IlllllV a f f m II I BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE JACOB H. SCHIFF ENDOWMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF STUDIES IN HUMAN CIVILIZATION 1918 D eM-Wsr"' ""'*"'"* '■"'""^ Wonderful stories : 3 1924 027 846 207 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027846207 Wonderful Stories Winning the V.C. in the Great War >,--^'tf 4 , Lieutenant RhoJes-Moorhousc Hyin<; over Couitrai to Bunib the Railway ]^onderful Stories. Winning the V.C, in the Great War With a coloured frontispiece and 56 other full- page illustrations, printed on art paper, specially painted by W. S. Bagdatopulos, Arthur Burgess, John de G. Bryim, Montague Damson, Edgar A. Holloway, A. Pearse, A. Stewart, H. G. Svoanwick, etc NEW YORK: E. P. BUTTON AND COMPANY 681. FIFTH AVENUE Printed in Great Britain LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Lieutenant jRhodes-Moorhovise flying over Couitrai to bomb the railway Fronlispiect Captain Theodore Wright connecting up the lead for destroying a bridge at Mons, whilst under very heavy fire .... Facing p. viii Captain Wright, V.C, falls mortally woxmded while assisting wounded men into shelter „ 1 Private S. F. Godley routs the massed attacks of the Germans at the Ghlin Bridge, Mons, by the deadly fire of his machine-gun . . „ 10 Captain F. O. Grenfell, assisted by officers and men of the 9th Lancers, manhandling guns out of action near Doubon ,11 Captain D. Beynolds and Drivers J. H. C. Drain and F. Luke saving a gun at Le Cateau , 30 Private Ross ToUerton returns from the firing-line, after being wounded, to await an opportunity for carrying to the British Unas a severely wounded officer 31 Private Wilson capturing eight German soldiers who had two British prisoners with them „ 54 Private Wilson shooting six Germans and capturing their machine-gun „ 55 Lieutenant J. A. O. Brooke leading a counter-attack through a storm of rifle and machine-gun fire to recapture a lost trench at Ypres „ 60 Second Lieutenant J. Leach and Sergeant J. Hogein driving the enemy out of a British trench , 61 A shell wrecks a machine-gun which Lieutenant J. H. S. Dimmer was firing during an attack by the Prussian Guard . . . . „ 76 Bandsman T. E. Bendle tending wounded men under heavy artillery fire at Wulverghem 77 Bandsman T. E. Eendle scraping up the debris of a parapet to rescue wounded men who had been buried . . . . • • >, 80 Lieutenant N. D. Holbrook, K.N., dips the Bll into deep water and makes his way to the mouth of the Dardanelles, pursued by torpedo- craft 81 VI LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS Privates A. Acton and J. Smith going to the rescue of a wounded man lying close to the enemy's trenches Facing p. 98 Lance-Coiporal Michael O'Leary dashes forward to captme single- handed a German machine-gun « 99 Lieutenant C. G. Martin, D.S.O., K.E., and a small party of bombers prevent the Germans from recapturing a section of their trench at Spanbroek Molen » 104 Acting-Corporal C. R. Noble and Company-Sergeant-Major H. Daniels cut the German wire entanglements imder a withering rifle-fire . „ 105 Corporal W. Anderson attacking singlehanded a large party of Germans who had entered the British trenches „ 112 Lance-Corporal W. D. Fuller advances 100 yards and picks up a mortally wounded officer, whom he carries back to cover imder very heavy fire .....••••-„ 113 Private J. Biveis bombing single-handed a large detachment of the enemy at Neuve Chapelle, compelling them to retire . . . „ 118 Private E. Barber dashes forward in advance of his party to bomb the enemy „ 119 Lieutenant G. E. P. Eoupell's wounds being hurriedly dressed in his trench during the German counter-attack at Hill 60 . . . „ 136 Second Lieutenant G. H. Woolley encouraging and directing his men, who were being heavily shelled and bombed in their trench on Hill 60 , , 137 Private Edward Dwyer, singlehanded, disperses a German assaulting party and saves a trench „ 148 The famous landing from the British transport Siver Clyde at V Beach, Gallipoli Peninsula „ 149 Commander E. Unwin, assisted by Able Seaman W. Williams, towing a barge in the face of a murderous fire „ 154 Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall returning with the wounded from the shore amidst a storm of shot and shell „ 155 Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. M. Doughty- Wylie, C.B., C.M.G., leading his men at the stonning of Sedd-el-Bahr „ 160 Lieutenant-Commander E. C. Boyle in the E14 sinks a large Turkish transport „ 161 British sentries call attention to greenish-yellow smoke rising from the German trenches „ 176 Private Lynn, dying from gas-poisoning, serves a machine-gun and beats oH a German attack „ 176 Corporal James Upton bringing a wounded man into the trenches under heavy fire 177 Corporal James Upton dragging a wounded comrade on a waterproof sheet to the trenches „ 180 A shell explodes and knocks over Lance-Oorporal D. Finlay . . „ 181 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii Lance-Coipotal D. Finlay dragging a wounded comrade into (he trenches while under fire Facmg p. 184 A fair hit. A Turkish gunhoat torpedoed by Ell . . . . „ 185 The end of a Turkish transport „ 192 Company Sergeant-Major F. Barter leads a bombing attack, in which a private known as Thomas Hardy took a gallant part. . . „ 193 lieutenant Smyth and his party of the ISth Sikhs carrying up bombs to the firing trench at the Ferme du Bois „ 202 Lance-Corporal Jacka holding a trench against seven Turks . . „ 203 Lance-Corporal Jacka wins a V.C. by showing how one man can beat seven „ 206 Lance-Corporal J. Keyworth stands fully exposed for two hours on the enemy's parapet and throws about 150 bombs amongst the Germans „ 207 Flight Sub-Lieutenant R. A. J. Warnetord, B.N., blows up a Zeppelin airship between Ghent and Brussels, following which his aeroplane turns upside down „ 212 Lieutenant Martin, of the Highland Light Infantry, is sighted moving close to the enemy's parapet „ 213 Lance-Corporal W. Angus reaches Lieutenant Martin and revives him with brandy „ 218 Lance-Corporal W. Angus gallantly assisting Lieutenant Martin to the trenches while being heavily bombed „ 219 Private L. Keysor saving the Uves of his comrades by throwing back for almost fifty hours Turkish bombs flung into his trench . . „ 222 Captain H. P. Hansen rescuing a wounded man from amidst burning gorse , 223 Captain H. P. Hansen and Lance-Corporal Breese carrying back a wounded man from the burning