NINE V.C.'s

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 4, 6 January 1915, Page 6

NINE V.C.'s

FIRST AWARDS IN THE WAR FOR VALOURJ The first Y.C.'s of the war have been officially notified as under:— Captain Francis OctavUs Grenfell, 9th .Lancers.. For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry 'at Andregnies, Belgium,- on August 24th, 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Bat-tery,-Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day. Captain Grenfell is a well-known polo player, and the story of his gallant conduct when the 9th Lancers saved the guns was told at the time. He is a iaember of a famous soldier distinguished himself in the South African War J Captain Douglas Reynolds, 37th Battery Royal Field Artillery. At Le Cateau, on August-26th, he took up two teams and limbered up two guns under heavy artillery and infantry fire, and though the enemy was within 100" yards he got one gun away safely. At Pisseloup, on September 9th, he reconnoitred at close range, discovered a battery which was holding up the advance, -and silenced it. He was severely wounded September loth/ 1914.^Captain Theodore "Wright, Royal Engineers. Gallantry at Mons on August 23rd,,in to connect up the lead to demolish a bridge under heavy fire; although wounded in the head he made a • second attempt. At Vailly, on September 14th, he assisted the passage of ~.sth , . r Cavalry; Brigade over, the pontoon bridge, and was mortally wounded whilst assisting wounded men into shelter.

Lieutenant Maurice James Dea.se, 4th Battalion the Royal J Fusiliers. i.'Though two or- three ' times badly "wounded h©(iontiiiued to control the fire bf"iiis .machine 'guns at Mons on August 23rd until all his men were . ■»» Jdfcb. ■ • ■ .'-Wi • j is- ' r Captain Harry; Sh,erwOod Ranken, ■ Royal Army Medical 1 Corps/ For tending wounded nf the trenches under rifle end shrapnel fire at, Hautvesnes 1 on September 19th, and oh> September 20th continuing,to attend v to wounded "after his"' thigh" land leg had been shattered.' ..... ;•, • Battery - k Sergeaht-Major . George • Thomas-Dorrell (now 2nd lieutenant); ''L" Battery Royal Horse Artillery. For continuing to, serve a,gun until all the ammunition . was expended .after all were killed or wounded, in spite;-, of.'. a., concentrated fire" .'from guns, and machine guns at a range of 600 yards, at/;Nery, on September Ist. s •." . ■*■■ Sergeant David Nelson (now 2nd lieutenant), "L" Battery Royal. Horse Artillery. Helping to bring the guns /into action under, heavy fire at'Nery ;on September Ist/; and while severely wounded remaining with them until all the ammunition., was expended—'i although lie; had been ordered to retire to cover.

Corporal Charles Ernest "Garforth, 15th Hussar.s. At Harmignies on August >23rd; ho volunteered to cut wire under fire which enabled his squadron to escape. At Dammartin he carried a man out of, action. Oh Septevaber ,;33, when under maxim fire} he extri- '■ "cated a sergeant whose horse had been shot and by, opening fire for ■ three enabled the sergeant to get ;-.iaway safely.' •■

- : v Lance-Corporal Charles Alfred Jar- ..-;■.< vis, 57th Field Company, Royal En'.gineers. For. great gallantry at Jen- | jappes on August 23rd in working for '■"■{i}, hours under heavy sre in full view |of the enerriey, and in successfully '/■'"firing charge's, for the demolition of : a bridge. : .. •*'„'.., Lieutenant Dease and Captain Random have since died rf their wounds, ' .siiicl Captain Wright, it w : .'l he noted, i 'tf as morit ally , wounded. v • \