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Victoria Cross

Recipients who were involved with the Scout movement

 

The Victoria Cross came about

with the issue of a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria

 

 

 

The Victoria Cross was first instigated on 29^th January, 1856, by Queen Victoria. During the periods of World War 1 & 2, it was awarded to 35 known Scouts but, with further research, there could be more.

 

Before we list the known thirty five recipients, a few interesting facts about the Victoria Cross.

 

• During the relief of Lucknow (Indian Mutiny Campaign), in a single day on 16th November, 1857, 24 VCs were won. The largest number ever awarded in a single day.

• 633 Victoria Crosses were awarded during the First World War, of which over 180 were posthumous.

• Only 13 have been awarded since 1945, of which two were in the Falklands Campaign; one being the famous Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones.

• Three bars have been awarded (a bar is a second award of a medal to the same person):-

1. Arthur Martin-Leake VC & Bar

2. Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC & Bar

3. Charles Hazlitt Upham VC & Bar

Family Awards

Three  Fathers and their Sons have received the Victoria cross in their own right.

1.     Walter Congreave (Father), Walter Congreave (Son).

2.     Charles Gough (Father), Sir John Gough (Son).

3.     Earl Roberts (Father), Frederick Roberts (Son).

 

Four Brothers have won the Victoria Cross in their own right.

 

1.     Roland & George Bradford.

2.     Charles & Hugh Gough

3.     Euston & Reginald Sartorius

4.     Alex & Victor Turner

Three Brothers and their Brothers in Law have won the Victoria Cross

1.     Thomas Young & Duncan Boyles

2.     William Cubitt & Sir James Hills-Johnes

3.     Leslie Manser & John Randle

Four Uncles and Nephews have won the Victoria Cross

1.     John Grieve & Robert Grieve

2.     William Cubitt & Lewis Evans

3.     Harry Lyster & Hamilton Reed

4.     Lord Edric Gifford & John Butler

Four Cousins have won the Victoria Cross

1.     Frederick Maude & Francis Maude

2.     Thomas Cadell & Samuel Lawrence

3.     James Blair & Robert Blair

4.     James Dawson & James Pollock

There have been five Victoria Crosses awarded to civilians

1.     Mr Ross Mangles

2.     Mr William McDonnell

3.     Thomas Kavanagh

4.     George Chicken

5.     The Reverend James Adams (See Chaplains page on our site)

Numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 were awarded during the Indian Mutiny, and number 5 during the Afghan War 1879.

Although the Royal Warrant allows only for an award for actions “in the face of the enemy,” there have been six awards, possibly seven, that were” NOT in the face of the enemy.” These were permitted due to an amendment to The Royal Warrant, in force from 1858 to 1881, which allowed for awards “under circumstances of extreme danger.” The recipients were:-

1.     Timothy O’Hea

2.     Campbell Douglas

3.     David Bell

4.     James Cooper

5.     William Griffiths

6.     Thomas Murphy

7.     Andrew Scott (Debatable)

The Citation for the award of the Victoria Cross is always published in the London Gazette. There have only been two exceptions, these being the award made to America's Unknown Soldier buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and The Netley VC. (See RAMC page on our website). The original London Gazette newspapers can be viewed free of charge online, as a PDF Document.

Below is a list of known Scout Victoria Cross Winners (Names taken from Scout publication, with a small amount of extra information added.)

 

2nd Lt. Stanley Henry Parry BOUGHET. VC

1/4^th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Scout in Blackpool District

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 9^th April,1896.

Died:  4^th December, 1917. Killed during his VC action.

Action: El Burf, Palestine.

Citation:

For most conspicuous bravery. When the enemy in large numbers had managed to crawl up to within 30 yards of our firing line and, with bombs and automatic rifles were keeping down the fire of our machine guns, he rushed forward alone with bombs right up to the enemy, doing great execution and causing the surrender of a party of 30. As he turned to go back for more bombs, he was mortally wounded at the moment when the enemy were surrendering.

London Gazette, 13^th February, 1918.

Victoria Cross awarded posthumously.

 

 Medal Entitlement

 

Victoria Cross

 

British War Medal

 

Victory Medal

 

1914-15 Star

 

Memorials: Headstone, and name on Blackpool War Memorial.

Buried: Gaza War Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Lt. George Edward CATES.VC

 

2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.

Assistant Scoutmaster

2^nd Wimbledon Troop (YMCA)

 

 

 

 

Born: 9^th May, 1892.

 

Died: 8^th March, 1917.

 

Citation:

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.

 

London Gazette, 11 May, 1917.

Victoria Cross awarded posthumously.

 

Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

1914 - 1915 Star

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester, England.

 

 

Buried: Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Plot I, Row G, Grave 15, Hem-Monacu, France. (West of Peronne)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorials: Headstone; Plaque in St.Mary’s Church, Wimbledon, London.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boy (1st Class) John Travers CORNWELL. VC

HMS Chester.

Scout with (St. Mary's Mission) Manor Park Troop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 8^th January, 1900.

 

Died: 2^nd June, 1916.  Grimsby District Hospital, Lincolnshire.

 

 

Admiral Beatty, the Commander of the British Battle cruisers at Jutland, recommended in the strongest possible terms that Cornwell’s incredible feat should be recognised:

 

“the instance of devotion to duty by Boy (1st Class) John Travers Cornwell who was mortally wounded early in the action, but nevertheless remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders till the end of the action, with the gun’s crew dead and wounded around him. He was under 16½ years old. I regret that he has since died, but I recommend his case for special recognition in justice to his memory and as an acknowledgement of the high example set by him.”