gorse to the British lines . . „ 230 Private F. W. 0. Potts takes the water-bottle of a dead man to quench his thirst and that of a comrade „ 231 Private Potts places his wounded comrade on an entrenching shovel to haul him to the British lines „ 244 Second-Lieutenant H. V. H. Throssell and four men catching the enemy's bombs and hurling them back from their trench . . „ 245 Lieutenant-Conunander E. C. Cookson steering the Shishan down a tributary of the Euphrates under heavy fire . . . . „ 254 Shells from the Turkish shore batteries hit the Comet and compel Lieutenant-Commander E. C. Cookson to get back . . . „ 255 Second-Lieutenant R. P. Hallowes climbs on to the parapet of his trench to encourage his men „ 260 Private W. F. Faulds carries back a wounded officer to his trench across open ground between the British and German lines . . . „ 261 WINNING THE V.G. How Captain Theodore Wright, of the Royal Engineers, won the V.C. at Mons. In considering the disposition of the British Army at the Battle of Mons on August 23rd, 1914, it may be asked with some iustificati6n how it was that the Army came to defend the bridges along the line of the Mons Canal. For in view of the attacks which the Germans were expected to deliver in the attempt to win the bridges, the obvious plan was to blow them up and so force the enemy, if he so desired, to cross the canal by means of pontoon bridges. \ The reason for not destroying the bridges in the first stage of the battle was to be found in the expectation, which the little British Army held, of advancing across the canal, and in view of the overwhelming superiority of the Germans in numbers the confidence which the British reposed in themselves is worthy of the greatest admiration. 2 WINNING THE V.C. When, after forced marches, the British Ex- peditionary Force reached Mons on August 22nd, 1914, it was primarily concerned in extending the French hne in a north-westerly direction. The geographical feature, which it was intended to make use of for this purpose, was the high road running from Charleroi through Binche to Mons. This line proved to be impracticable, however, for when the British reached it, the Germans were already in possession of Charleroi, and the French had fallen back beyond that part of the line originally assigned to the British. If it had occupied the Mons-Charleroi road under such circumstances, the British Force would have run grave risk of being cut off and surrounded. The 1st Army Corps was therefore obliged to range itself along the Mons-Beaumont road, in rear of the position originally intended, while the 2nd Army Corps lined the Mons Canal, between that place and Conde. The position was not a perfect one, as the two army corps ran practically at right angles to one another. But, as it happened, the entire attack at Mons fell on the 2nd Army Corps, and the battle, therefore, may be partly considered as an attempt by the Germans at a flanking or enveloping movement. CAPTAIN WRIGHT 3 The Mons Canal would have been an ideal feature to defend, running, as it does, in an absolutely straight line from Conde to Mons. But, after passing through the latter place, it makes a very serious defect in an attempted defence by throwing out a loop to the north, about two miles long by one and a half across. This loop, as well as the straight reach to Conde, was occupied by the British, but the position could not possibly be held for long. The battle began at early dawn on August 23rd, and it was eyident that the canal loop was to receive special attention from the enemy. All through the day attacks were launched against the Nimy bridge, at the north-west comer of the loop, and the Ghlin bridge ; but it was only when the overwhelming numbers of the Germans made it necessary that the British troops were withdrawn to the south side of the canal. During one of these withdrawals Captain Theodore Wright, of the Royal Engineers, gallantly attempted, under heavy fire, to connect up the lead for blowing up a bridge. Although wounded in the head, he made a second attempt, and this time he succeeded. He showed the greatest coolness and bravery in face of the enemy, and was rewarded with the V.C. 1* 4 WINNING THE V.C. He was, unhappily, killed at Vailly on Sep- tember 14th. On this occasion Captain Wright was assisting the passage of the 5th Cavalry Brigade across the pontoon bridge over the Aisne. The bridge itself and both banks of the river were under fire, but with the greatest care and solici- tude he assisted the wounded back into shelter. It was while escorting one of them that Captain Wright fell mortally wounded. How Lieutenant Maurice James Dease, of THE 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusi-, LIERS, WON THE V.C. AT MONS. On reaching Mons on August 22nd, 1914, the part assigned to the British force was that of extending the French line in a north-westerly direction. The line taken extended along the line of the canal from Conde on the west, through Mons and Binche on the east. From Conde to Mons, inclusive, was held by the Second Corps, and on the right of the Second Corps from Mons the First Corps was posted, while the 5th Cavalry Brigade was at Binche. The forward recon- naissance was entrusted to Brigadier- General Sir Philip Chetwode, with the 5th Cavalry Brigade, and with the assistance of a few squadrons LIEUT. MAURICE JAMES DEASE 5 sent forward by General Allenby, most useful work was done. Several encounters took place, in which the British showed to great advantage, and some of the squadrons penetrated as far as Soignies. It was evident from the start that the area which covered the loop of the canal had been marked down by the enemy as the weakest point in the defence. If they succeeded in crossing the canal close to the salient, the British would perforce have to abandon the line of defence along the straight reach to Conde. For the time being, therefore, it was resolved to confine all efforts to the salient. With dawn on Sunday, August 23rd, came the first shell in the great Battle of Mons. The bombardment increased as the morning ad- vanced, and when at 8 a.m. fresh batteries came into action, the first infantry attack was launched against the Nimy bridge, at the north- west corner of the canal loop. The northern side of the canal, throughout the entire length covered by the attack, is dotted with small fir plantations ; and, screened by these, the enemy poured a deadly fire from machine-guns on our troops, besides massing infantry attacks at whatever point they chose. 