mullah” by the British, although he “was neither mad nor a mullah”. During the First World War (1914–1918), Hassan received aid from the Ottomans, Germans and, for a time, from the Emperor Ivasu V of Ethiopia. The conflict ended when the British bombed the Dervish capital of Taleh in January–February 1920.

In the colonial period, the Somali-inhabited territories in the Horn of Africawere collectively referred to as “Somaliland”.

British Somaliland

Although nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, Yemen and the sahil (including Zeila) came progressively under the control of Muhammad Ali, ruler of Egypt, between 1821 to 1841. After the Egyptians withdrew from the Yemeni seaboard in 1841, Haj Ali Shermerki, a successful and ambitious Somali merchant, purchased from them executive rights over Zeila. Shermerki’s governorship had an instant effect on the city, as he manoeuvred to monopolize as much of the regional trade as possible, with his sights set as far as Harar and the Ogaden. Shermerki was later succeeded as Governor of Zeila by Abu Bakr Pasha, a local Afar statesman.

In 1874–75, the Egyptians obtained a firman from the Ottomans by which they secured claims over the city. At the same time, the Egyptians received British recognition of their nominal jurisdiction as far east as Cape Guardafui. In actuality, however, Egypt had little authority over the interior and their period of rule on the coast was brief, lasting only a few years (1870–84).

The British Somaliland protectorate was subsequently established in the late 1880s, after the ruling Somali authorities signed a series of protection treaties granting the British access to their territories on the northwestern coast. Among the Somali signatories were the Gadabuursi (1884), Habar Awal (1884 and 1886),and Warsangali.

When the Egyptian garrison in Harar was eventually evacuated in 1885, Zeila became caught up in the competition between the Tadjoura-based French and the British for control of the strategic Gulf of Adenlittoral. By the end of 1885, the two powers were on the brink of armed confrontation, but opted instead to turn negotiations.They later signed a convention on 1 February 1888 defining the border between French Somalilandand British Somaliland.

Italian Somaliland

The Majeerteen Sultanate within the northeastern part of the Somali territories was established in the mid-18th century and rose to prominence the following century, under the reign of the resourceful Bogor (King) Osman Mahamund.

In late December 1888, Yusuf Ali Kenadid, the founder and first ruler of the Sultanate of Hobyo, requested Italian protection, and a treaty to that effect was signed in February 1889, making Hobyo an Italian protectorate. In April, Yusuf’s uncle and rival, Boqor Osman, requested a protectorate from the Italians and was granted it. Both Boqor Osman and Sultan Kenadid had entered into the protectorate treaties to advance their own expansionist goals, with Sultan Kenadid looking to use Italy’s support in his ongoing power struggle with Boqor Osman over the Majeerteen Sultanate, as well as in a separate conflict with the Sultan of Zanzibar over an area to the north of Warsheikh. In signing the agreements, the rulers also hoped to exploit the rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure the continued independence of their territories. The terms of each treaty specified that Italy was to steer clear of any interference in the sultanates’ respective administrations.

In return for Italian arms and an annual subsidy, the Sultans conceded to a minimum of oversight and economic concessions. The Italians also agreed to dispatch a few ambassadors to promote both the sultanates’ and their own interests. The new protectorates were thereafter managed by Vincenzo Filonardi through a charted company. An Anglo-Italian border protocol was later signed on 5 May 1894, followed by an agreement in 1906 between Cavalier Pestalozza and General Swaine acknowledging that Baran fell under the Majeerteen Sultanate’s administration.

The first offensive campaign was led by Hassan against Ethiopian encampment at Jiiiga in March 1900. The Ethiopian general Gerazmatch Bante reportedly repulsed the attack and inflicted great losses on the Dervishes, although the British vice-consul at Harar claimed the Ethiopians out of fear armed children with rifles to inflate the size of their forces. Hassan seized control of the Ogaden but did not attack Harar. Instead, he raided the non-Dervish Qadariyyah clans for their camels and arms.

1900- 1901

In 1901, the British joined with the Ethiopians and attacked the Dervishes with a force 17,000 strong. Hassan was driven across the border into the Majeerteen Sultanate, which had been incorporated into the Italian protectorate. The Ethiopians failed to get a hold on the western Ogaden and the British were eventually forced to retreat, having accomplished none of their goals. In this campaign, “borders were ignored by both British and Somali.

February to June 1903

The British became convinced of their need of Italian assistance, but memories of the disastrous Battle of Adowa inhibited any Italian farvour for action in the Horn of Africa. In 1903, the Italian Foreign Ministry permitted the British to land forces at Hobyo (Obbia). An Italian naval commander off Hobyo feared “that the expedition will end in a fiasco; the Mad Mullah will become a myth for the British, who will never come across him, and a serious worry for … our sphere of influence.”

The relationship between Hobyo and Italy soured when Sultan Kenadid refused the Italians’ proposal to allow British troops to disembark in his Sultanate so that they might then pursue their battle against Hassan’s Dervish forces. Viewed as too much of a threat by the Italians, Kenadid was exiled first to the British-controlled Aden Protectorate, and then to Italian Eritea, as was his son Ali Yusuf, the heir apparent to his throne. In May, the British Foreign Office realised the error, and had Kenadid’s son appointed regent, just in time to forestall an attack in Mudug by the Sultan’s army.

The expedition ended in failure soon after. Hassan defeated a British detachment near Gumburru and then another near Daratoleh. With 1,200–1,500 rifles, 4,000 ponies and some spearmen, he occupied the Nugal Valley from Halin in the British protectorate to Ilig (or Illig) on the Italian-held coast. The main British force near Galad (Galadi) under General William Manning retreated north along the line Bohotleh–Burao–sheekh. This “old-established line” had already been breached by Hassan when he invaded the Nugal. By the end of June, the withdrawal was complete.

January to May 1904

After the failure of General Manning’s offensive, General Charles Egerton was entrusted with a response. Following extensive preparations, he united his field force at Bacaadweeyn (Badwein) on 9 January 1904 and defeated Hassan at Jibdalli the next day. The British and their allies from Hobyo harassed Hassan along his retreat, and he lost many of his camels and livestock throughout February.

In early March, the second phase of operations began. The Ethiopians advanced as far as Gerlogubi, but turned back in early April. The Italian Navey bombarded Ilig in the winter to no effect. On 16 April, some ships of the East Indies Station under Rear Admiral George Atkinson-Willes left Berbera to bombard Ilig in cooperation with an advance overland. The capture of Ilig was effected on 21 April, the British losing 3 men killed and 11 wounded, and the Dervishes 58 killed and 14 wounded. The naval detachment which had fought the battle remained ashore for four days, assisted by an Italian naval detachment that arrived on 22 April. Control of Ilig was finally relinquished to Ali Yusuf of Hobyo. Having defeated his forces in the field and forced his retreat, the British “offered the Mullah safe conduct into permanent exile at Mecca”; Hassan did not reply.

1920

Following the end of WWI, British troops once again turned their attention to the disturbances in British Somaliland. The Dervishes had previously defeated British forces at the Battle of Dul Madoba in 1913. Four subsequent British expeditions against Hassan and his soldiers had also failed.

In 1920, British forces launched a final campaign against Hassan’s Dervishes. Although the majority of the combat took place in January of the year, British troops had begun preparations for the assault as early as November 1919. The British forces were led by the Royal Air Force and the ground component included the Somaliland Camel Corps. After three weeks of battle, the Dervishes were finally defeated, bringing an effective end to their 20 year resistance

Regimental VC`s (Somaliland Campaign)

Brigadier General Sir John Edmond Gough VC, KCB, CMG ; 25th October 1871 – 22nd February 1915), known as Johnnie Gough, was born in Muree, India and was a recipient of 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.

Gough, known as “Johnnie,” was the son of General Sir Charles John Stanley Gough VC, and nephew of General Sir Hugh Henry Gough VC, both of whom won their VCs during the Indian Mutiny in 1857. This gave the family the rare distinction of holding the VC simultaneously by father, brother and (father’s) son. He was also the younger brother of General Sir Hurbert Gough (1870–1963), who led the British Fifth Army on the Western Front during the First World War.

Gough served in British Central Africa (1896); the Sudan (1898); 1898 Occupation of Crete (1898–99), the Second Boer War (1899–1902); and in British Somaliland (1903 and again in 1909). He attended the Army Staff College at Camberley in 1904-05, then returned to the College as a highly influential teacher from 1909-1913.

Gough was 31 years old, and a Brevet Major in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the Britsh Army during the Third Somaliland Expeddition when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ On 22nd April 1903, Gough was in command of a column on the march which was attacked by an enemy force in superior numbers led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan near Daratoleh, British Somaliland. After conducting a successful defence, then a fighting withdrawal, Gough came back to help two captains ( William George Walker and George Murray Rolland). The captains were helping a mortally wounded officer. They managed to get the wounded officer onto a camel, but then he was wounded again and died immediately. The two captains won the VC for their actions. However, Gough played down his own part in the event. It was not until late in the year that the true story came out indicating that Gough was equally deserving of recognition. He was subsequently awarded the VC in January 1904. The King presented the medal to him at Buckingham Palace on 29th February 1904. He was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King in August 1907.

Curragh Incident

Prior to the outbreak of the First World War, Gough was Chief of Staff to Lt-Gen Haig at Aldershot. He played a role in the Curragh Incident in March 1914, in which his brother and other cavalry officers stationed in Ireland threatened to resign rather than coerce Ulster Protestants who had no wish to be part of a Home Rule Ireland. Gough accompanied his brother, who had been suspended from duty, to a meeting in London with the Adjutant-General Ewart (morning of Sunday 22nd March), where Hubert confirmed that he would have obeyed a direct order to move against Ulster. Johnnie was in the War Office on 23rd March, when French (CIGS) agreed to Hubert’s demand that he amend a Cabinet document to promise that the Army would not be used to enforce Home Rule on Ulster. French may have been acting in the belief that the matter needed to be resolved quickly after learning from Haig that afternoon that all the officers of Aldershot Command would resign if Hubert were punished, but was later forced to resign.

First World War

Gough went to France as a Brigadier-General with the British Expeditionary Force and Chief of Staff to Douglas Haig`s I Corps. In early 1915 he continued as Haig’s principal staff officer when Haig was given command of the newly created British First Army. By February 1915 whilst working on planning for the forthcoming attack at Neuve Chapelle, Gough was chosen to command one of the New Army divisions. This appointment was due to commence sometime in March and would have meant his promotion to Major General.

Quotes from Johnnie Gough, VC by Ian F.W. Beckett (1989)

Gough was quoted as making a famous remark in November 1914 that was to be repeated as inspirational in the dark days of March 1918. ‘As he watched the enemy swarming over a low ridge one of his staff said the fight was decided. Gough turned with his eyes ablaze and exclaimed: “God will never let those devils win.”’.

‘Through Johnnie’s death Haig lost a sounding board which was highly constructive yet far from uncritical. Had Johnnie gone on to command a division then it seems almost certain that, as predicted by so many contemporaries, he would have risen much further in the army. Johnnie was a convinced “westerner” in strategic terms and a “fighting general”. The army high command’s commitment to the Western Front and to strategic offensives on that front would not have changed had Johnnie lived, but as he had demonstrated in his Staff College days he was a supreme realist and the conduct of these offensives might well have been modified by his influence with and, especially, by his ability to relate to Douglas Haig’.

On 20th February 1915 Gough was visiting his old battalion, the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, at Fauquissart, about 3 km north of Neuve Chapelle on the front line, about 2 km west of Aubers. His mortal wounding by a sniper there was very unlucky since the single shot that struck him in the abdomen was thought to have been a ricochet fired from approximately 1000 yards distance. He was moved to the 25th Field Ambulance at nearby Estaires, about 7 km behind the front line, where he eventually succumbed to his wound and died in the early morning of 22nd February. He was buried that afternoon in Estaires Communal Cemetery, France located 7 miles south west of Armentieres in Plot II. Row A. Grave 7. Gough was also posthumously knighted, being gazetted KCB on 22th April 1915.

Gough is memorialised in Winchester Cathedral.

Gough’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks

Sourced from Wikipedia

original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

Regimental VC`s (Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)

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Nov 072013

Regimental VC`s (Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)

[jwplayer mediaid=”8109″] (Regimental Airs (Please Play Me)

The Anglo-Egyptian War occurred in 1882 between Egyptian and Sudanese forces under Ahmed Orabi, and the United Kingdom.