 

In September 1916, it was announced in the London Gazette that Jack Cornwell had been posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross:

 

Citation:

 

“The King has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the Victoria Cross to Boy, First Class, John Travers Cornwell. Mortally wounded early in the action, Boy, First Class, John Travers Cornwell remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders, until the end of the action, with the gun’s crew dead and wounded all round him. His age was under sixteen and a half years.”

 

Victoria Cross awarded posthumously.

 

   Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919 & MiD Oakleaf (Mention In Despatches Bronze Oak Leaf)

Cross of St George 4th Class Russia

 

      Engraving on reverse of Victoria Cross:

 

     BOY FIRST CLASS J. T. CORNWELL

   ROYAL NAVY

31.

MAY

1916.

 

Buried: Manor Park Cemetery (common grave), Manor Park Cemetery (29 July 1916)

Jack Cornwell was initially buried in a common grave in Manor Park Cemetery, London, but a national outcry followed. On 29th July, 1916, his body was exhumed, and he was reburied in the same cemetery with full Naval honours.

Also buried in Manor Park Cemetery is Jack Cornwell's father, Eli, who died on 25 October, 1916, and was buried in the same grave on 31 October, 1916, having died from Bronchitis.

 

"It is not wealth or ancestry
but honourable conduct and a noble disposition
that maketh men great."

 A very informative website about Jack and the Scouts can be found by following the link below

http://www.scouting.milestones.btinternet.co.uk/cornwell.htm

 

Memorials: Headstone, Name on HMS Chester Memorial in Chester Cathedral, a ward and suite in the Royal Star and Garter Home, Cornwell Close, Gosport, a brass plaque in Walton Road School, (Now the John Cornwell School), six cottages for retired sailors in Hornchurch, and Medals in the Imperial War Museum, London.

 

 

 

 

2nd Lt. John Manson CRAIG. VC

Royal Scots Fusiliers

Scout with 5th Perthshire Troop

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 5^th March, 1896.

 

Died: 19^th February, 1970.

 

Citation:

 

On 5 June 1917, in Egypt, an advance post having been rushed by the enemy, Second Lieutenant Craig immediately organised a rescue party and, after tracking the enemy back to his trenches, set his party to work removing the dead and wounded under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. An NCO was wounded, and a medical officer who went to his aid was also wounded. Second Lieutenant Craig went out at once and got the NCO under cover, but while taking the medical officer to shelter was himself wounded. Nevertheless, the rescue was effected, and he then scooped cover for the wounded, thus saving their lives.

He went on to serve in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Cremated: Perth Crematorium, Scotland. Cremated remains buried in the family plot at Comrie Cemetery.

 

Memorials: None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

511825 L/Cpl.

 Robert Edward CRUICKSHANK. VC

London Regiment

Scoutmaster with 53rd North London Troop

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 17^th June, 1888.

 

Died: 30^th August, 1961.

 

In the First World War he initially volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps, but transferred to the London Scottish Regiment. After being injured in the Battle of the Somme, September 1916, at Leuze Wood, he was returned home to recuperate before being posted to Egypt. While in Egypt on 1 May, 1918, he volunteered to carry a message along the front line where he was hit several times by a sniper. For his continued attempts at climbing the slopes of a wadi whilst wounded and under sniper fire, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Citation:

On 1 May, 1918, east of the Jordan River, Palestine, Private Cruickshank volunteered to take a message to Company Headquarters from his Platoon, which was in the bottom of a wadi with its officer and most of the casualties. The official War Office citation gave the following account:

“The platoon to which Private Cruickshank belonged came under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire at short range and was led down a steep bank into a wadi, most of the men being hit before they reached the bottom. Immediately after reaching the bottom of the wadi the Officer in command was shot dead, and the Sergeant who then took over command sent a runner back to Company Headquarters asking for support, but was mortally wounded almost immediately after; the Corporal having in the meantime been killed, the only remaining N.C.O. (a Lance-Corporal), believing the first messenger to have been killed, called for a volunteer to take a second message back. Private Cruickshank immediately responded and rushed up the slope, but was hit and rolled back into the wadi bottom. He again rose and rushed up the slope but, being again wounded, rolled back into the wadi. After his wounds had been dressed he rushed a third time up the slope, and again fell badly wounded. Being now unable to stand, he rolled himself back amid a hail of bullets. His wounds were now of such a nature as to preclude him making any further attempt and he lay all day in a dangerous position, being sniped at and again wounded . He displayed the utmost valour and endurance, and was cheerful and uncomplaining throughout.”

Following the action he was evacuated back to England, where he recovered from his wounds, and was greeted as a hero. He received his VC at Buckingham Palace on 24 October, 1918, his mother and fiancée attending with him.

  Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919

Defence Medal 1939-1945

War Medal 1939-1945

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953

 

When the Second World was declared, Cruickshank volunteered for the Home Guard. He achieved the rank of Major.

 

Cremated: Gilroes Crematorium, Leicester. Cremated remains interred at Glen Parva Parish Church. No memorial

Medals held by The London Scottish Regiment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt. Col. John Henry Stephen DIMMER. VC

22nd Bn, Kings Royal Rifles Corps

Scout Worker Southend

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 9^th October, 1883.

 

Died: 21^st March, 1918.

 

Citation:

This Officer served his machine gun during the attack on the 12 November, at Klein Zillebeke, until he had been hit five times - three times by shrapnel and twice by bullets. He stayed at his post until his gun was destroyed.