6 WINNING THE V.C. With superior numbers. Von Kliick could afford to throw away hfe freely, and about nine o'clock four battalions were suddenly flung at the head of the Nimy bridge. It was only defended by a single company of the Royal Fusiliers, under Captain Ashburner, and a machine-gun, in charge of Lieutenant Dease. As the enemy advanced in close column their front sections collapsed under the deadly fire poured into them by the British machine-guns, and rifles. They fell back in haste to one of the plantations, and then, after half an hovir, advanced in extended order. The attack was checked but not stopped. As Captain Ashburner was hard pressed on the Nimy bridge. Second Lieutenant Mead was sent with a platoon to support him. He was at once badly wounded in the head, but after being dressed, returned to the firing-line, where in a few moments he was shot through the head and killed. Captain Bowdon-Smith and Lieutenant Smith then came up with another platoon, but within ten minutes they were both badly wounded. The position was now growing very desperate. Lieutenant Dease had been hit three times while working his machine-gun. Captain Ashbvirner was wounded in the head, and Captain Forster, in a LIEUT. MAURICE JAMES DEASE 7 trench to the right, had been shot through the right arm and stomach. Towards midday the attack against the straight reach of the canal became general, and the German infantry, coming out from the cover of the fir plantations, worked their way to within a few hundred yards of the water, and from the cover of the trees kept up a continuous rifle and machine-gun fire. They made no real advance, but when the Nimy salient was aban- doned, the retirement of the troops to the left of it became imperative. This, however, was no easy matter. Before they reached cover they had to cross two hundred and fifty yards of flat, open ground, which was swept by a storm of shrapnel and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant Dease, who had stood by his gun all through, was now quite unable to move, having been hit no less than five times. Lieutenant Steele, who alone of the whole section was neither killed nor wounded, caught him up and carried him from the fire zone to a place of safety, and here he subsequently succumbed to his wounds. For the most gallant part he took in the defence of the Nimy bridge a posthumous award of the V.C. was made. ^ WINNING THE V.C. How Lanck-Corporal Charles Alfred Jarvis, OF THE 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, won the V.C. at Jemappes. At the height of a battle there can be no work requiring so much nerve as that of the Royal Engineers. The men are highly skilled, and to them falls the task of repairing roads and bridges for the transport of an army and its equipment, often under the enemy's fire. They have many other duties to perform both in and out of action, and the skill and bravery of the men have always received the highest com- mendation. The corps was destined to win fresh fame in the retreat from Mons and in the subsequent advance across the Aisne. On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, the British were engaged in a desperate struggle at Mons against overwhelming numbers of the enemy. For a time the Germans, in spite of costly efforts, could make no real headway along the straight reach of the Mons Canal. If the defence of the position had been prolonged, however, the British would almost certainly have been cut off, and in the afternoon, therefore, Sir John French gave the order for the retirement. L.-CORP. CHARLES ALFRED JARVIS 9 The little army then began to fall slowly back while the (iermans flimg themselves in attack after attack against its battle-front. The British, however, faced them with stubborn courage, compelling them to pay very dearly for the ground which they gained. Especially was this so along the line of the canal between St. Ghislain and Conde, where the Germans suffered great losses in an effort to force a crossing. But nearer Mons they had pushed their way through the suburbs of the city to the south, where they caught the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Middlesex Regiment in isolated positions. In fighting for their existence these two regi- ments suffered severe losses. But in the nick of time the Gordon Highlanders came to their rescue, and assisted them in extricating them- selves from their perilous position, just as night was coming on. Previous to this the Royal Fusiliers had fallen back through Mons to Hyon, and the Royal Scots Fusiliers, who had put up a great fight at Jemappes, through Flere. It was at Jemappes that Corporal Charles Alfred Jarvis, of the 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, won the V.C. He was ordered to go out and blow up the Jemappes bridge, but experienced great difiiculty in doing so. Con- 10 WINNING THE V.C. tinuously under fire, he worked for one and a half hours before he eventually managed to destroy the bridge under the very eyes of the Germans. He had accomplished a most im- portant piece of work, which prevented the Germans from crossing the canal at this point and following up the retreating British Army in large numbers. His cool and courageous work was subsequently recognized by the award of the V.C. How Private Sidney Frank Godley, of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, London Regiment, won the V.C. at Mons. It was on that fateful Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, that Private Sidney Frank Godley, of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, London Regiment, won the V.C. at Mons. The battle began at dawn, and all through the day the British were engaged in a tremendous struggle against overwhelming odds. They were out- numbered and outgunned ; and the Germans, with their enormous reserves of men, launched attacks all day along the canal in desperate efforts to force a crossing. From nine o'clock onwards the Nimy bridge 'M : I'niiit.'fl .yiiri'il/JI /urtliis ;n./7,] [An IT. N. lia.jdali'pul.j Captain F. O, Grenffll, assisted by officers and men of tlie '^'th Lancers, manhandling Runs out of action near Doubon, l&ee p. 17 PRIVATE SIDNEY FRANK GODLEY 11 was the object of very heavy attacks. But Lieutenant Dease did terrible work with his machine-gun as the Germans advanced in mass formation, and they were thrown back time after time to the fir plantations on the northern side of the canal, between the Ghlin and