In 1878, an Egyptian army officer, Colonel Orabi Pasha, initiated a coup against Tewfik Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan, because of grievances over disparities in pay between Egyptian and European employees, as well as other concerns. In January 1882 the British and French governments sent the “Joint Note” to the Egyptian government, declaring their recognition of the Khedive’s authority. On 20th May 1882, British warships arrived off the coast of Alexandria. France had withdrawn at the last minute. On 11th June 1882, a riot occurred in Alexandria that killed 50 Europeans, though Colonel Orabi ordered his forces to put down the riot. On 11th July 1882, after confused orders, British warships began their bombardment of Alexandria.

The reasons why the British government sent a fleet of ships to the coast of Alexandria is a point of historical debate, as there is no information available that is capable of identifying a definitive cause for the invasion.

In their 1961 essay Africa and the Victorians, Ronald Robinson and John Gallagher argue that the British invasion was ordered in order to quell the perceived anarchy of the Orabi Revolt, as well to protect British control over the Suez Canel in order to maintain its shipping route to the Indian Ocean.

A.G. Hopkins rejects Robinson and Gallagher’s argument, citing original documents and second-hand sources to claim that there was no perceived danger to the Suez Canal from the Orabi movement, and that Orabi and his forces were not chaotic “anarchists”, but rather maintained law and order.He alternatively argues that British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone’s cabinet was motivated by protecting the interests of British bondholders with investments in Egypt as well as pursuit of domestic political popularity. Hopkins cites the British investments in Egypt that grew massively leading into the 1880s, partially as a result of the Khedive’s debt from construction of the Suez Canal, as well as the close links that existed between the British government and the economic sector.He writes Britain’s economic interests occurred simultaneously to a desire within the ruling Liberal Party for a militant foreign policy in order to gain political domestic political popularity to compete with the Conservative Party.Hopkins cites a letter from Sir Edward Malet, the British consul general in Egypt at the time, to a member of the Gladstone Cabinet offering his congratulations on the invasion, “You have fought the battle of all Christendom and history will acknowledge it. May I also venture to say that it has given the Liberal Party a new lease of popularity and power.”

John Galbraith and Afaf Lutfi al-Sayyid-Marsotmake a similar argument to Hopkins, though their argument focuses on how individuals within the British government bureaucracy used their positions to make the invasion appear as a more favourable option to Gladstone’s cabinet. First, they describe a plot by Edward Maletin which he portrayed the Egyptian government as unstable to his superiors in the British cabinet in order to provoke a British military intervention, which Galbraith and al-Sayyid-Marsot write contributed to the decision to invade. They portray him as having been naive, that he believed that he could convince the British government to militarily intimidate the Egyptian government, though he never imagined a full-out invasion or occupation. They also describe the actions of Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, commander of the British fleet that bombarded Alexandria, who personally hastened the start of the bombardment by exaggerating the danger posed by Orabi’s forces in Alexandria to his ships in his telegrams back to the British government.

Initial British Bombardment

The British fleet bombarded Alexandria from 11–13 July followed by British marines occupying it. The bombardment was very one sided, the British did not lose a single boat. Much of the city was destroyed by fires that broke out as a result of the bombardment. Orabi had his men start these fires to ruin the city that the British were taking over.The British then installed the Khedive Tawfiq, who declared Orabia rebel and took away his political rights.

Orabi`s Response

Orabi then counteracted by obtaining a Fatwa, which was authorised by Al Azhar shaykhswhich stated that Tawfiq was a traitor who brought on the occupation of Egypt by a foreign nation and stated that he betrayed his religion. Orabi also ordered conscriptionand he declared war on the United Kingdom

British Expeditionary Force Order of Battle

The British army tried to reach Cairo through Alexandria but was stopped for five weeks at Kafr-el-Dawwar. In August, a British army of over 40,000, commanded by Garnet Wolseley, invaded the Suez Canel Zone. He was authorised to destroy Orabi’s forces and clear the country of all other rebels.

Battle of Tel el-Kebir

Orabi redeployed to defend Cairoagainst Wolseley. His main force dug in at Tel el-Kebir, north of the railway and the Sweet Water Canel, both of which linked Cairo to Ismailiaon the canal. The defences were hastily prepared as there was little time to arrange them. Orabi’s forces possessed 60 pieces of artillery and breech loading rifles. Wolseley made several personal reconnaissances, and determined that the Egyptians did not man outposts in front of their main defences at night, which made it possible for an attacking force to approach the defences under cover of darkness. Wolseley sent his force to approach the position by night and attacked frontally at dawn, which they did successfully, officially losing only 57 troops while killing approximately two thousand Egyptians. The Orabi forces were routed, and British cavalry pursued them and captured Cairo, which was undefended. Khedivepower was then restored as the authority of Egypt.

During the build up to the battle at Tel-el-Kebir the specially raised 8th Railway Company RE operated trains carrying stores and troops, as well as repairing track. On the day of the battle they ran a train into Tel-el-Kebir station at between 8-9am (13th September) and “…found it completely blocked with trains, full of the enemy’s ammunition: the line strewn with dead and wounded, and our own soldiers swarming over the place almost mad for want of water…” (extract from Captain Sidney Smith’s diary), Once the station was cleared they began to ferry the wounded, prisoners and troops with stores to other destinations.

In the wake of the advancing columns, telegraph lines were laid on either side of the Sweet Water canal. At 2 am (13th September) Wolseley successfully sent a message to the Major General Sir H Macpherson VC on the extreme left with the Indian Contingent and the Naval Brigade. At Tel-el Kebir a field telegraph office was established in a saloon carriage, which Arabi Pasha had travelled in the day before. At 8.30 am (13th September) after the victory at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, Wolseley used the telegram to send messages of his victory to Queen Victoria; he received a reply from her at 9.15 am the same day. Once they had got connected to the permanent line the Section also worked the Theiber sounder and the telephone.

The forerunners of Royal Engineer(Postal Section) made their debut on this campaign. They were specially raised from the 24th Middlesex Rifles Volunteers (Post Office Rifles) and for the first time in British military history, post office clerks trained as soldiers, provided a dedicated postal service to an army in the field. During the battle of Kassassin they became the first Volunteers ever to come under enemy fire.

Prime Minister Gladstone initially sought to put Orabi on trial and execute him, portraying him as “…a self-seeking tyrant whose oppression of the Egyptian people still left him enough time, in his capacity as a latter-day Saladin, to massacre Christians.” After glancing through his captured diaries and various other evidence, there was little with which to “demonize” Orabi in a public trial. His charges were down-graded, after which he admitted to rebellion and was sent into exile.

British troops then occupied Egyptuntil the Anglo–Egyptian Treaty of 1922 and Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936, giving gradual control back to the government of Egypt.

Hopkins argues that Britain continued its occupation of Egypt after 1882 in order to guarantee British investments, “Britain had important interests to defend in Egypt and she was prepared to withdraw only if conditions guaranteeing the security of those interests were met – and they never were.”Consistent with this view, investment in Egypt increased during the British occupation, interest rates fell, and bond prices rose.

Regimental VC`s (Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)

Frederick Corbett VC (17th September 1853 – 25th September 1912) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Corbett was born on 17th September 1853 in Maldon, Essex. His name at birth was David Embleton

Corbett was 28 years old, and a Private in the 3rd Battalion, The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

The Citation in The London Gazette on 16th February 1883 read

“During the reconnaissance upon, Kafr Dower, Egypt, on 5th August 1882, the Mounted Infantry, with which Private Corbett was serving, came under a hot fire from the enemy and suffered some loss, including Lieutenant Howard Vyse, mortally wounded. This officer fell in the open, and there being then no time to move him, Private Corbett asked and obtained permission to remain by him, and though under a constant fire, he sat down and endeavored to stop the bleeding of this officer’s wounds, until the Mounted Infantry received orders to retire, when he rendered valuable assistance in carrying him off the field“

Corbett served in the Army between 1873 and 1891. He was one of eight men whose VCs were forfeited. He was stripped of the medal on 30th July 1884 after being convicted of embezzlement and theft from an officer.

He died in Maldon Union Workhouse on 25th September 1912. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Maldon cemetery. Then a regimental headstone was placed over the grave and in a simple ceremony on 16th April 2004 the headstone which was covered in the regimental flag of the 60th Rifles was unveiled by Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Wallace.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles museum at the former Peninsula Barracks

Sourced from Wikipedia

original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

History of the Poppy

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Nov 062013

History of the Poppy

DO YOU KNOW YOUR POPPY HISTORY and how it came to be the ‘modern-day’ symbol of Remembrance?

DID YOU KNOW it was introduced by an American woman named Miss Moina Michael, who was inspired by what has now become probably the most recognised poem with reference to the Poppy (“In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow…”) written by a Canadian soldier JOHN MCRAE in 1915?

DID YOU KNOW it was Moina who campaigned tirelessly to have the Poppy recognised as a National Memorial Symbol and also widened the scope of the Memorial Poppy idea after she spent time teaching disabled ex-servicemen at the University of Georgia in 1919? – She believed it could be developed to help all servicemen who needed help for themselves and for their dependants.

DID YOU KNOW the American Legion (Founded in 1919 by American War Veterans) adopted the ‘Memorial Poppy’ in 1920?

On 29th September 1920, the National American Legion convened in Cleveland. The Convention agreed on the use of the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy as the United States’ national emblem of Remembrance.

DID YOU KNOW it was a French Woman by the name of Madame Anna E Guérin who, along with Moina, had attended the 1920 National American Legion Convention and determined to introduce the idea of the memorial poppy to the nations which had been Allied with France during the First World War?

During 1921 Anna made visits or sent representatives to America, Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

DID YOU KNOW the first British Legion Poppy Day Appeal was launched in 1921?

Anna Guérin sent some French women to London to sell their artificial red poppies. This was the first introduction to the British people of Moina Michael’s idea of the Memorial Poppy. Madame Guérin went in person to visit Field Marshal Earl Douglas Haig (Founder and President of The British Legion). She persuaded him to adopt the Flanders Poppy as an emblem for The Legion. This was formalized in the autumn of 1921.

The first British Poppy Day Appeal was launched that year, in the run up to 11th November 1921. It was the third anniversary of the Armistice to end the Great War. Proceeds from the sale of artificial French-made poppies were given to ex-servicemen in need of welfare and financial support.

Since that time the red poppy has been sold each year by The British Legion from mid October to to raise funds in support of the organization’s charitable work.

This article is attribute to the William Aldridge Foundation

https://www.facebook.com/pages/WILLIAM-ALDRIDGE-FOUNDATION/123332677701968

By kind permission of Lucy Aldridge

Source: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/article/remembrance-poppy.htm

Regimental VC`s (Mahdist War / Sudan War)

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Nov 052013

Regimental VC`s (Mahdist War)

[jwplayer mediaid=”8109″] (Regimental Airs (Please Play Me)

The Mahdist War (also called the Mahdist Revolt) was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign. It was vividly described by Winston Churchill (who took part in its concluding stages) in The River War.

Following the invasion by Muhammed Aliin 1819, Sudan was governed by an Egyptian administration. This colonial system was resented by the Sudanese people, because of the heavy taxes it imposed and because of the bloody start of the Turkish-Egyptian rule in Sudan.

Throughout the period of Turco-Egyptian rule, many segments of the Sudanese population suffered extreme hardship due to the system of taxation imposed by the central government. Under this system, a flat tax was imposed on farmers and small traders and collected by government-appointed tax collectors from the Sha`iqiyyatribe of northern Sudan. In bad years, and especially during times of drought and famine, farmers were unable to pay the high taxes. Fearing the brutal and unjust methods of the Sha’iqiyya, many farmers fled their villages in the fertile Nile Valleyto the remote areas of Kordofanand Darfur. These migrants, known as black “Jallaba” after their loose-fitting style of dress, began to function as small traders and middlemen for the foreign trading companies that had established themselves in the cities and towns of central Sudan.

By the middle 19th century the Ottoman Imperial subject administration in Egypt was in the hands of Khedive Ismail. Although not a competent or devoted leader, Khedive Ismail had grandiose schemes about Egypt. His spending had put Egypt into huge debt and when his financing of the Suez Canelstarted to crumble, Great Britain stepped in and repaid his loans in return for controlling shares in the canal. As the most direct route to the jewel in the British Crown, India, control over the Suez Canal was of paramount strategic importance, so that British interests dictated the need to seize or otherwise control it. Thus an ever increasing role in Egyptian affairs was mandated for the British Empire. With Khedive Ismail’s spending and corruption causing instability, in 1873 the British government supported a program where an Anglo-French debt commission assumed responsibility for managing Egypt’s fiscal affairs. This commission eventually forced Khedive Ismailto abdicate in favor of his son Tawfiq in 1877, leading to a period of political turmoil.

