Donald Bell V. C. - unknown abbreviations in a letter home

[Tom Morgan]

In his last letter home to his mother, Donald Bell V. C. wrote as follows (text taken from a printed book);

When the battalion went over, I with my team crawled up a communication trench and attacked the gun and trench and I hit the gun first shot from about 20 yards and knocked it over. The G.C.C. has been over to congratulate the battalion and he personally thanked me. I must confess it was the biggest fluke alive and I did nothing. I only chucked one bomb but it did the trick. The C.C. says I saved the situation for this gun was doing all the damage.

Would anyone know what the abbreviations G.C.C. and C.C. mean? I must admit I have an idea, but I'd like to see if anyone comes up with the same explanation so won't mention it unless someone else does.

Tom

[Tyneside Chinaman]

Surely it is GOC and OC The Brigade commander and the Battalion or Company Commander he is referring to.

regards

John

[ralphjd]

I would have thought the same :- General Officer Commanding and Company Commander.

[Tom Morgan]

That's what I thought, too. I think that someone has misread a handwritten capital "O" from the original letter and it has become a printed capital "C" in the book. General Officer Commanding and Officer Commanding.

Tom

[The Incomer]

The letter dated 7th July was printed in full in Richard Leake's book "A Breed Apart" and says: "The GOC has been over to congratulate the Battalion and personally thanked me......."

Les

[Tom Morgan]

Thanks for that, Les. That's very helpful.

Tom