Nimy bridges. The plantations were of great use to the enemy, as besides allowing them to reform their broken ranks under cover, they also masked their machine-guns. After a time the Germans advanced in extended order, and the change of formation at once made an impression on the defenders. The attack was checked, but not stopped, and before very long Captain Ashburner's company was very hard pressed. The position was equally desperate away to the left, at the Ghlin bridge, where Captain Bying was having a most anxious time. Here, again, the pressure from sheer weight of numbers was tremendous. But though the Germans made considerable headway they could not gain the bridges, and their dead and wounded lay in heaps all along the approach to the bridge. It was at the Ghlin bridge that Godley was iWorking a machine-gun, and, like Lieutenant Dease, he stuck to his post to the end, doing 12 WINNING THE V.C. frightful havoc in the German ranks. He was wounded in the afternoon, but, with great coolness and gallantry, continued fighting his machine-gun under a hot fire for two hours more. The defenders of the Ghlin bridge had most valuable support from the 107th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, which was entrenched behind them ; and from the firing-line an artillery observer communicated with great accuracy the enemy's range to his battery. The action at this point, however, will be chiefly memorable for the way in which Godley won his well-merited V.C. How Major Ernest Wright Alexander, of THE 119th Battery, Royal Field Artil- lery, WON the V.C. at Elouges. On the retreat of the British Army, after the Battle of Mons, the 119th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, which was under the command of Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Ernest Wright Alexander, took up a position behind a railway embankment at Elouges. Sir John French was determined to show a bold front to the enemy, and this and another battery were therefore MAJOR ALEXANDER 13 placed where they covild most effectively shell the Germans in their advance, and break up attempts by them to harass, with their over- whelming numbers, the British retreat. In these actions the British artillery did splendid work again and again throughout the Great Retreat, and, as a consequence, the Germans suffered enormous losses. Hard pressed during the Battle of Mons, the 1st Corps had been forced to give ground, and it was here, on the right of the British Army, that the first German advance was expected. To check this attack Sir John French determined on the plan of threatening the enemy with a counter-attack, during which Sir Horace Smith- Dorrien was to fall back some way, then halt and draw up his army in battle line. The 1st Corps would then retire to a new position behind this line, and in the same way the operations would be repeated by the 2nd Corps. On the evening of the battle the greater part of the 2nd Corps had taken up its new line, running through Montreuil, Boussu, Wasmes, Paturages and Frameries, but brigades at either end, the 14th and 15th on the left, and the 8th on the right, remained in their old positions till midnight. 14 WINNING THE V.C. By night the Germans had thrown pontoon bridges across the Mons Canal, and it was evident that they were advancing in great force in the direction of Frameries, Paturages, and Wasmes. Reahzing that the 3rd Division, that on the right of the 2nd Corps, had been too much knocked about already to hold its position unaided against the advancing Germans, Sir Horace Smith- Dorrien obtained the assistance of the 5th Brigade (1st Corps), half of which remained in Frameries, while the other half moved to Paturages. Before long, however, a change had to be made. It had been obvious to all that the first line in the Mons salient could not be held for long, but it was hoped that the line now occupied could be successfully defended. To his sur- prise, however, Sir Horace Smith - Dorrien received orders at 2 a.m. to abandon it, as the French on the right were retreating. This change involved grave difficulties in the transport service, and heavy rearguard actions seemed inevitable, but after occupying Paturages, the Germans made no immediate attempt to follow up the British. A terrific struggle was in progress at Wasmes, however. The Germans attacked the town at MAJOR ALEXANDER 15 ten o'clock, and a surprise awaited them. The market square and the streets to either side were lined with British troops, and the moment the heads of the German columns came in sight they were met with a blaze of fire from rifles and machine-guns. Their losses were enormous, but they advanced time after time. They made no headway, however, during two hoxu-s' fight- ing, and the British, having fulfilled their duty as a rearguard, withdrew to St. Vaast. The retirement at the extreme left of the British line was effected with greater difficulty than at Wasmes, owing to the closer presence of the enemy. Soon after half-past eleven an urgent message was received from Sir Charles Fergusson, who was in command of the 5th Division, saying that he could not extricate his division from its position unless prompt help was given by cavalry. On receiving this message, General de Lisle, who was at Andregnies, sent off the 18th Hussars to the high ground along the Quiverain to Elouges road. At this time the 119th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery was south-west of Elouges, while " L " Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery was north-east of Andregnies. Both were on the main road to Angre, and about three miles apart. 