Ismail had appointed General Charles ” Chinese” Gordon Governor of the Equatorial Provinces of Sudan in 1873. For the next three years, General Gordon fought against a native chieftain of Darfur, Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur.

Upon Ismail’s abdication Gordon found himself with dramatically decreased support. He eventually resigned his post in 1880, exhausted by years of work, and left early the next year. His policies were soon abandoned by the new governors, but the anger and discontent of the dominant Arab minority was left unaddressed.

Although the Egyptians were fearful of the deteriorating conditions, the British refused to get involved, “Her Majesty’s Government are in no way responsible for operations in the Sudan”, the Foreign Secretary Earl Granville noted.

Among the forces historians see as the causes of the uprising are ethnic Sudanese anger at the foreign Turkish Ottoman rulers, Muslim revivalist anger at the Turks’ lax religious standards and willingness to appoint non-Muslims such as the Christian Charles Gordon to high positions and Sudanese Sufi resistance to “dry, scholastic Islam of Egyptian officialdom”

In the 1870s, a Muslim cleric named Muhammad Ahmad preached renewal of the faith and liberation of the land, and began attracting followers. Soon in open revolt against the Egyptians, Muhammad Ahmad proclaimed himself the Mahdi, the promised redeemer of the Islamic world. The then-governor of the Sudan, Raouf Pasha, sent two companies of infantry with one machine gun to arrest him. The captains of the two companies were each promised promotion if their soldiers were the ones to return the Mahdi to the governor. Both companies disembarked from the steamer that had brought them up the Nileto Abbaand approached the Mahdi’s village from separate directions. Arriving simultaneously, each force began to fire blindly on the other, allowing the Mahdi’s scant followers to attack and destroy each force in turn.

The Mahdi then began a strategic retreat to Korofan, where he was at a greater distance from the seat of government in Khartoum. This movement, couched as a triumphal progress, incited many of the Arab tribes to rise in support of the Jihad the Mahdi had declared against the “Turkish oppressors”. Another Egyptian expedition dispatched from Fashoda was ambushed and slaughtered on the night of December 9.

The Egyptian administration in the Sudan, now thoroughly concerned by the scale of the uprising, assembled a force of 4,000 troops under Yusef Pasha. This force approached the Mahdist gathering, whose members were poorly clothed, half starving, and armed only with sticks and stones. However, supreme overconfidence led the Egyptian army into camping within sight of the Mahdist ‘army’ without posting sentries. The Mahdi led a dawn assault on June 7 which slaughtered the army to a man. The rebels gained vast stores of arms and ammunition, military clothing and other supplies.

With the Egyptian government now passing largely under British control (see; History of modern Egyptand Anglo- Egyptian War (1882), the European powers became increasingly aware of the troubles in the Sudan. The British advisers to the Egyptian government gave tacit consent for another expedition. Throughout the summer of 1883, Egyptian troops were concentrated at Khartoum, eventually reaching the strength of 7,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, 20 machine guns, and artillery. This force was placed under the command of a retired British Indian Staff Corps officer William Hicks and twelve European officers. The force was, in the words of Winston Churchill, “perhaps the worst army that has ever marched to war”- unpaid, untrained and undisciplined, its soldiers having more in common with their enemies than with their officers.

El Odeid, the city whose siege Hicks had intended to relieve, had already fallen by the time the expedition left Khartoum, but Hicks continued anyway, although not confident of his chances of success. Upon his approach, Muhammad assembled an army of about 40,000 men and drilled them rigorously in the art of war, equipping them with the arms and ammunition captured in previous battles. By the time Hicks’ forces actually offered battle, the Mahdist army was a credible military force, which utterly annihilated the opposition at the Battle of El Obeid.

At this time, the British Empire was increasingly entrenching itself in the workings of the Egyptian government. Egypt was groaning under a barely maintainable debt repayment structure for her enormous European debt.For the Egyptian government to avoid further interference from its European creditors, it had to ensure that the debt intrest was paid on time, every time. To this end, the Egyptian treasury, initially crippled by corruptionand bureaucracy, was placed by the British almost entirely under the control of a ‘Financial Advisor’, who exercised the power of vetoover all matters of financial policy. The holders of this office, firstly Sir Auckland Colvin, and later Sir Edgar Vincent,were instructed to exercise the greatest possible parsimony in Egypt’s financial affairs. Maintaining the garrisons in the Sudan was costing the Egyptian government over 100,000 Egyptian poundsa year,an unmaintainable expense.

It was therefore decided by the Egyptian government, under some coercion by their British controllers, that the Egyptian presence in the Sudan should be withdrawn and the country left to some form of self-government, likely headed by the Mahdi. The withdrawal of the Egyptian garrisons stationed throughout the country was therefore threatened unless it was conducted in an orderly fashion. The Egyptian government asked for a British officer to be sent to the Sudan to co-ordinate the withdrawal of the garrisons. It was hoped that Mahdist forces would judge an attack on a British subject to be too great a risk, and hence allow the withdrawal to proceed without incident. It was proposed to send Charles ” Chinese” Gordon.

Gordon was an extremely gifted officer who had distinguished himself in several campaigns in the Far East, particularly China (See the second Opium War). However, he was also renowned for his aggression and rigid personal honour which, in the eyes of several prominent British officials in Egypt, made him unsuitable for the task. Sir Evelyn Baring(later the Earl of Cromer), the British Consul-generalin Egypt, was particularly opposed to Gordon’s appointment, only reluctantly being won over by the British press and public. Gordon was eventually given the mission, but he was to be accompanied by the much more levelheaded and reliable Colonel John Stewart. It was intended that Stewart, while nominally Gordon’s subordinate, would act as a brake on the latter and ensure that the Sudan was evacuated quickly and peacefully.

Gordon left England on 18th January 1884and arrived in Cairoon the evening of the 24th January.Gordon was largely responsible for drafting his own orders,along with proclamations from the Khedive announcing Egypt’s intentions to leave the Sudan. Gordon’s orders, by his own request, were extremely unequivocal and left little room for misinterpretation.

Gordon arrived in Khartoum on 18th February,and immediately became apprised with the vast difficulty of the task. Egypt’s garrisons were scattered widely across the country; three (Sennar,Tokarand Sinkat) were under siege,and the majority of the territory between them was under the control of the Mahdi. There was no guarantee that, if the garrisons were to sortie, even with the clear intention of withdrawing, they would not be cut to pieces by the Mahdist forces. Khartoum’s Egyptian and European population was greater than all the other garrisons combined, including 7,000 Egyptian troops,27,000 civilians,and the staffs of several embassies. Although the pragmatic approach would have been to secure the safety of the Khartoum garrison and abandon the outlying fortifications, with their troops, to the Mahdi, Gordon became increasingly reluctant to leave the Sudan until “every one who wants to go down [the Nile] is given the chance to do so”,feeling it would be a slight on his honour to abandon any Egyptian soldiers to the Mahdi. He also became increasingly fearful of the Mahdi’s potential to cause trouble in Egypt if allowed control of the Sudan, leading to a conviction that the Mahdi must be “crushed”, by British troops if necessary, to assure the stability of the region. It is debatedwhether or not Gordon deliberately remained in Khartoum longer than strategically sensible, seemingly intent on becoming besieged within the town. Gordon’s brother, H. W. Gordon, was of the opinion that the British officers could easily have escaped from Khartoum up until December 14, 1884.

Whether or not it was the Mahdi’s intention, in March 1883, the Sudanese tribes to the north of Khartoum, who had previously been sympathetic or at least neutral towards the Egyptian authorities, rose in support of the Mahdi. The telegraphlines between Khartoum and Cairowere cut on March 15th, severing communication with the outside world.

Seige of Khartoum

Gordon’s position in Khartoum was very strong, as the city was bordered to the north and east by the Blue Nile, to the west by the White Nile, and to the south by ancient fortifications looking on to a vast expanse of desert. Gordon had food for an estimated six months,several million rounds of ammunition in store,with the capacity to produce a further 50,000 rounds per week,and 7,000 Egyptian soldiers.However, outside the walls, the Mahdi had mustered about 50,000 Dervish soldiers, and as time went on, the chances of a successful breakout became slim. Gordon by degrees considered:

. Making a breakout southwards along the Blue Nile towards Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), which would have enabled him to collect the garrisons stationed along that route. However, the window for navigation of the upper reaches of that river was very narrow.

. Requesting that a notorious former slaver, Pasha Zobeir, be sent to Khartoum in an attempt to incite a popular uprising against the Mahdi.

. Requesting the services of several thousand Turkish troops be sent to quell the uprising.

Eventually, it became impossible for Gordon to be relieved without British troops. An expedition was duly dispatched under Sir Garnet Wolseley. However, as the level of the White Nile fell through the winter, muddy ‘beaches’ at the foot of the walls were exposed. With starvation and cholera rampant in the city and the morale of the Egyptian troops shattered, Gordon’s position became untenable and the city fell on January 25th, 1885, after a siege of 313 days.

Nile Campaign

The British Government, reluctantly and late, but under strong pressure from public opinion, sent a relief column under Sir Garnet Wolseley to relieve the Khartoum garrison. This was described in some British papers as the ‘Gordon Relief Expedition’, a title which Gordon strongly objected to. After defeating the Mahdists at Abu Klea, the column arrived within sight of Khartoum, only to find they were too late: the city had fallen two days earlier, and Gordon and the garrison had been massacred.

Suakin

The British also sent an expeditionary force under Lieutenant-General Sir Gerald Graham, including an Indian contingent, to Suakinin March 1885. It became known as the Suakin Expedition. Although it was successful in the two actions it fought, it failed to change the military situation and was withdrawn.These events temporarily ended British and Egyptian involvement in Sudan, which passed completely under the control of the Mahdists.

Mahdist Period

Muhammad Ahmad died soon after his victory in 1885, and was succeeded by the Khalifa Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, who proved to be an able, albeit ruthless, ruler of the Mahdivah(or the Mahdist state).

Between 1886 and 1889 a British expedition to relieve the Egyptian governor of Equatoria made its way through central Africa. The governor, Emin Pasha, was rescued, but the expedition was not without its failures, such as the disaster that befell the rear column.

Return to Britain

In the intervening years, Egypt had not renounced her claims over Sudan, and the British authorities considered that claim legitimate. Under strict control by British administrators, Egypt’s economy had been rebuilt, and the Egyptian army reformed, this time trained and led by British officers and non-commissioned officer. The situation evolved in a way that allowed Egypt, both politically and militarily, to reconquer Sudan.

In 1891, a Catholic priest, Father Joseph Ohrwalder escaped from captivity in Sudan. Later, in 1895, the erstwhile Governor of Darfur, Rudolf von Slatin, managed to escape from the Khalifa’s prison. Besides providing vital intelligence on the Mahdist dispositions, both men wrote detailed accounts of their experiences in Sudan. Written in collaboration with Reginald Wingate, a proponent of the reconquest of Sudan, both works emphasized the savagery and barbarism of the Mahdists,and through the wide publicity they received in Britain, served to influence public opinion in favour of military intervention.

In 1896, when Italy suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Ethiopians at Adwa, the Italian position in East Africa was seriously weakened. With the Mahdists threatening Kassala, the British government judged it politic to assist the Italians, by making a military demonstration in northern Sudan. This coincided with the increased threat of French encroachment on the Upper Nileregions. Lord Cromer, judging that the Conservative and Unionist government in power would favour taking the offensive, managed to extend the demonstration into a full-fledged invasion.

Horation Herbert Kitchener, the new Sirdar (commander) of the Anglo-Egyptian Army, received his marching orders on March 12, and his forces entered Sudan on the 18th. Numbering at first 11,000 men, Kitchener’s force was armed with the most modern military equipment of the time, including Maxim machine-guns and modern artillery, and was supported by a flotilla of gunboats on the Nile. Their advance was slow and methodical, while fortified camps were built along the way, and the railway was extended from Wadi Halfa into Sudan, in order to supply the army. Thus, it was only on June 7 that the first serious engagement of the campaign occurred, when Kitchener led a 9,000 strong force that wiped out the Mahdist garrison at Ferkeh.

