PhilB Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 They`re probably going to talk about half a dozen of the WW1 VC winners. If you were asked to advise, which 6 would you recommend? Must there be one for each year or each theatre, one naval & one air, a couple of officers etc? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Sgt. William Gregg V.C., D.C.M., M.M., 13th Rifle Brigade Pte. Sam Harvey V.C. , 1st York and Lancs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 In the circumstances (VC and Bar) I think Noel Chavasse has to be a shoo-in. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 In the circumstances (VC and Bar) I think Noel Chavasse has to be a shoo-in. Adrian Hello Adrian In my view the problem with this selection is that it is always Chavasse, and nobody else seems to get a look in. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 On the basis of what happened in the first programme, I think that the criteria will be as follows: 1. All 3 services will be represented. 2. Men from all around the Empire will be chosen. 3. Men who have surviving relatives willing & able to talk about them will be preferred, which presumably favours men who survived the war & whose grandchildren will therefore have known them. 4. There will probably be some bias towards medals owned by Lord Ashcroft. 5. I don't think that the more famous winners will necessarily be selected. In WW2, the Bomber Command representative wasn't Guy Gibson or Leonard Cheshire & the midget submarine attack on Takao rather than that on Tirpitz was chosen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 QUOTE (Phil_B @ Nov 20 2006, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They`re probably going to talk about half a dozen of the WW1 VC winners. If you were asked to advise, which 6 would you recommend? Must there be one for each year or each theatre, one naval & one air, a couple of officers etc? Phil B Fred Greaves VC 9th Bn Sherwood Foresters. His brother also won MC and two bars, DSO - Not bad for Derbyshire Miners. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Jack Cornwall (John Travers Cornwell) would get my vote. 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. Evelyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffsreg Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 WILLIAM HAROLD COLTMAN VC,DCM & BAR! earned his VC without firing a shot in anger, was a stretcher bearer.... what a man....My avatar.... regards, Ivan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 In my view the problem with this selection is that it is always Chavasse, and nobody else seems to get a look in. Good point! Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mruk Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Nice one, Evelyn. Jack Cornwell would have been my first choice too, but how about including those who forfeited their medals? Valentine Bambrick, Pte. 1st Bttn, 60th Rifles [later KRRC] Awarded VC for his actions on the 6th May 1858 at Bareilly, India [indian Mutiny]. He was 21 years old, but stripped of his medal in 1861 after being convicted of assault and theft of a comrades medals. He died in Pentonville Prison on 1 April 1864 after committing suicide. Wikipedia lists eight men in all who were stripped of their VCs. Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 My choice would be Thomas Ricketts VC of the Newfoundland Regt. I think the youngest army VC of the Great War and also awarded the DCM and Croix de Guerre. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eltoro1960 Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 My personal choice would be Army William Angus VC 8th HLI / 8th Royal Scots. Wounded over 40 times for a rescue of a wounded officer in broad daylight under intense fire. Navy Jack Cornwell VC, just a laddie but a feat of oustanding courage. RFC/ RAF Albert Ball VC , for consistent courage and tenacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mruk Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 There are a number of Sikhs who have won the VC, and those who have been awarded the honour but are not listed on the register: http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-history/...ss-winners-html http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...ctoriacross.asp Regards, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Annette will like this one. The only KSLI VC in the Great War. Pte Harold Whitfield 10th Bn. KSLI. (later Sergeant) On 10 March 1918 at Burj El Lisaneh, Egypt, during the first of three counter-attacks made by the enemy on the position which had just been captured by his battalion, Private Whitfield, single-handed, charged and captured a Lewis gun, killed the whole gun team and turned the gun on the enemy, driving them back with heavy casualties. Later he organised and led a bombing attack on the enemy, again inflicting many casualties and by establishing his party in their position saved many lives and materially assisted in the defeat of the counter-attack. Harold Whitfield was not only born in a pub in Oswestry but lived for a time with his aunt at the Severn Arms, Penybont, Radnorshire. When told about her nephew had won the VC she said she wasn't surpriseed, as she had dreamt that it was going to happen! Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Myrtle, Odd question I know, but do you know which pub? My sister lives in an old converted pub at Oswestry. EDIT : Answered my own question - "The Five Bells". Not my sisters.... Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 20 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Another odd question - do you know where the Five Bells is/was? My mother came from Oswestry & that name rings a bell (or five). Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 QUOTE (Phil_B @ Nov 20 2006, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Another odd question - do you know where the Five Bells is/was? My mother came from Oswestry & that name rings a bell (or five). Phil B Willow Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon6640 Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 From the Five web site: Sunday 26th November 2006, 8.00pm This second programme tells the stories of some of these First World War heroes. The first two medals were awarded with the British Army’s first taste of action, three weeks into the war. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 From the Five web site: Sunday 26th November 2006, 8.00pm This second programme tells the stories of some of these First World War heroes. The first two medals were awarded with the British Army’s first taste of action, three weeks into the war. Jon Dease and Godley, then? cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 20 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2006 It would be interesting to know who actually did advise on choice of subjects. Might give us a guide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonym Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Slightly changing the theme of the thread. The reference to Bambrick re-ignites an issue that has needled me for some time. With all the official political apologies for past historical actions and the recent pardon of 'Shot at Dawns' isn't it time that the eight VC forfeitures, for what I consider minor misdemeanours, were reinstated? If there are no relatives or descendents then the Crosses should go to the Regimental Museums. Sorry but I think their forfeitures were wrong! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Slightly changing the theme of the thread. The reference to Bambrick re-ignites an issue that has needled me for some time. With all the official political apologies for past historical actions and the recent pardon of 'Shot at Dawns' isn't it time that the eight VC forfeitures, for what I consider minor misdemeanours, were reinstated? If there are no relatives or descendents then the Crosses should go to the Regimental Museums. Sorry but I think their forfeitures were wrong! Tony Hello Tony I completely agree. Is it the case that these days there is no forfeiture of the VC regardless of offence committed? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 The VC can no longer be forfeited. I believe that this is substantially down to King George V who insisted that, even were a VC winner to be convicted of murder & sentenced to death, he should be entitled to wear his medal on the scaffold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonym Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Max No Max forfeitures were stopped by King George V in, I believe 1915. Whilst in the 19th century they were considered serious crimes - 5 of theft - 2 of desertion - 1 of bigamy non of them were capital crimes, today they would probably have got an ASBO. or just a telling off. Whatever their "crime" it did not diminish the courage they showed in earning their Crosses and I believe that enough apologies have been made in recent years for us to put their "crimes" into a modern context. If we want to keep a documentary record of their actions by all means but reinstate their names as Victoria Cross 'Holders'. After all how many of our modern VCs have committed a little sin? Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Barker Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Pte William Young VC - 9th East Lancs. The only posthumous VC holder of the Great War to be interred in the UK. Stephen William Young - 8th East Lancs of course!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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