16 WINNING THE V.C. The 4th Dragoon Guards and 9th Lancers were in Andregnies itself. No sooner had General de Lisle made his dispositions than German columns were seen advancing from the direction of Quiverain towards Andregnies. General de Lisle then informed the 4th Dragoon Guards and the 9th Lancers that the enemy's advance must be stopped at all costs, if necessary by a charge. The two regiments advanced towards the enemy, who were two thousand yards away, but, when on the point of charging, they found themselves held up by a wire fence. With great presence of mind, however, the cavalry wheeled to the right and took cover behind some big slag heaps. Dismounting, they opened a hot fire, with the support of the two batteries on the Angre road. For four hours the fight was kept up, and then, having achieved his object. General de Lisle withdrew the dismoxmted men. It was during one of these withdrawals that Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander, in company with Captain Francis Grenfell, of the 9th Lancers, won the V.C. The flank guard of the 119th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery was attacked by a whole German corps; and during the MAJOR ALEXANDER 17 attack the battery's horses were all killed, and almost every man was killed or wounded. But, notwithstanding this, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander handled his battery with such con- spicuous success that all his guns were saved. He and three other men had begun to withdraw them by hand when Captain Francis Grenfell came to his assistance. It was due to the con- spicuous bravery and great ability of Major Alexander that the retirement of the 5th Division was carried out without serious loss. Later, he crowned his achievement by running out and rescuing a wounded man under heavy fire. How Captain Francis Octavius Grenfell, OF THE 9th Lancers, won the V.C. near DOUBON. During the retreat from Mons the only reserve which Sir John French had at his disposal was General AUenby's cavalry division, but gallantly did our splendid horsemen respond to all the calls made upon them, sacrificing themselves with the most devoted bravery to stem the advance of the German hordes. About 7.30 a.m. on the morning of August 24th — ^the day on which the retreat began — Sir Charles 18 WINNING THE V.C. Fergusson, who was holding the village of Fra- meries with the right of the 5th Division, found that the enemy were endeavouring to work round his flank between Frameries and Mons, and sent word to General AUenby that he was very hard pressed and in lu-gent need of support. On receipt of this message, AUenby at once brought up his cavalry to the menaced point, and for a little while succeeded in holding the outflanking movement in check. The first of the cavalry to go into action were the three regiments of the 2nd Brigade— the 4th Dragoon Guards, the 9th Lancers, and the 18th Hussars, who began by a dismounted action with the German infantry at a range of over a thousand yards near the village of Andregnies. Then General de Lisle, who com- manded the brigade, ordered the 9th Lancers to mount and charge the flank of the advancing masses, with the other two regiments as supports. Joyfully did these splendid fellows obey the order. All the previous day, while the Battle of Mons had been raging, they had been within sound of the fighting, yet not permitted to take any part in it ; and though exchanging rifle- volleys with the Huns had come as a welcome relief from their enforced inactivity, it was not CAPTAIN FRANCIS O. GRENFELL 19 the kind of work for which they were craving. But now at last their chance was to be given them, and singing and shouting in their glee, they dashed forward as light-heartedly as though they had been on parade. Some of the finest horsemen in Great Britain were amongst them— their commanding officer. Colonel Campbell, the hero of the Grand National of 1896, Captain Noel Edwards and Captain Francis Grenfell, two of the finest polo-players of our time, and many another man who had won distinction at Hurlingham, Sandown, or in the Shires. But alas ! their gallantry was to effect nothing beyond proving that the spirit which had in- spired the Light Brigade at Balaclava is still alive in the British cavalry of to-day. For the ground had been insufficiently reconnoitred, and five himdred yards from the enemy the Lancers found themselves held up by a double line of barbed wire, along which they galloped " like rabbits in front of a line of guns," in a vain attempt to find some way of getting round. Every moment, beneath the deadly blast of shell and rifle-fire which swept their now broken ranks, men dropped from their saddles, or horses, screaming in agony, came crashing down, until 3* 20 WINNING THE V.C. at last, perceiving the impossibility of reaching the enemy, the remnant of the regiment drew rein behind a house. But the respite they had thus gained was a very brief one. At once the German guns were turned upon the house, which in a few minutes was nothing but a heap of tangled masonry ; and once more men and horses were exposed to the full blast of the storm, until they finally found refuge imder a railway-embankment, near Doubon. By this time, all the senior officers had been either killed or so severely wounded as to be incapacitated for further service ; and Captain Francis Grenfell, who had kept his squadron together by giving the order to trot, found him- self in command. He himself had come by no means scathless through the terrible ordeal which his regiment had undergone, having been badly wounded by shrapnel in the hand and leg ; but his dauntless courage and devotion to duty were to triumph over pain and weakness, and to enable him to perform one of the most heroic actions of the first weeks of the war. Under the lee of the embankment a battery commandant and some dozen gunners had taken shelter. They belonged to the 119th Battery CAPTAIN FRANCIS O. GRENFELL] 21 of the Royal Field Artillery, which had been put out of action, with the loss of most of its men and all its horses, by the enemy's terrific shell-fire. Captain Grenfell at once determined that an attempt ought to be made to save the abandoned guns, and rode out alone to ascertain if there were any exit for them to the British lines. Some little distance beyond them he discovered a way of retreat, and then coolly walked his horse back to the embankment, amidst a tempest of shot and shell, with the object of minimizing the risk of the undertaking in the eyes of his men. " We have got to save those guns," said he. " Who's going to volunteer ? " and he reminded his men of how the 9th Lancers had saved a battery at Maiwand, and of how in South Africa they had never failed the gunners. Every man at once volunteered, and, leaving their horses behind the embankment, about a score of them, together with the survivors of the battery, ran towards the guns. " It's all right, they can't hit us," observed Captain Grenfell coolly, and although more than one journey was necessary and they were exposed to a tremendous fire, they succeeded in man- handling the guns into safety, with the loss of only three men wounded, although, as the last 22 WINNING THE V.C. gun was being got away, the German infantry were close upon them. Captain Grenfell, who was awarded the crown of every soldier's