Remembering Today – Major Alexander M Lafone VC

[Pete L]

Remembering Today – Major Alexander M Lafone VC

Born: 19 August 1870, Waterloo, near Liverpool

Educated at Dulwich College

Boer War: Served as Sergeant in Montgomery Yeomanry. Invalided home after gun shot wound to the face

WW1: Attached 1st County of London Yeomanry (The Middlesex, Duke of Cambridge’s Hussars). Served Alexandra, Gallipoli, Salonika, Palestine. Killed in action 27 October 1917, outside Beersheba. Posthumous award of the Victoria Cross.

"On 27th October 1917 at Beersheba, Palestine, for most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrifice, Major Lafone, for more than seven hours, held a position against vastly superior forces. Visibility was poor, owing to the shelling from the enemy. He beat off Cavalry charges, by the enemy, causing them many casualties. One enemy charge left 15 casualties within 20 yards of his trench. One man who had managed to reach the trench was bayoneted by Major Lafone. All of his men became casualties except three. The trench was so full of wounded that it became difficult to move about and use weapons. Major Lafone ordered those who could walk to move to a trench, slightly to the rear. They continued to maintain an heroic resistance. When eventually they became surrounded, he stepped into the open and continued to fight until he was mortally wounded, finally he collapsed. His courage and cheerfulness set a splendid example to the men which enabled them to hold the position as ordered"

Rest in peace

[daggers]

The successor unit [R.Sigs these days] holds a Lafone Day and service, possibly tomorrow, in his memory.

Daggers

[stiletto_33853]

Lafone

[michaeldr]

from 'Diary of a Yeomanry M.O.'

by Capt. O. Teichman DSO, MC

"October 23rd-27th

.............During the next few days the enemy became more and more aggressive, and on October 27th attacked our new railway from Buggar Ridge to Hill 510; they were eventually driven back by a brigade from the Yeomanry Division, assisted by an Australian Light Horse Brigade. One squadron of a London yeomanry regiment behaved most heroically, defending a hill until they were relieved, after they had been almost wiped out, the Major commanding eventually receiving a posthumous V.C."

[seaforth78]

I was wondering if Captain Herbert Alfred Lafone, 3rd Dragoon Guards, son of Alfred Lafone MP was a relative?

[Mx Yeo]