In 1898, in the context of the scramble of Africa, the British decided to reassert Egypt’s claim on Sudan. An expedition, commanded by Kitchener, was organised in Egypt. It was composed of 8,200 British soldiers and 17,600 Egyptian and Sudanese soldiers commanded by British officers. To supply their advance, the British built a railway from Egypt. The Mahdist forces (sometimes called the Dervishes), were more numerous, numbering more than 60,000 warriors, but lacked modern weapons.

After defeating a Mahdist force in the Battle of Atbarain April 1898, the Anglo-Egyptians reached Omdurman, the Mahdist capital in September. The bulk of the Mahdist army attacked, but was cut down by British machine-guns and rifle fire.

The remnant, with the Khalifa Abdullah, fled to southern Sudan. During the pursuit, Kitchener’s forces met a French force under Major Jean- Baptiste Marchandat Fashodo, resulting in the Fashoda Incident. They finally caught up with Abdullah at Umm Diwaykarat, where he was killed, effectively ending the Mahdist regime.

The casualties for this campaign were:

Sudan: 30,000 dead, wounded or captured

Britain: 700+ British, Egyptian and Sudanese dead, wounded or captured.

Regimental VC`s (Mahdist War / Sudan)

Colonel Sir Percival Scrope Marling, 3rd Baronet VC,CB, DL (6th March 1861 – 29th May 1936) was an English recipient of 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.

Born on 6 March 1861, he was 23 years old, and a lieutenantin the 3rd Battalion, The King`s Royal Rifle Corps,of the British Army, attached Mounted Infantry during the Mahdist Warwhen the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

” On 13 March 1884 at the Battle of Tamai in the Sudan during the Mahdist War, Lieutenant Marling risked his life to save that of a private of The Royal Sussex Regiment who had been shot. His citation reads:

For his conspicuous bravery at the battle of Tamai, on 13th March last, in risking his life to save that of Private Morley, Royal Sussex Regiment, who, having been shot, was lifted and placed in front of Lieutenant Marling on his horse. He fell off almost immediately, when Lieutenant Marling dismounted, and gave up his horse for the purpose of carrying off Private Morley, the enemy pressing close on to them until they succeeded in carrying him about 80 yards to a place of comparative safety.

Marling later served in the Second Anglo-Boer- War(1899-1901) in South Africa, where in March 1901 he took over the command of the 18th Hussars.

On 20 October 1903, he was appointed a deputy lieutenantof Gloucestershire,and in 1923 was appointed High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.

He later achieved the rank of colonel and died on 29th May 1936.

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum.

By Julie-Ann Rosser

Sourced from Wikipedia

original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

Operation Banner

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Nov 052013

Operation Banner

Many at last night would service men have the Last dance to this classic.

Operation Banner, was the operational name for the British Armed Forces operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007. It was initially deployed at the request of the unionist Government of Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). After the 1998 Belfast agreement, the operation was gradually scaled down. Its role was to assert the authority of the Government of the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland.

The main opposition to the British military’s deployment came from the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). It waged a guerrilla campaign against the British military from 1970 to 1997. An internal British Army document released in 2007 stated that, whilst the Army had failed to defeat the IRA, it had made it impossible for the IRA to win through violence, and had also reduced substantially the death toll in the last years of conflict

The support to the police forces was primarily from the British Army, with the Royal Air Force providing helicopter support as required. A maritime component was supplied under the codename of Operation Grenada, by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in direct support of the Army commitment. This was tasked with interdicting the supply of weapons and munitions to both sides of the sectarian divide, acting as a visible deterrence by maintaining a conspicuous maritime presence on and around the coast of Northern Ireland and Lough Neagh

The role of the armed forces in their support role to the police was defined by the Army in the following terms:

Routine support — includes such tasks as providing protection to the police in carrying out normal policing duties in areas of terrorist threat; patrolling around military and police bases to deter terrorist attacks and supporting police-directed counter-terrorist operations

Additional support — Assistance where the police have insufficient assets of their own; this includes the provision of observation posts along the border and increased support during times of civil disorder. The military can provide soldiers to protect and, if necessary, supplement police lines and cordons. The military can provide heavy plant to remove barricades and construct barriers, and additional armoured vehicles and helicopters to help in the movement of police and soldiers

Specialist support — Includes bomb disposal, search and tracker dogs, and divers from the Royal Engineers

At the peak of the operation, the Army deployed some 21,000 soldiers. By 1980, the figure had dropped to 11,000, with a lower presence of 9,000 men in 1985. The total climbed to 10,500 after the intensification of the IRA use of mortars by the end of the 1980s. In 1992, there were 17,750 members of all military forces taking part of the operation.

The army build-up comprised three brigades under the command of a lieutenant general. There were six resident battalions deployed for a period of two-and-a-half years and four roulement battalions serving on six-month tours. Still in July 1997, in the course of fierce riots in Nationalist areas triggered by the Drumcree conflict, the total number of security forces in Northern Ireland increased to more than 30,000 including the RUC.

Sourced from Wikipedia and Youtube

Regimental VC`s (World War One)

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Nov 022013

Regimental VC`s (World War One)

[jwplayer mediaid=”8109″] (Regimental Airs (Please Play Me)

The First World War, also known as the Great War and in the United States as World War I, was a global military conflict that embroiled most of the world’s great powers,assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance.More than 70 million military personnel were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. The main combatants descended into a state of total war, directing their entire scientific and industrial capabilities into the war effort. Over 15 million people were killed, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history.The proximate cause of war was the assassination on 28th June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Soon after, a system of alliances were activated that would see Europe at war. The western Front saw the largest concentration of Commonwealth troops with soldiers occupying sectors of the line from the North Seato the Orne River.

On 1st July 1916, the first day of the battle of the Somme, the British Army endured the bloodiest day in its history, suffering 57,470 casualties and 19,240 dead; nine Victoria Crosses were awarded for action on that day. Most of the casualties occurred in the first hour of the attack. The entire Somme offensive cost the British Army almost half a million men. The war was not just fought on land; the First World War saw major naval battles as well as the first large-scale use of military aircraft. The war at sea was mainly characterised by the efforts of the Allied Powers in blockading the Central Powers by sea. In return, the Central Powers attempted to break that blockade and establish an effective blockade of the British Isles and France with U-boats and raiders. The largest navel battle of the First World War was the Battle of Jutland which was the only full-scale clash of battleships in that war. Four Victoria Crosses were awarded for action at Jutland. The war in the air saw 19 VCs being awarded to airmen. The First World War saw significant interest in flying aces, including the German Manfred von Richthofen—also known as The Red Baron—as well as British aces such as Albert Ball, Mick Mannock and Billy Bishop, who were all Victoria Cross recipients. Hostilities ended on 11th November 1918 with the signing of the Armistice Treaty in the Compiegne Forest, but the war was not officially over until the various peace treaties were signed in 1919. By the war’s end, four major imperial powers— Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire—had been militarily and politically defeated, and the latter two ceased to exist as autonomous entities.Of the 60 million European soldiers who were mobilised from 1914–1918, 8 million were killed, 7 million were permanently disabled, and 15 million were seriously injured.

During the war, Britain called on its dominions and colonies, which provided invaluable military, financial and material support. The armies of the Dominions provided over 2.5 million men as well as many thousands of volunteers from the Crown colonies.The largest number of men came from the Indian sub continent, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Imperial Force(AIF) began forming on 15 August 1914 and remained a volunteer force for the entire war.Throughout the four years of conflict, 331,814 volunteers from Australia were sent overseas with 63 VCs awarded; nine of these were given for the Gallipoli Campaign. Eleven members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) were awarded the Victoria Cross. The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) saw over 600,000 enlistments throughout its four-year history with 71 VCs awarded.At the outbreak of the hostilities, Newfoundland was a separate dominion and 2 soldiers from Newfoundland were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The 628 awards of the Victoria Cross given for action during the First World War account for almost half the 1356 Victoria Crosses awarded throughout its history; in comparison the Second World Warsaw 181 medals awarded. Noel Godfrey Chavasse was awarded the Victoria Cross and bar, for two separate actions in the First World War on the battlefields of Mametz and Passchendaele. He died from wounds received in the second action. Arthur Martin-Leake received a Bar to his Victoria Cross for action in the First World War; he had been awarded his first Victoria Cross for action in the Second Boer War.

Regimental VC`s (World War One)

William Beesley VC (5th October 1895 – 23rd September 1966) was an English recipient of 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.

Beesley was 22 years old, and a private in the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ On 8th May 1918 at Bucquoy, France, when Private Beesley’s platoon sergeant and all the section commanders were killed he took command. Single-handed he rushed a post, shot four of the enemy, took six prisoners and sent them back to his lines. He and a comrade then brought his Lewis gun into action, inflicting many casualties and holding their position for four hours until the second private was wounded. Private Beesley, by himself, maintained his position until nightfall, when he returned to the original line with the wounded man and the Lewis gun which he kept in action until things had quietened down.

He later achieved the rank of sergeant.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

1915 Lance Sgt D W Belcher VC of the London Rifle Brigade (RB)

Douglas Belcher Lance-Sergeant London Regiment WWI 13 May 1915

Belcher was a lance-sergeant in the 1/5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (The London Rifle Brigade), British Army, during the First World War, when the deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. He was 25 years old.

VC ACTION

On 13 May 1915, south of the Wieltje-St. Julien Road, Belgium, Belcher was in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork during continuous bombardment by the enemy. With very few men, Belcher elected to remain and try to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn, and with great skill he succeeded in his objective, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150-200 yards away, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. This bold action prevented the enemy breaking through and averted an attack on the flank of one of our divisions.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Buried in Claygate Surrey

Edward Brooks VC (11 April 1883 – 26 June 1944) was an English recipient of 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.

Edward Brooks was born in Oakley, Buckinghamshire, on the 11th of April 1883 and baptised in Oakley Church on the 20th of January 1884. He was one of twelve children of Thomas (born in Oakley in 1855) and Selina Brooks (born in Halesowen, Worcestershire in 1857).

He was 34 years old, and a Company Sergeant Major in the 2/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 28 April 1917 at Fayat, near Saint-Quentin, France, Company Sergeant-Major Brooks, while taking part in a raid on the enemy’s trenches, saw that the front wave was being checked by an enemy machine gun. On his own initiative he rushed forward from the second wave, killed one of the gunners with his revolver and bayoneted another. The remainder of the gun crew then made off, leaving the gun, where upon the company sergeant-major turned it on the retreating enemy, after which he carried it back to Allied lines. His courageous action undoubtedly prevented many casualties and greatly added to the success of the operation.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

William Francis Burman VC (30th August 1897 – 23rd October 1974) was an English recipient of 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.

Burman was 20 years old, and a sergeant in the 16th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ During the Battle of Passchendaele on 20th September 1917 south-east of Ypres, Belgium, when the advance of his company was held up by a machine-gun at point-blank range, Sergeant Burman shouted to the men next to him to wait a few minutes and going forward to what seemed certain death killed the enemy gunner and carried the gun to the company’s objective where he used it with great effect. Fifteen minutes later it was seen that about 40 of the enemy were enfilading the battalion on the right. Sergeant Burman and two others ran and got behind them, killing six and capturing two officers and 29 other ranks.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London,

John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler VC DSO (20th December 1888 – 5th September 1916) was a British Army Officer an English recipient of 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.

Butler was born in on 20th December 1888 to Lt. Col. Francis John Paul Butler and the Hon. Elspeth Butler. He was married, to Alice Amelia of Portfield, Chichester. He was nephew of Lord Gifford, VC. Butler was commissioned into the King`s Royal Rifle Corps in February 1907.

He was 25 years old, and a lieutenant in The King`s Royal Rifle Corps , attached to Pioneer Coy., Gold Coast Regiment, West African Frontier Force, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 17th November 1914 in the Cameroons, Nigeria.

“ For most conspicuous bravery in the Cameroons, West Africa. On 17th November, 1914, with a party of 13 men, he went into the thick bush and at once attacked the enemy, in strength about 100, including several Europeans, defeated them, and captured their machine gun and many loads of ammunition. On 27th December, 1914, when on patrol duty, with a few men, he swam the Ekam River, which was held by the enemy, alone and in the face of a brisk fire, completed his reconnaissance on the further bank, and returned in safety. Two of his men were wounded while he was actually in the water.