The London Gazette, 19 November 1914

Dimmer later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was killed in action at Marteville, France, on 21 March, 1918.

Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

Military Cross MC

 1914 - 1915 Star

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919 & MiD Oakleaf

 

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester, England.

Killed in action at Marteville, France.

Buried : Vadencourt British Cemetery, Plot II, Row B, Grave 46.

 

Memorials: Headstone, name on Kingstone Vale Memorial, name on Regimental Memorial Winchester Cathedral, Memorial at Civic Offices in Morden, Surrey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt. Donald John DEAN. VC

8th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment.

Scout with 1st Sittingbourne Troop

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 19^th April, 1897.

 

Died: 9^th December, 1985.

 

 

Citation.

 

Dean served as a Private with the 28th London (Artists Rifles) Regiment in the Ypres Salient and during the Battle of the Somme. In October 1916, he was commissioned into the Royal West Kent Regiment and fought at Vimy Ridge and around Givenchy.

Citation:

During the period 24 September–26 September 1918, north-west of Lens, France, Lieutenant Dean with his Platoon held an advance post established in a newly-captured enemy trench. The post was ill-prepared for defence, and the Lieutenant worked unceasingly with his men consolidating the position, under very heavy fire. Five times in all the post was attacked, and on each occasion the attack was repulsed. Throughout the whole of this time Lieutenant Dean inspired his command with his own contempt of danger, and set the highest example of valour, leadership, and devotion to duty.

He later achieved the rank of Colonel and served in the Second World War. Dean was among the last to leave the beaches at Dunkirk. Later he served in Madagascar and Italy, earning two Mentions in Dispatches, and a promotion to Full Colonel in 1945.

Cremated: Charing  Crematorium, Kent. Cremated remains interred in family plot in St.John the Baptist Churchyard, Tunstall, Kent.

Memorials: Name on family headstone; Dean Road, Sittingbourne; Memorial Central Avenue, Sittingbourne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt. Reginald Leonard HAINE. VC

1st Bn H.A.C.

Patrol Leader with Petersham Troop

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 10^th July, 1896.

 

Died: 12^th June, 1992.

 

Haine was 20 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company.

 

Citation:

 

On 28/29 April, 1917, near Gavrelle, France, when British troops were holding a salient which was being repeatedly counter-attacked by German forces, Second Lieutenant Haine organised and led six bombing attacks against a German strong point and captured the position, together with 50 prisoners and two machine-guns. The enemy at once counter-attacked and regained the lost ground, but Second Lieutenant Haine formed a "block" in his trench and, for the whole of the following night, maintained his position. Next morning, he again attacked and recaptured the position. His splendid example inspired his men during more than 30 hours of continuous fighting.

He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The medals have been loaned by the family to the Imperial War Museum in London.

 

 

Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

Military Cross MC

1914 Star & clasp "5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914"

British War medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919 & MiD Oakleaf

India General Service Medal 1908-1935 & 1 clasp:

"Afghanistan NWF 1919"

Defence Medal 1939-1945

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977

 

Cremated: Chichester Crematorium, Sussex. Cremated remains strewn in the Garden of Remembrance, Section J 60.

 

Memorials: Plaque in St.Mary’s Churchyard, Sussex; Name on altar rail at St.Mary’s; HAC Plaque, Gavrelle, France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt. Robert Price HALLOWES. VC

4th Bn Middlesex Regiment.

Scout Instructor with St. Peter's Troop, Port Talbot

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 5^th May,1881.

 

Died: 1^st October, 1915.

Citation:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the fighting at Hooge between 25th September and 1st October, 1915. Second Lieutenant Hallowes displayed throughout these days the greatest bravery and untiring energy, and set a magnificent example to his men during four heavy and prolonged bombardments. On more than one occasion he climbed up on the parapet, utterly regardless of danger, in order to put fresh heart into his men. He made daring reconnaissances of the German positions in our lines. When the supply of bombs was running short he went back under very heavy shell fire and brought up a fresh supply. Even after he was mortally wounded, he continued to cheer those around him and to inspire them with fresh courage.

London Gazette No. 29371, 16th November, 1915.

Died: 1^st October, 1915, and not 30^th September as grave states.

 

Buried: Bedford House Cemetery, Plot XIV, Row B, Grave 36, Zillebeke, near Ypres.

 

  Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

Military Cross MC

1914 - 1915 Star

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919 + MiD Oakleaf

       Engraving on reverse of Victoria Cross:

 

      TEMPY. SEC. LT. R. P. HALLOWES.

     4TH. BN. D. C. O. MIDDLESEX REGT

     25. SEP.

   &

     1. OCT.

    1915.

Hallowes Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, London.

 

 

 

 

 

No. 15851 Piper Daniel LAIDLAW. VC

7th Bn Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Assistant Scoutmaster 1^st Alnwick Troop

 

 

 

 

 

                                  

                                                                              

Born: 1875.

 

Died: 1950.

 

Born in 1875 in Little Swinton, Berwickshire, Daniel Laidlaw joined the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on 11th April, 1896. He was immediately posted to India, where he stayed for two years until June 1898. Whilst there, he was employed on plague duty in Bombay from March to May 1898. After returning to Britain, he was claimed out of the DLI by his eldest brother, and served in the King's Own Scottish Borderers as a piper until April 1912, when he was placed on the reserve.

Upon the outbreak of war in Europe, Daniel Laidlaw re-enlisted in the KOSB on 1 September 1914, and went to France with the Regiment the following June. In his own words he describes his action that resulted in him being awarded the Victoria Cross.

