Victoria Cross Exhibition at Dedworth Library

Background

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Dedworth Library hosted an interesting display regarding some of the local Victoria Cross holders. Supported by local councillor Ed Wilson, Margaret Kirby from the RBWM Museum Team, with the help of local historian Derek Hunt, put together the display. The event coincided with other activities, such as the Big Draw Weekend. It was visited by young and old alike, and even drew the attention of the RBWM May and Mayoress.

Transcript

We remember … Victoria Cross recipients

We remember extreme acts of bravery throughout the First World War.

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry that a British and Commonwealth serviceman can achieve.

The Victoria Cross was introduced by Queen Victoria in 1856 to honour acts of bravery during the Crimean War. Since then 1,358 VC Medals have been awarded to servicemen, until 1921 the Victoria Cross could not be awarded to women.

The Victoria Cross is made of metal from cannons captured at Sebastopol during the Crimean War against the Russians.

Thousands left the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead during the Great War, never to return. One of the enduring legacies we have of their sacrifice are the names on 200 war memorials in Windsor, Maidenhead and the surrounding villages.

Our Heritage Lottery Funded project has involved a small team of staff and volunteers who have researched and uncovered these stories of those soldiers who fought in the First World War. You can search our database below to find out more about the men

and women from the Borough who gave their lives during the Great War, and those who were honoured.

Many thanks to Derek Hunt for his research into VC winners and Margaret Kirby for all her work on the ‘For King and Country Project‘.

Cllr Derek Wilson for these ‘There But Not There‘ soldiers purchased from the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation www.cwgc.org

We remember… Lieutenant Colonel Harry Greenwood

At the outbreak of war Harry joined the 9th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (K.O.Y.L.I) at Pontefract in September 1914 under the command of 64th Brigade, 21st Division. In November 1914 the Battalion was billeted in Maidenhead and in September 1915 as Captain, Harry embarked for France and on the 26th September he won the Military Cross in action near Hill 70, Loos. As Mayor, Harry won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) during the German Spring Offensive in April 1918 and soon after he received a Bar to his DSO in the autumn of 1918.

Harry was in the final advance into Picardy at the Battle of the Selle, that Harry was a recipient of the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:

‘For most conspicuous and devotion to duty and fine leadership. When the advance of his battalion on the 23rd October was checked, and many casualties caused by an enemy machine-gun post, Lieutenant Colonel Greenwood single-handed rushed the post and killed the crew. At the entrance to the village of Ovillers, accompanied by two battalion runners, he again rushed a machine-gun post and killed the occupants. On reaching the objective west of Duke’s Wood his command was almost surrounded by hostile machine-gun posts, and the enemy at once attacked his isolated force. The attack was repulsed and, led by Lieutenant Colonel Greenwood, his troops swept forward and captured the last objective, with 150 prisoners, eight machine-guns and one field gun. During the attack on the Green Line south of Poix Du Nord, on 24th October, he again displayed the greatest gallantry in rushing a machine-gun post, and he showed conspicuously good leadership in the handling of his command in the face of heavy fire. He inspired his men in the highest degree, with the result that the objective was captured, and, in spite of heavy casualties, the line was held. During the further advance on Grand Gay Farm Road, on the afternoon of 24th October, the skilful and bold handling of his battalion was productive of most important results, not only on securing the flank of his brigade, but also in safeguarding the flank of the division. His valour and leading during two days of fighting were beyond all praise.’

We remember … Captain Thomas Tannatt Pryce

Citation: “The London Gazette,” dated 21st May, 1918, records the following:

‘For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice when in command of a flank on the left of the Grenadier Guards. Having been ordered to attack a village, he personally led forward two platoons, working from house to house, killing some thirty of the enemy, seven of whom he killed himself.

The next day he was occupying a position with some thirty to forty men, the remainder of his company having become casualties. As early as 8.15 a.m., his left flank was surrounded and the enemy was enfilading him. He was attacked no less than four times during the day, and each time beat off the hostile attack, killing many of the enemy. Meanwhile the enemy brought three field guns to within 300 yards of his line, and were firing over open sights and knocking his trench in. At 6.15 p.m., the enemy had worked to within sixty yards of his trench. He then called on his men, telling them to cheer and charge the enemy and fight to the last. Led by Captain Pryce, they left their trench and drove back the enemy with the bayonet some 100 yards. Half an hour later the enemy had again approached in stronger force. By this time Captain Pryce had only 17 men left, and every round of his ammunition had been fired. Determined that there should be no surrender, he once again led his men forward in a bayonet charge, and was last seen engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. With some forty men he had held back at least one enemy battalion for over ten hours. His company undoubtedly stopped the advance through the British line, and thus had great influence on the battle.’

We remember … Lieutenant William Thomas Forshaw

The British launched the attack on the afternoon of the 6th August with minimal artillery support, taking the enemy trenches but were soon forced back by a counter-attack. The Manchester Regiment casualties were heavy, and ammunition was running short. Lieutenant Forshaw led his men in making homemade bombs containing bits of metal, stones packed in tins and other containers. Chain smoking throughout he would light the fuses with is cigarette and throw the crude weapons at the attacking enemy.