He later achieved the rank of Captain, and was Killed in action at Motomba on 5th September 1916.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

George Edward Cates VC (9th May 1892 – 8th March 1917) was an English recipient of 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.

Cates was born on 9 May 1892 to George and Alice Ann Cates, of Wimbledon, London

He was 24 years old, and a Second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War and was awarded the VC for his actions on 8 March 1917 at Bouchavesnes, France during which he was killed.

London Gazzette, dated 11 May 1917

“ For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When engaged with some other men in deepening a captured trench this officer struck with his spade a buried bomb, which immediately started to burn. 2nd Lt. Gates, in order to save the lives of his comrades, placed his foot on the bomb, which immediately exploded. He showed the most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in performing the act which cost him his life, but saved the lives of others.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Major William “Billy” La Touche Congreve VC, DSO, MC (12th March 1891 – 20th July 1916) was an English recipient of 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.

He was at school at Summer Fields School, Oxford and then at Eton, leaving in 1907.On 1st June 1916 he married Pamela Cynthia Maude, the daughter of actors Cyril Maudeand Winifred Emery.

Congreve was 25 years old, and a Major in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ During the period 6th July to 20th July 1916 at Longueval, France, Major Congreve constantly inspired those round him by numerous acts of gallantry. As Brigade Major he not only conducted battalions up to their positions but when the Brigade headquarters was heavily shelled he went out with the medical officer to remove the wounded to places of safety, although he himself was suffering from gas and other shell effects. He went out again on a subsequent occasion tending the wounded under heavy shell fire. Finally, on returning to the front line to ascertain the position after an unsuccessful attack, he was shot and died instantly.

He was the son of General Sir Walter Norris Congreve, also a Victoria Cross awardee – they are one of only three father and son pairings to win a VC. His younger brother, Geoffrey, first of the Congreve baronets of Congreve, Staffordshire, was a distinguished sailor, awarded the DSO for a raid on Norway and killed in 1941 during a raid on the French coast.

His widow bore a posthumous daughter, Mary Gloria Congreve, born 21st March 1917.Pamela Congreve later remarried, to Brigadier the Hon. William Fraser, in 1919.

William Congreve’s grave is at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, France, 9 miles east of Amiens, Plot I, Row F, Grave 35. There is also a memorial to him in the form of a plaque in Corbie church, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyenst.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Major Edward Cooper VC (4th May 1896 – 19th August 1985) was an English recipient of 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.

Cooper was 21 years old, and a Sergeant in the 12th Battalion, The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place on 16 August 1917 at Langemarck, during the Battle of Passchendaele for which he was awarded the VC.

The citation was published in the London Gazzette on 14th September 1917, and reads:

“ No. R.2794 Sjt. Edward Cooper, K.R.R.C. (Stockton).

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. Enemy machine guns from a concrete blockhouse, 250 yards away, were holding up the advance of the battalion on his left, and were also causing heavy casualties to his own battalion. Sjt. Cooper, with four men, immediately rushed towards the blockhouse, though heavily fired on. About 100 yards distant he ordered his men to lie down and fire at the blockhouse. Finding this did not silence the machine guns, he immediately rushed forward straight at them and fired his revolver into an opening in the blockhouse. The machine guns ceased firing and the garrison surrendered. Seven machine guns and forty-five prisoners were captured in this blockhouse. By this magnificent act of courage he undoubtedly saved what might have been a serious check to the whole advance, at the same time saving a great number of lives.

He later achieved the rank of Major. His medal is on display at Preston Hall Museum in Stockton. Major Cooper was cremated at Teesside Crematorium.

L/Cpl AJ Christie VC Finsbury Rifles (KRRC) 1917 Palestine

Christie was 22 years old, and a Lance Corporal in the 1/11th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles, British Army during the first World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 21st December-22nd December 1917, at Fejja, Palestine, after a position had been captured, the enemy immediately made counter-attacks up the communication trenches. Lance-Corporal Christie, seeing what was happening, took a supply of bombs and went alone about 50 yards in the open along the communication trench and bombed the enemy. He continued to do this in spite of heavy opposition until a block had been established. On his way back he bombed more of the enemy who were moving up the trench. His prompt action cleared a difficult position at a most difficult time and saved many lives

His medal is privately held.

Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Daniels VC, MC (13th December 1884 – 13th December 1953) was an English recipient of 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.

Harry Daniels was the 13th child of baker in Wymondham, Norfolk. He joined the army at a young age and served abroad in India.

He was 30 years old, and a Company Sergeant Major in the 2nd Battalion of The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, his unit was ordered into an advance on the German trenches across no-man`s land which was covered by machine guns and strewn with barbed wire. Daniels and another man, Cecil Reginald Noble, voluntarily rushed in front with cutters and attacked the wires They were both wounded at once, Noble dying later of his wounds.

For further activities on the Western Front he was awarded the Military Cross and later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

A road is named for him in his home town, Wymondham.

Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Stephen Dimmer VC, MC (9th October 1883 – 21st March 1918) was an English recipient of 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.

Born on 9th October 1883, Dimmer was 31 years old, married, and a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The King`s Royal Rifle Corps and was awarded the VC for his actions on 12th November 1914 at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium.

The London Gazette, 19th November 1914

“ This Officer served his machine gun during the attack on the 12th November at Klein Zillebeke until he had been shot five times – three times by shrapnel and twice by bullets, and continued at his post until his gun was destroyed.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Alfred George Drake VC (10th December 1893 – 23rd November 1915) was an English recipient of 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.

Drake was born in December 1893 in Mile End, Stepney, London to Robert and Mary Ann Drake. He was 21 years old, and a corporal in the 8th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War and was awarded the VC for his actions on 23 November 1915, near La Brique, Belgium. He was killed in his VC action.

The London Gazette No. 29447, 21 January 1916

“ For most conspicuous bravery on the night of 23rd Nov., 1915, near La Brique, France. He was one of a patrol of four which was reconnoitring towards the German lines. The patrol was discovered when close to the enemy who opened heavy fire with rifles and a machine gun, wounding the Officer and one man. The latter was carried back by the last remaining man. Corporal Drake remained with his Officer and was last seen kneeling beside him and bandaging his wounds regardless of the enemy’s fire. Later a rescue party crawling near the German lines found the Officer and Corporal, the former unconcious (sic) but alive and bandaged, Corporal Drake beside him dead and riddled with bullets. He had given his own life and saved his Officer.

He was interred in La Brique No2 Military Cemetery near Ieper.

The officer rescued by Corporal Drake was Lieutenant Henry Tryon also of the Rifle Brigade. After Tryon recovered from his wounds he returned to his former unit and was killed in action at Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916.

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum.

Sergeant Albert Gill VC (8th September 1879 – 27th July 1916) was an English recipient of 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.

He was 36 years old, and a serjeant in the 1st Battalion, The The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ On 27th July 1916 at Delville Wood, France, the enemy made a very strong counterattack on the right flank of the battalion and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers. Sergeant Gill rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers, and reorganised his defences. Soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men and started sniping at about 20 yards range. Although it was almost certain death, Sergeant Gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men. He was killed almost at once, but his gallant action held up the enemy advance.

Gill is buried at Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Somme, France.

Gill’s Victoria Cross is in the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection at the Imperial War Museum.

William Gregg VC DCM MM (27th January 1890 – 10th August 1969) was an English recipient of 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.

Details

He was 28 years old, and a sergeant in the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own), British Army during the First World War when he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On the 6th of May 1918 at Bucquoy, France, when all the officers of Sergeant Gregg’s company had been hit during an attack on an enemy outpost, he took command, rushing two enemy posts, killing some of the gun teams, taking prisoners and capturing a machine-gun. He then started to consolidate his position until driven back by a counter-attack, but as reinforcements had by now come up, he led a charge, personally bombed a hostile machine-gun, killed the crew and captured the gun. When driven back again, he led another successful attack and held on to his position until ordered to withdraw.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of company sergeant-major and served in World War II with the Sherwood Foresters.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets / Rifles Museum in Winchester,

Local Honours

William lived in Heanor, Derbyshire, and as testament to his deeds of gallantry when the town’s new swimming baths were built in 1970 they were named the ‘William Gregg V.C Swimming Baths’ in his honour.

That recognition was continued when the facilities were extended and privatised in 2009-10 as the ‘William Gregg V.C. Leisure Centre.

George Allen Maling VC by Arthur Lockyear

George Maling was born in Sunderland on 6th October, 1888 at Carlton House the son of Edwin Allan and Maria Jane Maling. He was educated at Uppingham, going on to Oxford and then to St Thomas’s Hospital where he obtained the Degrees, M A; M B; B Ch. Oxon; MRCS; and LRCP. The Battle of Loos formed a part of the wider Artois-Loos Offensive conducted by the French and British in autumn 1915, sometimes referred to as the Second Battle of Artois, and comprised the major Allied offensive on the Western Front in 1915.The Loos offensive began on 25th September following a four day artillery bombardment in which 250,000 shells were fired, and was called off in failure on 28th September. Presided over by General Douglas Haig, the British had committed six divisions to the attack despite serious misgivings regarding the unavailability of a further two divisions as reserves. This delay in making available the reserves was crucial.

The Germans poured in reserves to counter-attack the following day when the British no longer had the benefit of a preliminary artillery bombardment.

Advancing towards the astonished Germans that afternoon without covering fire, the “Tommies” were cut down by repeated machine gun fire. After several days of sporadic fighting, the British were eventually forced to order a retreat. During the battle the British forces suffered 50,000 casualties. German casualties were estimated much lower, at approximately half the British total. It was against this backdrop of carnage that Lieutenant George Maling of the Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 12th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (now the Royal Green Jackets) won his Victoria Cross.

At dawn on the second day of battle a group of British soldiers were trapped in the area of a ruined house in “no man’s land”, near Fauquissart, by a murderous artillery barrage, with the screams of the wounded carrying to the British lines, where their comrades were unable to give them support because of the intensity of the shelling.

Despite this, and on being advised that were some three-hundred wounded around this ruin, Maling shouldered his medical pack, shouted for his orderly and jumped the parapet and ran through curtain of exploding steel, and inexplicably arrived at ruin unharmed. He then set about his duties conscientiously and systematically, despite the incessant barrage, and the consequent escalation in casualty numbers.

Accompanied by his orderly, Maling moved from casualty to casualty, never hurrying, dressing wounds, carrying less seriously wounded men to more comfortable positions, and giving solace and as much palliative care as circumstances would permit to the more serious injured.
Both men worked through the day, taking cover only when the bombardment became too intense, and even then Maling sought to protect his patients with his body. Eventually, and inevitably, a shell exploded almost over-head of the two men, throwing them a distance.

Lieutenant Maling found to his surprise that he was uninjured, his orderly however, was not so fortunate and lay wounded amongst a pile of bodies.
Dazed, Maling struggled to his feet, pulled his orderly clear, and commenced to treat his wounds. At this point, Maling heard the faint cry of a comrade begging for water, and as he made his way to this unfortunate soldier another artillery shell exploded near-by flinging Maling to the ground, covering him with debris and blowing his bag out of his hand.

Most incredibly he again escaped unhurt, and so crawled about on his hands and knees recovering his lost medical equipment, and re-commenced treating the ever growing band of injured and dying as the barrage continued pitilessly throughout that terrible and Hellish day.
As night fell the bombardment lessened in intensity, becoming more sporadic. Maling was therefore able to commence transporting the wounded to relatively safer places. Not once during this long night of wounded and dying soldiers did Maling think of leaving his patients and returning to the safety of British lines, instead he continued alone in his selfless and gallant humanitarian work, with great commitment and courage.

As dawn broke, the early light showed hundreds of dead around the area of the ruined house, but almost three hundred alive but wounded. Again a haggard and tired Maling continued moving from man to man giving what treatment he could and trying to raise their spirits.

By 8am the German gunners ceased their attack, and British rescue teams were able to move forward to bring the wounded back to casualty stations and thence away from the “Front”. For the most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in collecting and treating more than 300 wounded, all the time under heavy shell fire and in the open Lieutenant Malling was awarded the highest honour that can be bestowed on a British soldier — the Victoria Cross. He was mentioned in despatches and promoted to Captain in 1916.

George Allen Maling VC died on 9th July, 1929 at the age of 40 in Lee, South East London, where he had practised as a General Practitioner (Doctor). His medals are held by the Museum of Army Medical Services, Aldershot.