“On Saturday morning we got orders to raid the German trenches. At 6.30 the bugles sounded the advance and I got over the parapet with Lieutenant Young. I at once got the pipes going and the laddies gave a cheer as they started off for the enemy's lines. As soon as they showed themselves over the trench top they began to fall fast, but they never wavered, but dashed straight on as I played the old air they all knew ,“Blue Bonnets over the Border.”

I ran forward with them piping for all I knew, and just as we were getting near the German lines I was wounded by shrapnel in the left ankle and leg. I was too excited to feel the pain just then, but scrambled along as best I could. I changed my tune to, 'The Standard on the Braes o'Mar,” a grand tune for charging on.

I kept on piping and piping, and hobbling after the laddies until I could go no farther and then, seeing that the boys had won the position, I began to get back as best I could to our own trenches.”

 

 London Gazette, 18 November, 1915; Loos, France, 25 September 1915, No. 15851 Piper Daniel Laidlaw, 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.

"For most conspicuous bravery prior to an assault on German trenches near Loos and Hill 70 on 25 September, 1915. During the worst of the bombardment, Piper Laidlaw, seeing that his Company was badly shaken from the effects of gas, with absolute coolness and disregard of danger, mounted the parapet, marched up and down and played the Company out of the trench. The effect of his splendid example was immediate, and the Company dashed out to the assault. Piper Laidlaw continued playing his pipes until he was wounded."

Daniel Laidlaw was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V, at Buckingham Palace, on the 3rd February, 1916.

 

Daniel Laidlaw was promoted to Sergeant-Piper on 12 October, 1917, and was eventually demobilised on 3 April, 1919; total service 20 years, 6 months. He died peacefully in 1950, aged 74, in Shoresedean, near Norham, Northumberland, and was buried in St. Cuthbert's Churchyard. There is also a memorial plaque within the church.

A ceremony took place at St. Cuthbert's Churchyard, Norham, Northumberland, on 2nd June 2002 to place a headstone over the grave of Piper Daniel Laidlaw VC - "The Piper of Loos". The project was organised by the King's Own Scottish Borderer's Museum in Berwick-on-Tweed and by members of the Laidlaw family.

 

Died: 1950, aged 74, in Shoresdean, near Norham, Northumberland.

 

Buried: St. Cuthbert's Churchyard, Norham.

 

Medal entitlement

Victoria Cross

1914-1915 Star

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919

Defence Medal 1939-1945

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Croix de Guerre France

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt. George Burdon McKEAN. VC, M.C., M.M.

14^th Canadian Infantry Bn.

Scoutmaster Robertson Troop

Alberta, Canada

 

 

 

 

Born: 4^th July, 1888.

Died: 28^th November, 1926.

 

 

 

He was a Lieutenant in the 14^th (The Royal Montreal Regiment) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place.

Citation:

On 27/28 April, 1918, at the Gavrelle Sector, France, when Lieutenant McKean's party was held up at a block in the communication trench by intense fire, he ran into the open, leaping over the block head first on top of one of the enemy. Whilst lying there, he was attacked by another with a fixed bayonet. He shot both of these men, captured the position, then sent back for more bombs, and until they arrived he engaged the enemy single-handed. He then rushed a second block, killing two of the enemy, capturing four others, and driving the remainder into a dug-out, which he then destroyed.

He later achieved the rank of Captain.

His Victoria Cross is stored at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Canada.

 

Died: 28^th November, 1926, at Potters Bar Hospital, following a chainsaw accident.

Buried:  Brighton Extra-Mural Cemetery, Sussex, England. Ref: 41624.

Memorials: Mount McKean in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

On 6th September, 2003, the Church Square of Cagnicourt, France, was renamed 'La Place George Burdon McKean,' in his honour.

George also wrote several books on Scouting.in 1919.

 

 

 

 

 

Brigadier Alfred Maurice TOYE. VC, M.C.

2nd Bn Middlesex Regiment.

Patrol Leader with 2^nd Aldershot Troop

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 15^th April, 1897.

 

Died: 6^th September, 1955.

 

Toye enlisted into the Royal Engineers as a trumpeter in 1911, before being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment during World War I.

He was 20 years old, and an Acting Captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment Duke of Cambridge's Own, when he won the Military Cross for gallantry in the fighting around Passchendaele in 1917. In 1918, he was awarded the VC for his action near Eterpigny, south of Peronne.

Citation:

On 25 March 1918, at Eterpigny Ridge, France, Captain Toye displayed conspicuous bravery and fine leadership. He three times re-established a post which had been captured by the enemy and, when his three other posts were cut off, he fought his way through the enemy with one officer and six men. He counter-attacked with 70 men and took up a line which he maintained until reinforcements arrived. In two subsequent operations he covered the retirement of his Battalion, and later re-established a line that had been abandoned before his arrival. He was twice wounded but remained on duty.

He later achieved the rank of Brigadier, serving with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in World War II.

 Later on, Toye was Chief Instructor at the Royal Egyptian Military College, and Commandant of War Office Schools of Chemical Warfare. He then joined the Staff College, Camberley, as a teacher.

He also was on active service with the 6^th Airborne Division, and with General Headquarters in the Middle East 1945 -1948.

 

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, England.

 

 

Buried: Tiverton Cemetery, Devon; Section XF, Grave 36.