ambition for this most gallant deed, was invalided home, but at the earliest possible moment he rejoined his regiment and greatly distinguished himself in the fight of the dismounted cavalry at Messines, on November 1st, 1914. Wounded again, this time more severely than before, he once more fought his way back to recovery, but on May 24th, 1915, the 2nd Cavalry Division, among which were the 9th Lancers, were subjected to a violent gas attack by the Germans, the poison cloud rising to forty feet, and the emission continuing for four and a half hours. Throughout the gas and the subse- quent heavy shelling which they received, this most hardly-tried regiment stuck gallantly to their trenches, but they paid a heavy toll, and among the dead was Captain Grenfell. Captain Francis Grenfell was a nephew of Lord Grenfell and a twin-brother of Captain " Rivy " Grenfell, of the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry, who was killed in the charge of the 9th Lancers, to whom he was attached, at the Battle of the Marne, in September, 1914. A CAPTAIN FRANCIS O. GRENFELL 23 younger brother fell in the brilliant charge of the 12th Lancers at Omdurman, seventeen years ago. Joining the 9th Lancers in May, 1901, Captain Francis Grenfell served with distinction in the South African War, in which he obtained the Queen's Medal and five clasps. He was pro- moted captain three years ago. He was one of the best known and most popular officers in the whole Army, a perfect type of the soldier, gentleman and sportsman, and his loss is widely deplored. How Lance-Corporal George Harry Wyatt, OF THE 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, won the V.C. at Landrecies. It was on August 25th, 1914, during the retreat from Mons, that Lance-Corporal George Harry Wyatt, of the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, won the V.C. The 4th Guards' Brigade had reached Landrecies at one o'clock in the after- noon, and, being tired out, the men had imme- diately gone into billets, some in barracks and others in the town. About five o'clock word was brought that the Germans had begun to advance on the town, and preparations were immediately made for the 24 WINNING THE V.C. defence. The Grenadiers were posted on the western side ; the 2nd Coldstream Guards on the south and east ; and the 3rd Coldstream to the north and north-west. Meanwhile the Irish Guards barricaded the streets and loop- holed the houses facing the open country. Shortly after half-past eight infantry was heard advancing from the direction of the Mormal forest, singing French songs as they marched. The sky was very overcast at the time, and dark- ness had already fallen. But a searchlight, which was turned on the head of the column, revealed French uniforms. The column had come a good deal closer when a second search- light detected German uniforms behind its lead- ing sections. It was the 9th German Corps. Pushing forward through darkness and rain, the Germans came in contact with an advance company of the Guards, with a machine-gun, within two hundred yards of the town, and the base act to which they had resorted hardly gave the British time to defend themselves. The man in charge of the gun was bayoneted before he had time to open fire, and the gun itself was captured. A fierce struggle followed in the dark, revolvers and bayonets being freely used, but, overwhelmed by weight of numbers, the Cold- L.-CORP. GEORGE HARRY WYATT 25 streams were gradually forced back towards the entrance to the town. It was a most critical moment, but magnificent discipline prevailed among the British and saved the situation. In a narrow street, known as the Faubourg Soyere, a company was in reserve, and through a heavy fire it was rushed up to the support of the others. The arrival of this company made matters rather more equal as regards numbers, though the columns that had been hurled in the att&,ck against Landrecies were but the vanguard of the German attack, and, as was afterwards revealed, the Germans were throughout in a majority of two to one. Greatly cheered by the example of their officers, however, the two Coldstream companies now attacked the Germans with great energy, and drove them back with heavy losses to the out- skirts of the forest. But from this spot the Germans opened fire with a light field-gun on the Faubourg Soyere, firing shrapnel and star- shells at point-blank range. Matters were now becoming very trying, as the light of burning houses revealed the position of the defenders to the enemy, and flames suddenly shot up from some straw stacks in a farmyard at the end of the street. If the fire had 26 WINNING THE V.C. spread and occasioned a blaze of light it would have been quite impossible to hold the position. With great courage Lance-Corporal Wyatt twice dashed out of the line, under a very hot fire from the enemy, who were only twenty-five yards away, and e^stinguished the burning straw. Lance-Corporal Wyatt' s act was one involving great personal danger, and he again displayed most conspicuous bravery a week later at Villers Cotterets. On that occasion he was wounded in the head, but continued firing until he could no longer see, owing to the blood which was pouring down his face. He then retired to the dressing-station, and when the medical officer had bound up his wound, he told him to go to the rear. Lance-Corporal Wyatt returned at once to the firing-line, however, and continued to take part in the fighting. For his great gallantry on both occasions he was fittingly rewarded with the V.C. How Major Charles Allix Lavington Yate, OF THE 2nd Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), won the V.C. at Le Cateau. It may be said, quite fairly, that the world has rarely seen an army of such great merit as that MAJOR YATE 27 which shouldered the burden of Great Britain during the first six months of the war in Flanders and Northern France. Though the army was small in numbers, the men held inviolate the heritage of their race, great courage and tenacity of purpose. These qualities alone, however, would not have sufficed in view of the tre- mendous odds to which the men were opposed. Added to a superb morale was physical fitness. To maintain the latter, athletics had been widely encouraged in the Army, amongst both officers and rank and file. Further, the methods of training the infantry followed the theory of fighting in open order, and aimed at making each man an individual fighter, who was to depend on himseK in the