Sgt AJ Knight VC Post Office Rifles (RB )1917 Belgium

Alfred Joseph Knight was born in 1888 in Ladywood, Birmingham. He married Mabel Saunderson in 1915 and worked as a Clerical Assistant in the North Midland Engineering District prior to the outbreak of war.

The Great War began on the 28^th of July 1914 and Alfred, keen to offer his services in the name of his King and country joined the Post Office Rifles three months later on the 26^th October 1914. The Rifles moved to Northern France in May 1917 where they would see their first major action at the Second Battle of Bullecourt.

The Second Battle of Bullecourt was a further attempt at penetrating the German lines after the initial assault failed (The First Battle of Bullecourt). Before the offensive was called off on May the 17^th 1917, Knight distinguished himself with an act of bravery that saw him bringing back wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire and it was this action that saw Alfred promoted to Sergeant.

Sergeant Alfred Knight and the Post Office Rifles went on to fight at the Battle for Wurst Farm Ridge, Ypres on the 20^th of September 1917 and it was during this battle that Knight’s act of gallantry saw him be awarded with the Victoria Cross. Alfred charged the enemy and single handedly captured an enemy position with no regard for his own safety whatsoever. Knight was presented with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on January 3^rd, 1918 by King George V.

It is also noted that as an extraordinary soldier, who was ready to improvise in Theatre of War, Sergeant Alfred Knight rushed through a group of enemy soldiers who were causing casualties at Hubner Farm bayoneted two, shot one and caused the rest to scarper. It was acts of bravery such as this that made Alfred Knight one of the standout soldiers in the Post Office Rifles.

After the war Alfred Knight worked at the Ministry of Labour, managing the Employment Exchange. He later went on to become the Senior Wages Inspector in the Midlands section of the Ministry of Labour and retired in 1951. In that same year he was made a member of the Order of The British Empire.

Sergeant Alfred Knight died aged 72 at his home on the 4^th of December 1960.

William Mariner VC (29th May 1882 – 1st July 1916) was an English recipient of 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.

Mariner, the son of Mrs A. Wignall was 32 years old, and a Private the 2nd Battalion, The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

The citation for the award, published in the London Gazette on 23rd June 1915

No. 2052 Private William Mariner, 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps.

“ During a violent thunderstorm on the night of 22nd May, 1915, he left his trench near Cambrin, and crept out through the German wire entanglements till he reached the emplacement of a German machine gun which had been damaging our parapets and hindering our working parties.

After climbing on the top of the German parapet he threw a bomb in under the roof of the gun emplacement and- heard some groaning and the enemy running away. After about a quarter of an hour he heard some of them coming back again, and climbed up on the other side of the emplacement and threw another bomb among them left-handed. He then lay still while the Germans opened a heavy fire on the wire entanglement behind him, and it was only after about an hour that he was able to crawl back to his own trench.

Before starting out he had requested a serjeant to open fire on the enemy’s trenches as soon as he had thrown his bombs. Rifleman Mariner was out alone for one and a half hours carrying out this gallant work.“

He was killed in action, France, on 1st July 1916 and his name is on the Thiepval, Memorial.

Cecil Reginald Noble VC (4th June 1891 – 13th March 1915) was an English recipient of 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.

He was 23 years old, and an Acting Corporal in the 2nd Battalion,The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 12th March 1915 at Neuvue Chapelle, France, when the advance of the battalion was impeded by wire entanglements and by very severe machine-gun fire, Corporal Noble and another man ( Harry Daniels) voluntarily rushed in front and succeeded in cutting the wires. They were both wounded, and Corporal Noble later died of his injuries. Daniels survived to receive his Victoria Cross and later rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Noble was buried at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, two miles south of Saint-Omer, France, in plot I, row A, Plot / Grave 57.

George Stanley Peachment VC (5th May 1897 – 25th September 1915) was an English recipient of 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.
Before he joined up in April 1915, Peachment was an apprentice steam engine maker in Bury, Lancashire.

Peachment was a private in The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

” At the Battle of Loos, on 25th September 1915 near Hulluch, France, during very heavy fighting, when the front line was compelled to retire in order to reorganise, Private Peachment saw his company commander lying wounded and crawled to help him. The enemy fire was intense but although there was a shell-hole quite close in which a few men had taken cover, Private Peachment never thought of saving himself. He knelt in the open by his officer and tried to help him, but while doing so was first wounded by a bomb and a minute later mortally wounded by a rifle bullet.

His medal is held in the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection.

Harry Sherwood Ranken VC (3rd September 1883 – 25th September 1914) was a Scottish recipient of 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.

Details

Ranken was 31 years old, and a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, British Army, attached to 1st Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On the 19th and 20th of September 1914 at Haute-Avesnes, France, Captain Ranken was severely wounded in the leg whilst attending to his duties on the battlefield under shrapnel and rifle fire. He arrested the bleeding from this and bound it up, then continued to dress the wounds of his men, sacrificing his own chance of survival to their needs. When he finally permitted himself to be carried to the rear his case had become almost desperate and he died on 25th of September.

Ranken is buried in Braine Communal Cemetery.

Legacy

Ranken worked at the Brook fever hospital in South East London, which was on the site adjacent to the Royal Herbert Military Hospital; the original hospital designed on the principles laid down by Florence Nightingale after the Crimean war. When the military hospital moved across the road to a new set of buildings around 1970 – the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital – the administration block at the QE was named after him – Ranken House. The QE has since been largely rebuilt and is now a civilian hospital, but the name has been preserved. Harry Ranken’s photograph and a copy of his citation are still proudly displayed in the reception area of Ranken House.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum (Aldershot, England).

Albert Edward Shepherd VC (11th January 1897 – 23rd October 1966) was an English recipient of 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.

He was 20 years old, and a privat in the 12th (S) Battalion,The King`s Royal Rifle Corps of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ On 20th November 1917 at Villers Plouich, France, when his company was held up by a machine-gun at point-blank range, Private Shepherd volunteered to rush the gun and although ordered not to, rushed forward and threw a Mills bomb killing two gunners and capturing the gun. The company, continuing its advance, came under heavy enfilade* machine-gun fire and when the last officer and NCO had become casualties, Private Shepherd took command of the company, ordered the men to lie down and went back some 70 yards to get the help of a tank. He then returned to his company and led them to their last objective

A formation or position is “in enfilade” if weapons fire can be directed along its longest axis. For instance, a trench is enfiladed if the opponent can fire down the length of the trench. A column of marching troops is enfiladed if fired on from the front or rear such that the projectiles travel the length of the column. A rank or line of advancing troops is enfiladed if fired on from the side (flank)..

He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 28th August 1916 and became acting Corporal one month later on 28th September 1916.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks.

Alfred Wilcox VC (16th December 1884 – 30th March 1954), was an English recipient of 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.

Until 2006, he was the only recipient of the Victoria Cross whose exact resting place was unknown.

He was 33 years old, and a lance corporal in the 2/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 12 September 1918 near Laventie, France, when his company was held up by enemy machine-gun fire at short range, Lance-Corporal Wilcox rushed to the nearest enemy gun, bombing it and killing the gunner. Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, the corporal picked up enemy stick bombs and led his company against the next gun, finally capturing and destroying it. Then, left with only one man he continued bombing and captured a third gun. Going up the trench, bombing as he went, he captured a fourth gun and then returned to his platoon.

A nephew was Charles Wilcox GC. In 2006 his nephew John Wilcox, who had attended his Uncle’s funeral in 1954, helped historian Chris Sutton in locating his grave in Aston Church. A service was held, and a memorial unveiled on 12 September 2006, 88 years to the day after he captured the guns.

Joseph Edward Woodall VC (1st June 1896 – 2nd January 1962) was an English recipient of 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.

Woodall was 21 years old and a Lance Sergeantt in the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 11th April 1918 the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade was rushed up in buses to a position on the La Bassée Canal to try to stem the German breakthrough on the Lys. Over the next eleven days it was involved in severe fighting in the area around Hinges and Robecq. On 22nd April, 1st Bn, Rifle Brigade, together with the 1st Hampshires, took part in an attack which helped to secure the Canal. It was during this fighting that Lance Sergeant Joseph Woodall won his Victoria Cross on the far side of the canal at La Pannerie, near Hinges.

His citation read:

La Pannerie, France, 22nd April 1918, Lance Sergeant Joseph Edward Woodall, 1st Bn, The Rifle Brigade.

“ For most conspicuous bravery and fine leadership during an attack. ( La Pannerie, France ) Sjt. Woodall was in command of a platoon which, during an advance, was held up by a machine gun. On his own initiative he rushed forward and, single-handed, captured the gun and eight men. After the objective had been gained, heavy fire was encountered from a farmhouse some 200 yards in front. Sjt. Woodall collected ten men and, with great dash and gallantry, rushed the farm and took thirty prisoners. Shortly afterwards, when the officer in command was killed, he took entire command, reorganised the two platoons, and disposed them most skilfully.

Throughout the day, in spite of intense shelling and machine-gun fire, this gallant N.C.O. was constantly on the move, encouraging the men and finding out and sending back invaluable information. The example set by Sjt. Woodall was simply magnificent, and had a marked effect on the troops. The success of the operation on this portion of the front is attributed almost entirely to his coolness, courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety.

Joseph Woodall was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 23 November 1918.

Joseph Woodall stayed in the Army after the war and on 7th March 1919 became a Second Lieutenant with one of the Service Battalions of The Rifle Brigade. He retired from the Army as a Captain in September 1921.

Woodall did not attend the 1956 VC Centenary Review, although he did attend a Festival of Remembrance in Dublin in November 1956, along with three other VC holders – Adrian Carton de Wiart, John Moyney and James Duffy.

Joseph Woodall died at St. Michael’s Hospital, Dun Laoghaire on 2 January 1962 and was buried in Deans Grange Cemetery.

Medal entitlement of Captain Joseph Edward Woodall – 1st Bn, The Rifle Brigade

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum.

Sidney Clayton Woodroffe VC (17th December 1895 – 30th July 1915) was an English recipient of 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.

Woodroffe was born in Lewes, Sussex and was educated at Marlbrough Collage.

He was 19 years old, and a second Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort`s Own) of the British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ On 30th July 1915 at Hooge, Belgium, when the enemy had broken through the centre of our front trenches, Second Lieutenant Woodroffe’s position was heavily attacked with bombs from the flank and subsequently from the rear, but he managed to defend his post until all his bombs were exhausted. He then skillfully withdrew his remaining men and immediately led them forward in a counter-attack under intense rifle and machine-gun fire, and was killed whilst in the act of cutting the wire obstacles in the open.

This medal is currently in the Lord Ashcroft V.C. Trust Collection

2nd Lt. Woodroffe has no known grave and is commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres. His entry is possibly unique, in that the postnomial VC appears before his name, and was most likely added at a later date. He is also listed on the Lewes War Memorial.

War poet Charles Sorley, a contemporary of Woodfroffe at Marlborough, dedicated a poem to Woodroffe entitled ‘In Memoriam SCW VC

He was the brother of Kenneth Woodroffe, a cricketer who played for Hampshire and Sussex. Kenneth was also killed in 1915 whilst serving with the Rifle Brigade.

Geoffrey Woolley Second Lieutenant Queen Victoria’s Rifles WWI 20–21 April 1915VC OBE MC (14th May 1892 – 10th December 1968) was the first British Territorial Army officer to be 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.

Early life

Woolley was the son of a clergyman, Rev. George Herbert Woolley, the curate of St Matthew’s, Upper Clapton, in London, and his wife Sarah. He had seven sisters and three brothers, including the famous archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley and George Cathcart Woolley, a colonial administrator and ethnographer. Woolley was educated at Parmiter’s School, Bethnal Green, St John’s School, Leatherhead and The Queen’s College, Oxford. He seemed destined to follow his father into the Church until the outbreak of the First World War, when he obtained a commission in the Queen Victoria’s Rifles, the 9th (County of London) Battalion of the London Regiment of the British Army.

First World War

The Queen Victoria’s Rifles were posted to the Ypres Salient. On the 17th of April 1915, the British Army captured Hill 60, a low rise to the south-east of Ypres. In the midst of fierce German efforts to retake the hill, Second Lieutenant Woolley’s company were sent up on the afternoon of the 20th of April to take ammunition supplies to the defenders. The situation quickly deteriorated, with many men and all the other officers on the hill being killed. Woolley refused verbal and written orders to withdraw, saying he and his company would remain until properly relieved. They repelled numerous attacks through the night. When they were relieved the next morning, he returned with 14 men remaining from the 150-strong company. The citation for the Victoria Cross he was awarded for this action reads:

For most conspicuous bravery on “Hill 60” during the night of 20th–21st April, 1915.