 

Memorials:

 

Victoria Cross

Military Cross MC

1914 - 1915 Star

British War Medal 1914 - 1920

Victory Medal 1914 – 1919 & MiD Oakleaf

Defence Medal 1939 - 1945

War Medal 1939 - 1945

General Service Medal 1918 - 1962

1 clasp

Palestine 1945-48

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953

Order of the Nile 3rd Class, Egypt

 

Engraving on reverse of Victoria Cross

 

2ND. LT. A / CAPT. A. M. TOYE. M.C.

2ND. BN. MIDD'X R.

25.

MAR.

1918.

 

 

             

 

 

Sergeant William Henry JOHNSON VC, MM

1^st / 5^th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire

 Regiment

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 15^th October, 1890.

 

Died: 25^th April, 1945.

 

On 3rd October, 1918, at Ramicourt, France, he performed the deed for which he was awarded the VC.

Gazetted on 14th December, 1918, with the following citation:

 

Citation:

No. 306122 Sergeant William Henry Johnson, l/5^th Bn., Notts. & Derbys. R. T.F. Worksop.

For most conspicuous bravery at Ramicourt on 3^rd October, 1918.

When his Platoon was held up by a nest of enemy machine guns at very close range, Sergeant Johnson worked his way forward under very heavy fire, and single-handed charged the post, bayoneting several gunners and capturing two machine guns. During this attack he was severely wounded by a bomb, but continued to lead forward his men.

Shortly afterwards the line was once more held up by machine guns. Again he rushed forward and attacked the post singlehanded. With wonderful courage, he bombed the garrison, put the guns out of action, and captured the teams.

He showed throughout, the most exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty.

He was also awarded the French Medaille Militaire.

He was in the Home Guard during World War II, but had to resign due to ill-health.

Medals in The Sherwood Foresters Museum, Nottingham Castle.

 

Died: 25^th April, 1945, at his home, 33 Nelson Street, Arnold, Nottingham.

 

Buried:  Redhill Cemetery, Arnold, Nottingham. Section L, Grave 6.

 

Memorial: Nottinghamshire Victoria Cross Memorial, Nottingham Castle.

 

See our Web page - 306122 Sergeant William Henry Johnson VC

 

 

 

 

 

Albert BALL VC, DSO & Bar, MC

Temp.Captain

7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters

Notts & Derbys, and Royal Flying Corps.

4th Class Scout in Nottingham

 

 

 

 

Born: 14^th August, 1896.

Died:  7^th May, 1917.

 

 

Awarded on 8th June, 1917, for action April to May 1917, over France. He already held the Distinguished Service Order and 2 Bars, as well as the Military Cross. He also held the Legion D'Honneur of France, and the Russian

Order of St. George

 

 

See our Web page - Albert Ball VC

 

 

 

 

 

                                  

 

 

 

Captain Harry CATOR VC, MM

7th Battalion The East Surrey Regiment.

Scoutmaster, Drayton, Norwich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 24^th January, 1894.

 

Died:  7^th April, 1966.

 

He was born in Drayton, Norfolk, to a railway worker. After leaving school, he was a porter on the London Midland and Great Northern Joint Line, before joining a building contractor in Great Yarmouth.

He joined the British Army soon after the start of the First World War, and arrived on the Western Front in 1915, already a Sergeant in the 7th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment. In 1916, at the time of the Somme Offensive, he was awarded the Military Medal for bringing back 36 wounded men from no-man’s land.

He earned his VC during the Arras offensive. On 9th April, 1917, near Arras, Sergeant Cator's Platoon had suffered heavy casualties from a hostile machine-gun. Under heavy fire, the Sergeant with one man, advanced across the open to attack the gun and when his companion was killed, he went on alone. Picking up a Lewis gun and some ammunition drums on his way, he succeeded in reaching the enemy trench and sighting another hostile machine-gun, he killed the entire team and the officer. He held the end of the trench with such effect that a bombing squad was able to capture 100 prisoners and five machine-guns.

A few days later he was injured by an exploding shell. It was shortly after, that the award of the VC and the French Croix de Guerre was announced.

He later achieved the rank of Captain. After the war, he worked as a Postman, and as a Civil Servant.

He served in the Home Guard in the Second World War, then as a Commandant for a prisoner-of-war camp. Post war he was an officer in the Territorial Army.

 

 

Victoria Cross

Military Medal MM

1914 - 1915 Star

British War Medal 1914-20

Victory Medal 1914 - 1919 & MiD Oakleaf

Defence Medal 1939 - 1945

War Medal 1939 - 1945

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953

Croix de Guerre France

 

Engraving on reverse of Victoria Cross

 

SGT. H. CATOR

7TH. BN. E. SURR. R.

3

APR.

1917

 

His VC medals are in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum.

 

Died: 7^th April, 1966, and is buried in Sprowston Cemetery. Norwich.

 

Memorials:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverend

Theodore Bayley HARDY VC, DSO, MC

Royal Army Chaplains Department.

Scoutmaster of various Parish Groups

Exeter, Devon.

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 20^th October, 1863.

 

Died: 18^th October, 1918.

 

 

Died: No 2 Red Cross Hospital, Rouen, France.

 

Buried: St.Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France; Block S, Plot V, Row J, Grave 1

 

For further information see Chaplains page on this Web site

 

Memorials: Headstone, Plaque in Carlisle Cathedral, Memorial Stone and plaque at Hutton Roof Church, Cumbria, Memorial at Garrison Church, Portsea, Hampshire.

 

Medals with Royal Army Chaplains Department

 

 

Medal Entitlement

The Reverend Theodore Bayley HARDY
Chaplain to the Forces
attached 9th Bn, Lincolnshire Regiment.