Citation London Gazette:

‘For most conspicuous bravery and determination in the Gallipoli Peninsula from the 7 to 9 Aug 1915. When holding the north-west corner of the ” Vineyard ” he was attacked and heavily bombed by Turks, who advanced time after time by three trenches, which converged at this point, but he held his own, not only directing his men, and encouraging them by exposing himself with the utmost disregard of danger, but personally throwing bombs continuously for 41 hours. When his detachment was relieved after 24 hours, he volunteered to continue the direction of the operations. Three times during the night of the 8-9 Aug he was again heavily attacked, and once the Turks got his revolver, he led his men forward and recaptured it. When he re-joined his battery he was choked and sickened by bomb fumes, badly bruised by a fragment of shrapnel, and could barely lift his arm from continuous bomb-throwing. It was due to his personal example, magnificent courage, and endurance that this important corner was held.’

We remember … Air Commodore Ferdinand Maurice Felix West

Citation: Air Ministry, 8th November, 1918.

‘His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieut. (actg. Capt.) Ferdinand Maurice Felix West, M.C., – Royal Air Force (formerly of the Special Reserve, Royal Munster Fusiliers), in recognition of his outstanding bravery in aerial combat.

Captain West, while engaging hostile troops at a low altitude far over the enemy lines, was attacked by seven aircraft. Early in the engagement, one of his legs was partially severed by an explosive bullet, and he fell powerless into the controls, rendering the machine for the time unmanageable. Lifting his disabled leg, he regained control of the machine, and, although wounded in the other leg, he, with surpassing bravery and devotion to duty, manoeuvred his machine so skilfully that his observer was enabled to get several good bursts into the enemy machines, which drove them away. Captain West then, with rare courage and determination, desperately wounded as he was, brought his machine over our lines and landed safely. Exhausted by his exertions, he fainted, but on regaining consciousness insisted on writing his report.’

Citation London Gazette 26th July 1918,

‘Military Cross: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on patrol he, with another officer, observed fifteen enemy motor lorries. As these could not be engaged by our artillery by zone call, they flew 8,000 yards over the enemy lines at a height of 3,800 ft. in the face of strong opposition from the ground, and dropped four bombs, obtaining direct hits on the lorries and doing considerable damage to their personnel. They then proceeded to attack them with machine-gun fire as they sought cover. A fortnight later they carried out, at a height of 150 feet, a reconnaissance of their corps front, on which an-attack was expected. Despite the fact that the clouds were at 200 feet, and there was a thick mist, they obtained most valuable information. During this flight they directed and located the fire of our artillery on a concentration of enemy infantry. Throughout the operations their work in co-operation with our artillery was always of the greatest value, and their enterprise in attacking enemy troops and transport with bombs and machine-gun fire was splendid.”

VC Citation London Gazette 8 November 1918

Captain West, while engaging hostile troops at a low altitude far over the enemy lines, was attacked by seven aircraft. Early in the engagement one of his legs was partially severed by an explosive bullet, and fell powerless into the controls, rendering the machine for the time unmanageable. Lifting his disabled leg, he regained control of the machine, and, although wounded in the other leg, he, with surpassing bravery and devotion to duty, manoeuvred his machine so skilfully that his observer was enabled to get several good bursts into the enemy machines, which drove them away. Captain West, then, with rare courage and determination, desperately wounded as he was, brought his machine over our lines and landed safely. Exhausted by his exertions, he fainted, but on regaining consciousness insisted on writing his report.

We remember … Lance Sergeant Oliver Brooks

Citation London Gazette 28th October 1915:

‘6738 Lance Sergeant Oliver BROOKS, 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards

For most conspicuous bravery near Loos, on 8th October, 1915.

A strong party of the enemy having captured 200 yards of our trenches, Lance Sergeant Brooks, on his own initiative, led a party of bombers in the most determined manner, and succeeded in regaining possession of the lost ground.

The signal bravery displayed by this non-commissioned officer, in the midst of a hail of bombs from the Germans, was of the very first order, and the complete success attained in a very dangerous undertaking was entirely due to his absolute fearlessness, presence of mind, and promptitude.’

On the 15th September 1916 near Givinchy Oliver was wounded with a gunshot wound to the face and shoulder. His medical details state on his service record:

“15/0/16 Wounded GSW to head. Kings General Hospital London 19/9/1916-18/12/1916 a superficial wound extending from L ear to the external canthus to the It Eye. A superficial wound to It shoulder. Improving.

VC Citation: (London Gazette 28 October 1915):

‘For most conspicuous bravery near Loos, on the 8th October, 1915.
A strong party of the enemy having captured 200 yards of our trenches, Lance-Sergeant Brooks, on his own initiative, led a party of bombers in the most determined manner, and succeeded in regaining possession of the lost ground.

The signal bravery displayed by this Non-commissioned Officer, in the midst of a hail of bombs from the Germans, was of the very first order, and the complete success attained in a very dangerous undertaking was entirely due to his absolute fearlessness, presence of mind and promptitude.’

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