battle-line. With so much of first-rate importance combined in the making of each soldier, it is small wonder that the Army which crossed to France in August, 1914, should have proved so redoubtable a fighting force. The most conspicuous act of bravery for which Major Charles Allix Lavington Yate, of the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), was awarded the V.C. recalls in its dramatic circumstances the heroic defence of 28 WINNING THE V.C. Thermopylae, where Leonidas, the Spartan King, with three hundred of his men, opposed the Persian army of Xerxes. In the battle of Le Cateau on August 26th, 1914, Von Klxick first tried to break the British line by frontal attacks and by a turning move- ment against the left flank. Later on, however, he used his great hordes of men in an enveloping movement on both flanks. The position was extremely critical, and at half-past three Sir John French gave the order for the British to retire. B Company, of the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), which Major Yate commanded, was in the second line of trenches, where it suffered fearful losses from the enemy's shell-fire, which was directed against one of the British batteries not far behind. Of the whole battalion, indeed, no less than twenty officers and six hundred men were lost during the battle, and when the German infantry advanced with a rush in the afternoon, there were only nineteen men left un wounded in Major Yate's company. But, with splendid courage and tenacity, they held their ground and con- tinued firing until their ammunition was all exhausted. At the last Major Yate led his little MAJOR YATE 29 party of nineteen survivors in a deathless charge against the enemy. But though courage and disciphne prevailed, there could be but one result. Major Yate fell, seriously wounded — to subsequently die, a prisoner of war in Germany — and his gallant band of men ceased to exist. How Captain Douglas Reynolds and Drivers J. H. C. Drain and F. Luke, of THE Royal Field Artillery, won the Victoria Cross by saving a Gun at Le Cateau. On the morning of the 24th August, 1914, the retreat of the British from Mons began, and on the 26th Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien fought his famous action at Le Cateau, which saved the left wing of the Army from being enveloped and cut off. Smith-Dorrien had little time to entrench his position before the grey masses of the enemy's infantry were seen advancing, supported by the fire of some six hundred guns, on a front of about twelve miles. He had no reserves available, and could only strengthen a threatened part of his line by taking the risk of weakening another part of it. 80 WINNING THE V.C. Heavy, indeed, was our men's task that day, and that of the artillery was the heaviest of all. Opposed to four times their number of guns— and guns, for the most part, of much heavier calibre than their own — ^their losses in men and horses were appalling. In one battery, towards the end of the fight, only a lieutenant and one gunner remained, still heroically contriving to keep a single gun in action. Several pieces were disabled by the huge shells from the German field howitzers, while the carriages of others were smashed to atoms. As the day wore on, Von Kliick began to use his superior numbers in a great enveloping movement on both flanks, and between three and four o'clock in the afternoon the British received orders to retire. The movement was covered by our artillery with the most splendid courage, but at a terrible cost ; and it was at this moment that the incident we are about to relate occurred. Captain Douglas Reynolds, of the 37th Battery, R.F.A., perceiving that the horses attached to several guns had all been killed or disabled, brought up two teams, driven by men who had volunteered their services, in a desperate attempt to save a couple of them. Though exposed to very heavy shell and rifle- CAPTAIN DOUGLAS REYNOLDS 31 fire— the advancing German infantry were scarcely a hundred yards distant— these brave men contrived to limber up two guns. But, the next moment, one entire team was shot down, while Driver Gobley, the driver of the centre pair of the other team, fell dead from his saddle. Captain Reynolds, however, rode alongside the unguided pair, and kept them in hand, and with Driver Luke driving the leaders, and Driver Drain the wheelers, the gun was brought safely out of action. Each of these three heroes was awarded the Victoria Cross, and one of them. Captain Reynolds, had the satisfaction of distinguishing himself again a fortnight later at the i^attle of the Marne, when, reconnoitring at close range, he located a battery which was holding up our advance and silenced it. Unhappily, he was severely wounded at the Aisne on September 15th, 1914. How Lance-Coepokal Frederick William Holmes, of the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), WON the V.C. at Le Cateau. At daybreak on the morning of August 26th, 1914, it was seen that the Germans intended to 32 WINNING THE V.C. throw the greater part of their strength against the left of the position occupied by the 2nd Corps and the 4th Division at Le Cateau. The guns of no less than four German Army Corps were in position against them, and Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien reported that, in face of such an attack, he considered it impossible to continue his retirement at daybreak, as had been ordered. Sir John French, however, sent word that he was imable to offer him any support. The 1st Corps was at the moment incapable of move- ment, and the French Cavalry Corps, under General Sordet, could not come up and support a retirement, owing to the fatigue of the horses ; and Sir John French therefore sent orders to Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien to do his utmost to break off the action and retire at the earliest possible moment. The battle, which was about to begin, was, however, most fiercely contested, and it was not imtil the afternoon that the retirement was begun. The British front extended for about eight miles, and for half that distance ran along the north side of the Cambrai to St. Quentin rail- way, but there had been no time to entrench the position properly. Of the trenches which had been prepared many faced the wrong way, and L.