Although the only Officer on the hill at the time, and with very few men, he successfully resisted all attacks on his trench, and continued throwing bombs and encouraging his men till relieved. His trench during all this time was being heavily shelled and bombed and was subjected to heavy machine gun fire by the enemy.

Two days later Woolley was promoted directly to the rank of Captain. He saw further action in the early stages of the Second Battle of Ypres until he was invalided back to England suffering from poison gas and psychological effects. When Woolley had recovered, he was appointed as an instructor at the Officers Infantry School. He returned to the Western Front in summer 1916 as a General Staff Officer Grade II on the Third Army Staff. After the war, Wooley was one of many officers awarded the Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours of 1919.

Later Life

After the war Wooley resumed the study of theology at Oxford, was ordained in December 1920, and took a teaching post at Rugby School. In 1923 he resigned his commission and became vicar of Monk Sherborne, Hampshire, before moving on to the chaplaincy of Harrow School.

In the January of 1940 Woolley resigned from the school and was commissioned into the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. He was appointed Senior Chaplain of the Algiers area in the November of 1942, reaching the rank of Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class (Major). With several other officers he was appointed OBE in 1943 “in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa.” His son Rollo, a Spitfire pilot, was posted to North Africa in the same month, and killed in early December 1942 in a battle over Tunis.

Woolley took on the parish of St Mary’s, Harrow on the Hill, in 1944. In 1952, finding it difficult to climb the hill, he resigned his commission and moved to be rector of West Grinstead, Sussex, where he stayed until he retired in 1958.

Sourced from Wikipedia

Pictures Sourced from Facebook

original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

Winchester

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Oct 292013

Historic Winchester

Winchester is a historic city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester,

a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of the River Itchen. At the time of the 2001 Census, Winchester had a population of 41,420.

Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum, which developed from an Iron Age oppidum. Winchester’s major landmark is Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the distinction of having the longest nave and overall length of all Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

The town is also home to the University of Winchester and the famous public school, Winchester Collage. The city’s architectural and historic interest, and its fast links to other towns and cities have led Winchester to become one of the most expensive and desirable areas of the country. A person who is from or resides in Winchester is sometimes locally known as a Wintonian.

This Historic City has so much to see, it is ideal for Ramblers and Walkers.

[jwplayer mediaid=”8103″] (Governor’s Guard (Please Play Me)

Early History

Settlement in the area dates back to prehistoric times, with three Iron Age hillforts, Oram`s Arbour, St Cathrine`s Hilland Worthy Down all in the near vicinity. In the Late Iron Age a more urban settlement-type developed, known as an oppidum, although the archaeology of this phase remains obscure.

After the Roman conquest of Britain, this town became the capital of the local tribe or civitas, known as the Belgae, a confederation of Gaulish tribes who conquered large parts of the southern Britain beginning around 100 BCE. The city was known as Venta Belgarum, which may mean “Market” or “Meeting-Place of the Belgae”. Although in the early years of the Roman province it was of subsidiary importance to Silchester and Chichester, over time it came to eclipse them both.

At the beginning of the third century Winchester was given protective stone walls.At around this time the city covered an area of 144 acres (58.3 ha), making it the fifth largest town in Roman Britain by surface area. There was also a limited suburban area outside the walls.Like many other Roman towns however, Winchester began to decline in the later fourth century.

Anglo Saxon Time

The city has historic importance as it replaced Dorchester-on-Thamesas the de facto capital of the ancient kingdom of Wessex in about 686 after King Caedwalla of Wessex defeated King Atwald of Wight. Although it was not the only town to have been the capital, it was established by King Egbert as the main city in his kingdom in 827. Saint Swithun was Bishop of Winchester in the mid 9th century. It was sacked by the Danes in 860.

The Saxon street plan laid out by Alfed the Greatis still evident today: a cross shaped street system which conformed to the standard town planning system of the day – overlaying the pre existing Romanstreet plan (incorporating the ecclesiastical quarter in the south-east; the judicial quarter in the south-west; the tradesmen in the north-east). The town was part of a series of fortifications along the south coast. Built by Alfred to protect the Kingdom, they were known as ‘burhs’. The medieval city walls, built on the old Roman walls, are visible in places.

Only one section of the original Roman walls remains. Four main gates were positioned in the north, south, east and west plus the additional Durngate and King’s Gate. Winchester remained the capital of Wessex, and then England, until some time after the Norman Conquestwhen the capital was moved to London.The Domesday Bookwas compiled in the city late in the reign of William the Conqueror, but did not cover the city itself

Medieval and later times

A serious fire in the city in 1141 accelerated its decline. However, William of Wykeham(1320–1404) played an important role in the city’s restoration. As Bishop of Winchesterhe was responsible for much of the current structure of the cathedral, and he founded the still extant public school Winchester Collage. During the Middle Ages, the city was an important centre of the wool trade, before going into a slow decline. The curfew bellin the bell tower (near the clock in the picture), still sounds at 8.00pm each evening. The curfew was the time to extinguish all home fires until the morning.

The City Cross (also known as the Buttercross) has been dated to the 15th century, and features 12 statues of the Virgin Mary, saints and various historical figures. Several statues appear to have been added throughout the structure’s history. In 1770, Thomas Dummer purchased the Buttercross from the Corporation of Winchester, intending to have it re-erected at Cranbury Park, near Otterbourne. When his workmen arrived to dismantle the cross, they were prevented from doing so by the people of the city, who “organised a small riot” and they were forced to abandon their task.

The agreement with the city was cancelled and Dummer erected a lath and plaster facsimile, which stood in the park for about sixty years before it was destroyed by the weather. The Buttercross itself was restored by G. G. Scott in 1865, and still stands in the High Street. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The novelist Jane Austendied in Winchester on 18th July 1817 and is buried in the cathedral. The Romantic poet John Keatsstayed in Winchester from mid-August to October 1819. It was in Winchester that Keats wrote “Isabella”, “St. Agnes’ Eve”, “To Autumn” and “Lamia”. Parts of “Hyperion” and the five-act poetic tragedy “Otho The Great” were also written in Winchester.

[jwplayer mediaid=”8090″] (Light Division (Please Play Me)

Winchester Cathedral.

Winchester Cathedral the longest cathedral in Europe, was originally built in 1079. It contains much fine architecture spanning the 11th to the 16th century and is the place of interment of numerous Bishops of Winchester (such as William of Wykeham), Anglo-Saxon monarchs (such as Egbert of Wessex) and later monarchs such as King Canute and William Rufus, as well as Jane Austen.

It was once an important pilgrimage centre and housed the shrine of Saint Swithun. The ancient Pilgrim`s Way traveling to Canterbury begins at Winchester. The plan of the earlier Old Minster is laid out in the grass adjoining the cathedral. The New Minster (original burial place of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder) once stood beside it. It has a girls choir and a boys choir, which sing on a regular basis at the cathedral.

Winchester Cathedral Close contains a number of historic buildings from the time when the cathedral was also a priory. Of particular note is the Deanery, which dates back to the thirteenth century. It was originally the Prior’s House, and was the birthplace of Arthur, Prince of Wales, in 1486. Not far away is Cheyney Court, a mid fifteenth-century timber-framed house incorporating the Porter’s Lodge for the Priory Gate. It was the Bishop’s court house.

The earliest hammer-beamed building still standing in England is also situated in the Cathedral Close, next to the Dean’s garden. It is known as the Pilgrims’ Hall, as it was part of the hostelry used to accommodate the many pilgrims to Saint Swithun’s shrine. Left-overs from the lavish banquets of the Dean would be given to the pilgrims who were welcome to spend the night in the hall. It is thought by Winchester City Council to have been built in 1308. Now part of The Pilgrim`s School, the hall is used by the school for assemblies in the morning, drama lessons, plays, orchestral practices, Cathedral Waynflete rehearsals, the school’s Senior Commoners’ Choir rehearsals and so forth.

Castle

Winchester is well known for the Great Hall of its castle, which was built in the 12th century. The Great Hall was rebuilt sometime between 1222 and 1235, and still exists in this form. It is famous for King Arthur`s Round Table, which has hung in the hall from at least 1463. The table actually dates from the 13th century, and as such is not contemporary to Arthur.

Despite this it is still of considerable historical interest and attracts many tourists. The table was originally unpainted, but was painted for King Henry VIII in 1522. The names of the legendary Knights of the Round Table are written around the edge of the table surmounted by King Arthur on his throne.

Opposite the table are Prince Charles`s ‘Wedding Gates’. In the grounds of the Great Hall is a recreation of a medieval garden. Apart from the hall, only a few excavated remains of the stronghold survive among the modern Law Courts.

The buildings were supplanted by the adjacent King`s House, now incorporated into the Peninsula Barracks where there are now five military museums, it was once the home of the Royal Green Jackets and their antecedent regiments,

Winchester Procession

This picture is credited to the RGJ Museum Circa 1900s

Freedom of the City of Winchester

The Royal Army Pay Corps: 1970.

The Adjutant General’s Corps: 1996.

Winchester Army Training Regiment: 17th April 2004.

The Royal Hampshire Regiment: 15th September 1945.

The Kings Royal Hussars: 1946.

The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own): 1946.

The Royal Green Jackets: 1st January 1966.

The Rifles: 1st February 2007.

The King`s Royal Rifle Corps Band

at the

Freedom Parade of the City of Winchester, 1946

Picture credited to RGJ Museum

Peninsula Barracks closed its doors as an active barracks and training depot in 1986.

The entrance to the former Peninsula Barracks, off the Romsey Road. The old guard room is now a cafe and museum.

The training which used to be carried out at the barracks is now done by the Army Training Regiment two miles outside the city of Winchester, otherwise known as Sir John Moore Barracks,

The Law Courts

Troops at Winchester Outside The Winchester Guildhall 11/11/18

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Troops and locals are gathered at the foot of King Alfred’s statue for the Armistice Day ceremony, The Broadway, 11/11/1931

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Troops and locals are gathered at the foot of King Alfred’s statue for the Armistice Day ceremony, The Broadway, 11/11/1931

Below Queen Mary Reviews Troops

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/site/tourist-information

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Regimental VC`s (Zulu War)

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Oct 292013

Regimental VC`s (Zulu War)

[jwplayer mediaid=”8109″] (Regimental Airs (Please Play Me)

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 23 members of the British Armed Forces and colonial forces for actions performed during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour “in the face of the enemy” to members of the armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29th January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War, and takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26 June 1857, when Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park.

The Anglo-Zulu War (also known as the Zulu War) was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom(Zululand; part of modern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa). Although British and colonial forces under General Lord Chelmsford entered Zululand unopposed, on 11 January 1879, the Zulu army soon inflicted a heavy defeat on them at the Battle of Isandlwana, in which more than 1,300 British and colonial forces were killed. Immediately after the battle, Zulu troops moved onto the small garrison at Rorke`s drift. Here, just over 150 British and colonial soldiers defended the outpost against 4,000 Zulu warriors. The action was later made famous by the film Zulu. The defence of Rorke’s Drift is considered by historians as a masterly defensive action and an example of heroism against overwhelming numbers. Eleven VC recipients received their awards for deeds performed during the defence of the small garrison — one of the largest number awarded for a single action, and the largest number (7) awarded to a single unit (the 2nd/24th Foot) for a single action. The severe losses at Isandlwana resulted in Lord Chelmsford having to abandon his initial invasion plan and to request significant reinforcements before another could be attempted. After these reinforcements arrived, a second invasion was launched in May. The second invasion culminated in the defeat of the Zulu army at the Battle of Ulundi, on 4th July 1879. The war saw the end of the Zulu nation’s independence as it became a protectorate of the British.

Under the original Royal Warrant, the VC could not be awarded posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazzette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not “officially” awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men; Nevill Coghill and Teignmouth Melvill were two of the soldiers who were decorated thus. The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to include posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous

Regimental VC`s (Zulu War)

General Sir Redvers Henry Buller VC GCB GCMG (7th December 1839 – 2nd June 1908) (pronounced “Reevers”) was an English recipient of 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. He served as Commander in Chief of British forces in South Africa during the early months of the South African War and subsequently commanded the army in Natal until his return to England in November 1900.