Victoria Cross

Distinguished Service Order DSO

Military Cross MC

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919 & MiD Oakleaf

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

Reverend

 Captain Edward Noel MELLISH VC, MC

Royal Army Chaplains Department

Scoutmaster at various Parish Groups

Barnet, Hertfordshire.

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 24^th December, 1880.

 

Died: 8^th July, 1962.

 

He offered his services to the Chaplaincy at the outbreak of the First World War, and served from May 1915, until February 1919. Just a few months after this, his brother, Second Lieutenant Richard Coppin Mellish, was killed in action whilst serving with the 1st Middlesex Regiment, at the Battle of Loos on 25 September, 1915.

Reverend Edward Noel Mellish was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers on the Ypres Salient in 1916, and it was then, during the first three days of the, "Action of the St Eloi Craters," that he performed the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the first member of the Army Chaplaincy to win the VC.

During the period 27th – 29th March, 1916, at St. Eloi, Belgium, Captain The Reverend Noel Mellish went backwards and forwards under continuous and very heavy shell and machine-gun fire between our original trenches and those captured from the enemy, in order to tend and rescue wounded men. He brought in 10 badly wounded men on the first day from ground swept by machine-gun fire. He went back on the second day and brought in 12 more and, on the night of the third day, he took charge of a party of volunteers and once more returned to the trenches to rescue the remaining wounded.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum, Tower of London, England.

Replica medals are on display at The Museum of Army Chaplaincy.

 

 

Died: 8^th July, 1962, at his home,” The Court House” , South Petherton, Somerset.

 

Buried: Cremated, Weymouth Crematorium, Dorset. Cremated remains scattered on the path at St.Mary’s the Virgin, Great Dunmow, Essex.

 

Memorials: Name on Plaque at St.Mary’s, Memorial at Lewisham Civic Centre, London.

 

 

 

Medals held at the Royal Fusiliers Museum

 

Medal Entitlement

Captain The Reverend Edward Noel MELLISH
Army Chaplains Department

Victoria Cross

Military Cross MC

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 2 clasps:

"Cape Colony" - "Orange Free State"

1914 - 1915 Star

British War Medal 1914-1920

Victory Medal 1914-1919 & MiD Oakleaf

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953

 

 

 

                                

 

 

 

 

A/Cpt. Michael ALLMAND VC

6th Gurkha Rifles

Rover Scout

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 22^nd August, 1923.

Died: 24th June, 1944.

 

 

At the end of 1942, Allmand left University and joined the British Indian Army. He was commissioned into the Indian Armoured Corps, and assigned to the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers. He volunteered for service with the Chindits during Operation Thursday, and was subsequently attached to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkhas.

Gazette:

Captain Allmand was commanding the leading Platoon of a Company of the 6th Gurkha Rifles in Burma on 11th June, 1944, when the Battalion was ordered to attack the Pin Hmi Road Bridge. The enemy had already succeeded in holding up our advance at this point for twenty four hours. The approach to the Bridge was very narrow as the road was banked up, and the low-lying land on either side was swampy and densely covered in jungle. The Japanese, who were dug in along the banks of the road and in the jungle with machine guns and small arms, were putting up the most desperate resistance. As the Platoon came within twenty yards of the Bridge, the enemy opened heavy and accurate fire, inflicting severe casualties and forcing the men to seek cover. Captain Allmand, however, with the utmost gallantry charged on by himself, hurling grenades into the enemy gun positions, and killing three Japanese with his kukri.

Inspired by the splendid example of their Platoon Commander, the surviving men followed him and captured their objective.

Two days later, Captain Allmand, owing to casualties among the officers, took over command of the Company and, dashing thirty yards ahead of it through long grass and marshy ground, swept by machine gun fire, personally killed a number of enemy machine gunners, and successfully led his men onto the ridge of high ground that they had been ordered to seize. Once again, on June 23^rd, in the final attack on the Railway Bridge at Mogaung, Captain Allmand, although suffering from trench-foot, which made it difficult for him to walk, moved forward alone through deep mud and shell-holes and charged a Japanese machine gun nest single-handed. He was mortally wounded and died shortly afterwards.

The superb gallantry, outstanding leadership, and protracted heroism of this very brave officer, was a wonderful example to the whole Battalion, and in the highest traditions of his Regiment.

Allmand succumbed to his wounds the following day, and his Victoria Cross was given posthumously.

It was presented to his family by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 17th July, 1945. The medal remained in his family's possession until 1991, when it was presented to the Regimental Trust in Hong Kong. In 2003, it was decided to donate the medal to the Gurkha Museum at Winchester, in Hampshire, England.

 

 

Died: 24th June, 1944.

 

Buried: Taukkyan War Cemetery, in Burma. 

 

Memorial: Memorial Window at the St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Golders Green, Name on Chindit Memorial, Victoria Embankment, London, Old stone building rebuilt on hill above Halstead, Yorkshire, Display at Gurhka Museum.

 

 

 

                                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilot Officer Cyril J. BARTON VC

578 Squadron RAFVR

Scout with 1st Oxshott Group

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 5^th June, 1921.

 

Died: 31^st March, 1944.

 

 

 

Cyril Barton joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) on 16th April, 1941, qualifying as a Sergeant Pilot on 10th November, 1942. He then trained at No. 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit at Rufforth, Yorkshire.