-CORP. FREDERICK WILLIAM HOLMES 33 all were too short, and, though it was possible to lengthen those which were short, the others had to be re-dug. The ground was very hard and there were no entrenching tools, but the men succeeded in obtaining picks from the farms, and with these they set to work. Without shovels, however, their task was very arduous, and they had to scoop up the loose earth with mess-tins or with their hands. The trenches constructed by such rough and ready methods naturally offered but a poor defence against the terrific sheU-fire to which they were presently subjected, and, when the infantry lined them, they were bombarded for six hours on end. The battle was chiefly a duel between artil- lery, and up to midday it was that alone. It was a most unequal contest for the British gunners, who were outmatched by at least four to one. But after some time they directed their fire more at the infantry than at the opposing batteries. Enormous losses were thus inflicted on the Germans, who were massing on the crest of a ridge, two thousand yards away, and ad- vancing in a succession of lines down a slope to hidden grouhd. By the afternoon, however, many of the British 3 34 WINNING THE V.C. batteries had been silenced, and the infantry in their makeshift trenches became a mere target for the German guns. It was a terrible ordeal, which could only arise when the artillery of one side was completely outnumbered by that of the other. With an absolute disregard of danger. Sir Charles Fergusson, the Divisional General, galloped about amid bursting shells, exhorting the men of the 5th Division to stand firm. Some of them, however, were beginning to withdraw, for the awful gun-fire and the lack of proper cover were too much for their endur- ance. At half-past two the right flank of the division had been turned, and the enemy began to press forward into the gap between the two army corps. Word was sent that the division could hold its ground no longer, but Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien sent up every available reserve he had, namely, two battalions and a battery. These helped to some extent ; but it at length became apparent that to avoid complete annihilation a retirement must be attempted. At about half-past three, therefore, the order was given for the general retirement to com- mence. When the movement began the artillery covered it with most devoted courage and L.-CORP. FREDERICK WILLIAM HOLMES 85 determination. As the men fell back the British gunners began to drop their shells on to the German infantry, causing heavy losses and effectively preventing them from following up and engaging in demoralizing attacks on the retreating British. The 3rd and 4th Divisions withdrew in fairly good order, but the retirement of the 5th Divi- sion was more irregular. The regiments which stood their ground to the last were isolated by the withdrawal of xmits on their left and right, and in consequence suffered very severely, being mown down by shrapnel and machine-gxm fire the moment they left their trenches. While the retirement was in progress Lance- Corporal Frederick William Holmes, of the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), picked up a wounded man, who was lying in the trenches, and most gallantly carried him over a mile under heavy fire. Later on he assisted to drive a gun out of action by taking the place of a driver who had been wounded. For the most conspicuous bravery which he had shown in these two emergencies he was deservedly rewarded with the V.C. 3* 36 WINNING THE V.C. How Captain Edward Kinder Bradbury, Sergeant David Nelson and Bat- tery Sergeant-Major George Thomas Dorrell, " L " Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, won the V.C. at Nery. Having discussed matters with General Joffre, Sir John French renewed the retreat of his army on the afternoon of Saturday, August 29th, 1914. To meet present circumstances the original plans of General Joffre had to be modi- fied, and the British now moved towards the line of the river Aisne, from Soissons to Com- piegne, and then in the direction of the Marne about Meaux. On the night of August 31st the Bays and " L " Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery bivouacked in an open orchard on the west side of the village of Nery. The village lies low in the midst of broken and hilly country. To the south and east the ground rises suddenly and very steeply, and on the heights Lieutenant Tailby, of the Hussars, was patrolling in the early morning of September 1st. A thick fog hung over the ground, and besides shutting out the view, it muflBed every sound. Neverthe- CAPTAIN EDWARD KINDER BRADBURY 37 less, he groped along, stopping every now and again to listen, but neither hearing the enemy nor seeing any signs of them. Then, all of a sudden, a whole column of German cavalry loomed out of the fog. Lieu- tenant Tailby was seen, and turning his horse abruptly round, he galloped off to warn the brigade. He had just time enough to dash in and raise the alarm, and then shot and shell began to fall thickly upon the village. About five o'clock the fog cleared, and away on the heights could be seen the six German regiments, dismounted, with their twelve guns. The ad- vantage in an engagement would be greatly on the side of the Germans, both as regards numbers and the position which they held. But the British gallantly resolved to fight. Three only of the battery's guns could be brought into action, and these quickly opened fire. After getting their horses into safety, the Bays, who were in the line of fire, joined in with rifles and machine-guns. The three guns kept up their fire amidst a storm of shot and shell, but the range was only four hundred yards, and two of them were quickly knocked out of action. Captain Bradbury, who was in command, had a leg blown off by a shell, but with the utmost 98 WINNING THE V.C. bravery he propped himself up and continued to direct the fire till he fell dead. Both Lieutenant Campbell and Brigade-Major Cawley died beside him, the latter after bringing up orders from Headquarters. Lieutenants Gifford and Mundy were both wounded, and then, amidst a storm of fire from field-gims, maxims, and rifles, Sergeant- Major DorreU took command. He was supported by Sergeant Nelson, who, though severely wounded, refused to retire, and also by Gunner Darbyshire and Driver Osborne. While they kept the last gun in action, the 5th Dragoon Guards worked round to the north- east, to make a diversion from that flank. They succeeded to a certain extent, but Colonel AnseU feU, shot through the head, at the very com- mencement. Without reinforcements they could