Redvers Buller was born at the family estate of Downes, near Crediton in Devon, inherited by his great-grandfather James Buller (1740-1772) from his mother Elizabeth Gould, the wife of James Buller(1717-1765), MP. Redvers was the son of James Wentworth Buller(1798-1865), MP for Exeter. The Bullers were an old Cornish family, seated at Morvalin Cornwall until their removal to Downes. The family estates inherited by Buller included 2,942 acres of Devon and 2,147 acres of Cornwall, which in 1876 produced an income of £14,137 a year

After completing his schooling at Eton he was commissioned into the 60th Rifles (King`s Royal Rifle Corps) in May 1858. He took part in the Second Opium War and was promoted to captain before taking part in the Canadian Red River Expeditionof 1870. In 1873-1874 he was the intelligence officer under Lord Wolseley during the Ashanti campaign, during which he was slightly wounded at the Battle of Ordabai. He was promoted to major and appointed CB.

He then served in South Africa during the 9th Cape Frontier Warin 1878 and the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. In the Zulu war he commanded the mounted infantry of the northern British column under Sir Evelyn Wood. He fought at the British defeat at the battle of Hlobane, where he was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery under fire. The following day he fought in the British victory at the battle of Kambula. After the Zulu attacks on the British position were beaten off, he led a ruthless pursuit by the mounted troops of the fleeing Zulus. In June 1879, he again commanded mounted troops at the battle of Ulundi, a decisive British victory which effectively ended the war.

His VC citation reads:

“ For his gallant conduct at the retreat at Inhlobana, on the 28th March, 1879, in having assisted, whilst hotly pursued by Zulus, in rescuing Captain C. D’Arcy, of the Frontier Light Horse, who was retiring on foot, and carrying him on his horse until he overtook the rear guard. Also for having on the same date and under the same circumstances, conveyed Lieutenant C. Everitt, of the Frontier Light Horse, whose horse had been killed under him, to a place of safely. Later on, Colonel Buller, in the same manner, saved a trooper of the Frontier Light Horse, whose horse was completely exhausted, and who otherwise would have been killed by the Zulus, who were within 80 yards of him “

n an interview to The Register newspaper of Adelaide, South Australia, dated 2 June 1917, Trooper George Ashby of the Fronier Light Horse (also referred to as “Pullein’s Pets”) attached to the 24th Regiment gave an account of his rescue by Col. Buller: “…it was discovered that the mountain was surrounded by a vast horde of Zulus. An attempt was made to descend on the his little party endeavoured to fight their way down, and at last he and a man named Andrew Gemmell, now living in New Zealand, were the only ones left. With their faces to the foe, firing as they retired, they kept the Zulus at bay. Then an unfortunate thing happened, Cpl. Ashby’s rifle burst, but,— fortunately for him, Col. Buller, afterwards Sir Redvers Buller, who was one of the, party, came galloping by, and offered to ‘take him up behind him. Col. Buller was a heavy man, and his horse was a light one, and realizing this, Cpl. Ashby declined his generous offer. But the Colonel stayed with him, and, Cpl. Ashby having picked up a rifle and ammunition from a fallen comrade, the two men retired, firing whenever a foeman showed himself. They eventually reached the main camp, and for this service, as well as for saving the lives of two fellow-officers on the same occasion, Col. Buller received the Victoria Cross. Out of 500 men who made the attack on the Zjilobane Mountain, more than, 300 met their death.

In the First Boer Warof 1881 he was Sir Evelyn Wood`s chief of staff and the following year was again head of intelligence, this time in the Eygpt, campaign, and was knighted.

He had married Audrey, the daughter of the 4th Marquess Townsend, in 1882 and in the same year was sent to the Sudan in command of an infantry brigade and fought at the battles of El Teband Tamai, and the expedition to relieve General Gordon in 1885. He was promoted to major-general.

He was sent to Ireland in 1886, to head an inquiry into moonlighting by police personnel. He returned to the Army as Quartermaster-General to the forces the following year and in 1890 promoted to Adjutant-General to the Forces, becoming a Lieutenant General on 1st April 1891.Although expected to be made Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the British Army by Lord Rosebery`s government on the retirement of the Duke of Cambridge in 1895 this did not happen because the government was replaced and Lord Wolseley appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army instead. On 24th June 1896 Buller was promoted to full General.

Buller became head of the troops stationed at Aldershot in 1898 and was sent as commander of the Natal Field Force in 1899 on the outbreak of the Second Boer War, arriving at the end of October. He was defeated at the Battle of Colenso.

Defeats at the Battle of Magersfontein and Battle of Stormbergalso involved forces under his command. Because of concerns about his performance and negative reports from the field he was replaced in January 1900 as overall commander in South Africa by Lord Roberts. Defeats and questionable ability as commander soon earned him the nickname “Reverse Buller” among troops. He remained as second-in-command and suffered two more setbacks in his attempts to relieve Ladysmith at the battles of Spion Kopand Vaal Krantz. On his fourth attempt, Buller was victorious in the Battle of the Tugela Heights, lifting the siege on 28th February 1900. Later he was successful in flanking Boer armies out of positions at Biggarsberg, Laing`s Nek and Lydenburg. It was Buller’s veterans who won the Battle of Bergendal in the war’s last set-piece action.

Buller was also popular as a military leader amongst the public in England, and he had a triumphal return from South Africa with many public celebrations, including those on 10 November 1900 when he went to Aldershot to resume his role as GOC Aldershot District, later to be remembered as “a Buller day”. He spent the following months giving lectures and speeches on the war, was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in Nov 1900, and received the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Plymouth in April 1901.However, his reputation had been damaged by his early reverses in South Africa, especially within the Unionist government. When public disquiet emerged over the continuing guerrilla activities by the defeated Boers, the Minister for War, St. John Brodrick and Lord Roberts sought a scapegoat.The opportunity was provided by the numerous attacks in the newspapers on the performance of the British Army. The matter came to a head when a virulent piece written by The Times journalist, Leo Amery was publicly answered by Buller in a speech on 10th October 1901. Brodrick and Roberts saw their opportunity to pounce, and summoning Buller to an interview on 17th October, Brodrick, with Roberts in support, demanded his resignation on the grounds of breaching military discipline. Buller refused and was summarily dismissed on half pay 22nd October. His request for a court martial was refused, as was his request to appeal to the King.

There were many public expressions of sympathy for Buller, especially in the West Country, where in 1905 by public subscription a notable statue by Adrian Jones of Buller astride his war horse was erected in Exeter on the road from his home town of Credition (facing away from Crediton to the annoyance of the inhabitants of Crediton.)

Brodrick was soon moved from the war ministry by Arthur Balfourin 1903, and subsequently lost his parliamentary seat when the Liberals returned to power in 1906. The new government showed their appreciation of Buller by offering him a seat. However, Buller refused the offer and continued his quiet retirement, until on 29 May 1907 he accepted the post of Principal Warden of the Goldsmith`s Company which he held until his death in 1908.

He died on 2 June 1908, at the family seat, Downes House, Crediton, Devon, and is buried in the churchyard of Holy Cross Church in Crediton. The entire western side of the chancel arch inside the church forms an elaborate monument to Sir Redvers.

At least one recent historian has been kinder to Buller’s reputation:

“ Buller’s achievements have been obscured by his mistakes. In 1909, a French military critic, General Langlois, pointed out that it was Buller, not Roberts, who had the toughest job of the war — and it was Buller who was the innovator in countering Boer tactics. The proper use of cover, of infantry advancing in rushes, co-ordinated in turn with creeping barrages of artillery: these were the tactics of truly modern war, first evolved by Buller in Natal.“

The town of Redvers, in Canada is named after him, as is the Royal Logistic Corps barracks at Aldershot.

Two adjacent roads, Redvers Road and Buller Road in Wood Green, London, England and likewise in Brighton are named after him. Also Redvers Buller Road in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Adjacent to Baden Powell Road and Lord Roberts Road (after Lord Roberts of Kandahar) and Buller Street in Derby, Derbyshire are named after him.

In Dover there is a small road called Redvers Cottages. However it is unknown whether or not this is indeed named after Redvers Buller.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks

There is a memorial to Buller, in the form of his recumbent effigy, in the north transept of Winchester Cathedral,The inscription reads:

“A great leader — Beloved of his men “

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original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

Regimental VC`s (Quebec)

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Oct 282013

Regimental VC`s (Quebec)

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Between 1866 and 1870, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood, who were based in the United States, on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided Catholic Irish- Canadians, many of whom were torn between loyalty to their new home and sympathy for the aims of the Fenians. The Protestants from Ulster were generally loyal to Britain and fought with the Orange Order against the Fenians. While the U.S. authorities arrested the men and confiscated their arms, there is speculation that some in the U.S. government had turned a blind eye to the preparations for the invasion, angered at actions that could have been construed as British assistance to the Confederacy during the American Civil War. There were five Fenian raids of note.

Regimental VC`s ( Quebec )

Timothy O’Hea VC (1843 – 1874) was born in Schull, County Cork was an Irish recipient of 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.

O’Hea was about 23 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade ( Prince Consort`s Own ) of the British Army Stationed in Canada when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

“ On 9 June 1866 at Danville, Quebec, Canada, a fire broke out in a railway car containing 2000 lb (900 kg) of ammunition, between Quebec and Montreal. The alarm was given and the car was disconnected at Danville Railway Station. While the sergeant in charge was considering what should be done, Private O’Hea took the keys from his hand, rushed to the car, opened it and called for water and a ladder. It was due to this man’s example that the fire was suppressed

O’Hea was said to have died in the Tirari Desert-Sturt Stony Desert region of central Australia in November 1874 while searching for a lost member of the Leichhardt expedition. Graham Fischer was present at the death but did not describe the specifics on the event. A recent book by Elizabeth Reid, The Singular Journey of O’Hea’s Cross, poses the theory that Timothy O’Hea in fact died in Ireland, shortly after his discharge from the British Army in 1868. His identity and VC annuity were then assumed by his brother John, and it is this man who actually died in Australia.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the RGJ / Rifles Museum at the former Peninsula Barracks

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Regimental VC`s (New Zealand Wars)

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Oct 282013

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The New Zealand Land Wars were a series of conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872. The two conflicts where soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross were the First Taranaki War of 1860–1861 and the Waikato- Hauhau Maori War of 1863–1866. The First Taranaki War was fought over land rights on New Zealand’s North Island. The local Colonial Governor had set up a policy whereby the British Government could buy local land, and anyone refusing to sell their land would be committing treason against the Crown. When the Te Atiawa refused to sell their land, the British Army attacked on 17 March 1860, starting the First Taranaki War. After a series of sieges by the British, a truce was signed with the Māori people in March 1861; the disputed land became British-owned territory but it remained in possession of the Māori people. The First Taranaki War ended in a stalemate over the one area of disputed land. By 1863 the influx of settlers and consequent demand for land led to further conflict. In July 1863, the British Army and the Auckland Militia launched the Invasion of Waikato against the forces of Tawhiao and the Maori King Movement. The British expelled the Māori people from their lands, swiftly moving south, culminating in the defeat and flight of Tāwhiao at Orakau in March 1864. The British pursued him across the country as far as the fourth Waikato defensive line, which later became the border of King Country

Regimental VC`s New Zealand War

Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Augustus Smith VC ( Dublin 18 November 1826 – County Meath 22 July 1887) was an Irish recipient of 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.

Smith entered the British Army in 1849 and saw action during the Crimean War at Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol

Smith was 37 years old, and a captain in the 43rd ( Monmouthshire ) regiment of Foot (later the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry ) of the British Army during the Waikato- Hauhau Maori War,New Zealand when the following deed took place on 21 June 1864 at Tauranga for which he was awarded the VC.

“ For his distinguished conduct during the engagement at Tauranga, on the 21st of June. He is stated to have led on his Company in the most gallant manner at the attack on the Maories’ position, and, although wounded previously to reaching the Rifle Pits, to have jumped down into them, where he commenced a hand to hand encounter with the Enemy, thereby giving his men great encouragement, and setting them a fine example

He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He commanded the 43rd Foot in the late 1870`s and retired in February 1878.

He died in Duleek, Co Meath, on 22nd July 1887. His grave (unmarked) is in Duleek (Church of Ireland) Churchyard, Co Meath. A memorial plaque to him, originally in Duleek Church, is now situated in Kilmore Church, standing in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co Down.

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original source from www.thegazette.co.uk

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