On 5th September, 1943, Barton and his crew joined No.78 Squadron, and Barton gained a commission as a Pilot Officer three weeks later. Barton completed 9 sorties with No.78 Squadron until 15th January, 1944. He was then posted to No.578 Squadron at Burn in North Yorkshire. His second sortie with the new Squadron was to Stuttgart, in a Halifax bomber. By 30th March, 1944, they had completed 6 sorties in LK797 - which the crew had named "Excalibur".

On 30th March, 1944, in an attack on Nuremberg, Germany, and while 70 miles from the target, Pilot Officer Barton's Handley Page Halifax bomber was badly damaged by two night fighters, and two fuel tanks were punctured, both the radio and rear turret disabled, the starboard inner engine was on fire and the intercom lines were cut.

Despite several determined attacks by a Junkers fighter, with the aid of his crew, Barton managed to avoid further attacks. A misinterpreted signal resulted in three of the crew bailing out, and Barton was left with no navigator, bombardier or wireless operator. He pressed on with the attack, however, releasing the bombs himself.

On the return journey, as he crossed the English coast, the fuel ran out. With only one engine working he crashed, trying to avoid the houses and pit head workings of the village of Ryhope, near Sunderland. He was pulled alive from the wreckage, but died before reaching the hospital. The remaining three crew members survived.

 

Medal Entitlement

Victoria Cross

1939 - 1945 Star

Air Crew Europe Star

Defence Medal 1939-1945

War Medal 1939-1945

             Engraving on reverse of Victoria Cross:

 

           P/O CYRIL JOE BARTON.

         NO. 578 SQUADRON

        19TH.

        JUNE.

       1944.

 

 

 

 

 

Memorials: Name on Ryhope Memorial, Name on RAF Memorial  St.Clements Dame Church, London. Barton  Green and Barton Hall, New Maldon. Portrait in New Malden Library. Plaque in New Malden Parish Church. Painting in his memory hangs in the Wheatsheaf Pub at Burn, North Yorkshire. Barton Green School, Barton Road. Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, North Yorkshire. A housing estate in Ryhope, Barton Park, while a nearby street was named Halifax Place, after the bomber he flew. Kingston College Student of the Year prize, which is named after him.

 

 

Medals at The Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, NW9 5LL.

 

 

Died: 31^st March, 1944, Ryhope, County Durham, after his plane crashed during his VC action.

 

Buried: Bonner Hill Cemetery, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. Class C Consecrated Section, Grave 6700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 

 

 

Lt. Donald CAMERON VC

Royal Naval Reserve

Scout with 3rd Glasgow Troop

 

 

 

 

 

Born: 18^th March, 1916.

 

Died: 10^th April, 1961.

 

On 22nd September, 1943, at Kåfjord on the Altafjord, North Norway, Lieutenant Cameron, commanding Midget Submarine X.6, and another Lieutenant (Basil Charles Godfrey Place) commanding Midget Submarine X.7, carried out a most daring and successful attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz. The submarines had to travel at least 1,000 miles from base, negotiate a minefield, dodge nets, gun defences and enemy listening posts. Having eluded all these hazards, they finally placed the charges underneath the ship where they went off an hour later, doing so much damage that the Tirpitz was out of action for months.

The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 18th February, 1944.

 

Citation:

The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS for valour to:

Lieutenant Donald Cameron, R.N.R

Lieutenant Basil Charles Godfrey Place, D.S.C., Royal Navy.

.

Lieutenants Place and Cameron were the Commanding Officers of two of His Majesty's Midget Submarines X 7 and X 6 which, on 22nd September, 1943, carried out a most daring and successful attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz, moored in the protected anchorage of Kaafiord, North Norway.

To reach the anchorage necessitated the penetration of an enemy minefield and a passage of fifty miles up the fiord, known to be vigilantly patrolled by the enemy, and to be guarded by nets, gun defences and listening posts; this after a passage of at least a thousand miles from base.

Having successfully eluded all these hazards and entered the fleet anchorage, Lieutenants Place and Cameron, with a complete disregard for danger, worked their small craft past the close anti-submarine and torpedo nets surrounding the Tirpitz, and from a position inside these nets, carried out a cool and determined attack.

Whilst they were still inside the nets, a fierce enemy counter attack by guns and depth charges developed which made their withdrawal impossible. Lieutenants Place and Cameron therefore scuttled their craft to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy. Before doing so they took every measure to ensure the safety of their crews, the majority of whom, together with themselves, were subsequently taken prisoner.

In the course of the operation these very small craft pressed home their attack to the full, in doing so accepting all the dangers inherent in such vessels, and facing every possible hazard which ingenuity could devise for the protection, in harbour, of vitally important Capital Ships.

The courage, endurance, and utter contempt for danger in the immediate face of the enemy shown by Lieutenants Place and Cameron during this determined and successful attack were supreme.

Cameron later achieved the rank of Commander.

 

 

Died: 10^th April, 1961, in the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Portsmouth.

 

Buried: Cremated  Portchester Crematorium, Hampshire. Cremated remains scattered at sea, off Nab Tower, from HMS Submarine Thule.

 

Memorials: Cameron Close, Gosport, Hampshire; Millennium Stone, Carluke Market Place.

 

 

 

 

Flying Officer Kenneth CAMPBELL VC

22 Squadron RAFVR

 

 

 

 

Born: 21^st April, 1917.

Died: 6^th April, 1941.

 

 

 

 

 

Campbell was from Ayrshire, and he gained a Chemistry degree at Cambridge, where he was a member of the University Air Squadron. In September 1939, he was mobilised for   service in the RAF, joining No.22 Squadron in September 1940, with the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber. Campbell torpedoed a merchant vessel near Borkum in March 1941, and days later he made an escape from a pair of Bf-110 fighters despite extensive damage to his aircraft. Two days later on a ‘Rover’ patrol, he torpedoed another vessel off Ijmuiden.

On 6th April, 1941, over Brest Harbour, France, Flying Officer Campbell attacked the German battle-cruiser Gneisenau. He flew his Bristol Beaufort through the gauntlet of concentrated anti-aircraft fire from about 1000 weapons of all calibres, and launched a torpedo at a height of 50 feet (15 m).

The attack had to be made with absolute precision: the Gneisenau was moored only some 500 yards (460 m) away from a mole in Brest's inner harbour. For the attack to be effective, Campbell would have to time the release to drop the torpedo close to the side of the mole. That Campbell managed to launch his torpedo accurately is testament to his courage and determination. The ship was severely damaged below the waterline, and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. The battle-cruiser was out of action for 6 months, which thus allowed allied shipping to cross the Atlantic without any threat.

Generally, once a torpedo was dropped, an escape was made by low-level jinking at full throttle. Because of rising ground surrounding the harbour, Flying Officer Campbell's Beaufort was forced into a steep banking turn, revealing its full silhouette to the gunners. The aircraft met a withering wall of flak and crashed into the harbour. The Germans buried Campbell and his other three crew mates, Sergeants J P Scott DFM RCAF (navigator), R W Hillman (wireless operator) and W Mallis (air gunner), with full military honours. His valour was only recognised when the French Resistance managed to leak news of his brave deeds to England. A memorial to him stands in his old school, Sedbergh, commemorating his brave deeds.

Died: 6^th April, 1941. Killed when his aircraft crashed into Brest Harbour during his VC action.

 

Memorials: Stone seat Sedbergh School, Cumbria. Name on RAF Memorial St.Clements Dame Church London. Aeroplane named after him - VC 10C Mk1 XR808. Plaque and bench at Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland.

 

 

 

 

Write ups still to be added with photo's coming soon.

T/Lt. Col. Lorne Maclean CAMPBELL DSO, TD, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Assistant District Commissioner Guildford For action in Tripolitania 6.4.43

 

Flying Officer John A. CRUICKSHANK RAFVR Patrol Leader with 4th Edinburgh (Greenbank)

For action on Sea Patrol 1944

 

*Sgt. Thomas Frank DURRANT RE Patrol Leader with 1st Green St. Green Group,Kent

For action at St. Nazaire 7.3.42

 

Sgt. Keith ELLIOTT NZMF Scout with Fielding Troop, New Zealand For action in Western Desert 15.6.42

 

Hon. Capt. John Weir FOOTE, Chaplain to Royal Hamilton Light Artillery Scout with Madoc Troop, Ontario, Canada For action in Dieppe 19.8.42

 

*Lt. The Hon. Christopher FURNESS, Welsh Guards Scout with 3rd Eton College Group For action in France 23.5.40

 

A/Wg Cmdr G. GIBSON DSC, DFC RAF Scout with 28th Oxford Group and Hon. Rover Scout 1st Tovil (Maidstone, Kent) Troop For action over Germany 1943

 

*T/Major Charles Ferguson HOEY, MC Royal Lincolns Scout with 1st Quamichan Troop, British

Colombia, Canada For action in Burma 16.2.44

 

Sgt. Alfred Clive HULME NZMF Scout with Lower Hutt Group, Wellington, New Zealand For action in Crete 20/28.5.41

 

*Lt. Karamjit Singh JAJ 15th Punjab Regiment 1st Randhir High School (Punjab) Troop For action in Burma 18.3.45

 

*T/Lt. Col. C.C.T. KEYES RAC 3rd Eton College For action in North Africa 17/18.11.41

 

*Sgt. William Henry KIBBY AMF 2nd Glenelg Sea Scouts, S. Australia For action in Western Desert 23/31.10.42

 

 *Lt. George Arthur KNOWLAND Royal Norfolk Regiment Scout 8th Croydon (Christ Church) For action in Burma 31.1.45

 

*A/Ldg. Seaman Jack Forman MANTLE Royal Navy HMS Foylebank Scout with 6th Southampton (St. Pauls) Troop For action 4.7.40

 

Lt. Col. C.C.I. MERRITT Canadian Army Scout 6th Vancouver, Canada For action at Dieppe 19.8.42

 

*Pte. George Allen MITCHELL Gordon Highlanders. Scout in LeytonFor action in Italy 23.1.44

 

T.Maj. H.W. LE PATOUREL Royal Hampshires 15th Guernsey (Elizabeth College) For action in Tunisia 3.12.42

 

*Sgt. Maurice A. Wyndham ROGERS M.M. Wiltshire Regiment Patrol Leader St. Jonh's Scout Troop, Bethnal Green For action in Italy 3.6.44

 

*Capt. Edwin SWALES DFC SAAF For action in Germany 23.2.45

 

*Sgt. James Allen WARD RNZAF Scouter New Zealand For action over Holland 7.7.41

 

CHOWNE, Albert Lieutenant 2/2 Australian Infantry Battalion For conspicuous bravery in New Guinea March 1945. Scout in Willoughby, Sidney, Australia

 

CUTLER, Arthur Roden Lieutenant 2/5 Australian Field Regiment AIF For Conspicuous bravery, Syria June/July 1941 Leader 2nd Manly Troop, NSW, Australia

Mugford, Lance- Corp Harold S., VC was East Ham's third Victoria Cross winner. ... and was a keen Boy Scout in the Little Ilford Troop at St Mary's Mission.

 

 

 

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