Your Regiments V.C. Winners

[IrishGuard]

Pst any relevant stories/pix please

Edward Colquhoun Charlton (June 15, 1920- April 21, 1945) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 24 years old, and a Guardsman in the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 21 April 1945 at Wistedt, Germany, Guardsman Charlton was a co-driver of one tank of a troop which, with a platoon of infantry, captured the village. The Germans soon attempted to re-take the village with numerically superior forces, which largely consisted of officer cadets under the command of their very experienced instructor officers as well as two or three self-propelled guns. Three of the four tanks of the small Irish Guards force were badly hit, the fourth (Charlton's) being disabled by a complete electrical failure before the action started. When the tank was disabled, Guardsman Charlton was ordered to dismount the turret 0.50 Browning machine gun and support the infantry.
Charlton, on his own authority, as the Irish Guards became increasingly in danger of being over-run by the Germans, took the machine gun and advanced in full view of the attacking Germans, firing the weapon from his hip as he did so and inflicting heavy casualties on the Germans, halting the lead company and allowing the rest of the Guards a brief respite to reorganise and retire. He continued his bold attack, even when he was wounded in his left arm. Charlton managed to find the strength to place the machine-gun on a fence where he launched a further attack before his left arm was completely shattered by further enemy fire. Charlton, now with just one arm, carried on his astonishing attack until a further wound and loss of blood resulted in the Guardsman collapsing. His courageous and selfless disregard for his own safety helped save the precarious situation that the Irish Guards faced. He later died of the wounds he had received. He was awarded the posthumous VC, it was the last Victoria Cross of the European theatre, and the last, so far, of the Irish Guards. Unusually much of the citation was based on German accounts of the fight as most of his later actions were not witnessed by any of the Guards officers or surviving non-commissioned officers.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Irish Guards RHQ) (London, England).

He was 22 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the Irish Guards, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 April 1943 at Dj. Arada, Tunisia, Lance-Corporal Kenneally charged alone down the bare forward slope straight into the main body of the enemy about to make an attack, firing his Bren gun from the hip; the enemy were so surprised that they broke up in disorder. The lance-corporal repeated his exploit on 30 April when, accompanied by a sergeant, he charged the enemy forming up for assault, inflicting many casualties. Even when wounded he refused to give up, but hopped from one fire position to another, carrying his gun in one hand and supporting himself on a comrade with the other.

James Marshall, VC, MC and bar, Croix de Guerre (Belgium), Chevalier of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) (12 June 1887- November 4, 1918), was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 31 years old, and an acting Lieutenant Colonel in the Irish Guards, British Army, attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, commanding 16th Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 at the Sambre-Oise Canal, near Catillon, France, when a partly constructed bridge was badly damaged before the advanced troops of his battalion could cross, Lieutenant Colonel Marshall organised repair parties. The first party were soon killed or wounded, but the colonel's personal example was such that more volunteers were instantly forthcoming. Under intense fire and with complete disregard of his own safety he stood on the bank encouraging his men and helping in the work. When the bridge was repaired he attempted to lead his men across, but was killed in the attack.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Irish Guards RHQ) (London, England).

John Moyney (8 January 1895- 10 November 1980) was born in Rathdowney, County Laois, Republic of Ireland and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 22 years old, and a Lance-Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12/13 September 1917 north of Broembeek, Belgium, Lance-Sergeant Moyney was in command of 15 men forming two advanced posts. Surrounded by the enemy he held his post for 96 hours, having no water and very little food. On the fifth day, on the enemy advancing to dislodge him, he attacked them with bombs, while also using his Lewis gun with great effect. Finding himself surrounded, he led his men in a charge through the enemy and reached a stream, where he and a private (Thomas Woodcock) covered his party while they crossed unscathed, before crossing themselves under a shower of bullets.

He was 26 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On February 1, 1915 at Cuinchy, France, Lance-Corporal O'Leary was one of the storming party which advanced against the enemy's barricades. He rushed to the front and killed five Germans who were holding the first barricade, after which he attacked a second barricade 60 yards further on. This he captured after killing three of the enemy and taking two more of them prisoner. The lance-corporal thus practically took the position by himself and prevented the rest of the attacking party from being fired upon.

He was 29 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12/13 September 1917 north of Broenbeek, Belgium, when an advanced post had held out for 96 hours and was finally forced to retire, the lance-sergeant (John Moyney) in charge of the party and Private Woodcock covered the retirement. After crossing the stream themselves, Private Woodcock heard cries for help behind him - he returned and waded into the stream amid a shower of bombs and rescued another member of the party whom he carried across open ground in daylight towards our front line, regardless of machine-gun fire.
He was killed in action, Bullecourt, France, on 27 March 1918.

[Hydro]

Johnson Beharry, Iraq 2004.


I'll dig the info up later.

[IrishGuard]

my brother was attached to the pwrr in cimic house al amarah
will post his pix once he has emailed them to me !


dont buy it...never fux up about his Gran
the last 100 pages is all thats worth reading

[Hutz]

From my old unit:
Lieutenant Wallace Lloyd Algie, VC

Regiment
20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, C.E.F.

Born
Alton, Ontario, 10 June 1891

Died
Killed In Action, Canal de l'Escault, France, 11 October 1918

Age
27

Occupation
Banker, at branches in Vancouver and Toronto

Regimental Number
N/A

Original Enlistment
198th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 24 April 1916

Served in France
28 May 1917 to 11 October 1918

Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the 11th October, 1918, north-east of Cambrai, when with attacking troops which came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire from a neighbouring village. Rushing forward with nine volunteers, he shot the crew of an enemy machine gun, and, turning it on the enemy, enabled his party to reach the village.

He then rushed another machine gun, killed the crew. captured an officer and 10 enemy, and thereby cleared the end of the village.

Lt. Algie, having established his party, went back for reinforcements, but was killed when leading them forward.

His valour and personal initiative in the face of intense fire saved many lives and enabled the position to be held.

- The London Gazette, 28 Jan 1919

Burial
Plot C-7, Niagara Cemetary, Iwuy, France - Iwuy is a village approximately 8 kilometres north-east of Cambrai and Niagara Cemetary, is 1 kilometre south-east of the village. Cemetary Plan


The Book of Remembrance
World War I, Page 358

Additional Information
Lt Algie was Acting Company Commander at the time that he won his VC, the more senior officers of his company having become casualties.

and

Sergeant Frederick Hobson, VC

Regiment
20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, C.E.F.

Born
London, England, 23 September 1873

Died
Killed In Action, Hill 70, France, 18 August 1917

Age
43

Personal
Married to Louise Hobson
Storekeeper in Galt, Ontario

Regimental Number
57113

Original Enlistment
20th Battalion, 10 November 1914

Served in France
15 September 1915 to 18 August 1918

Wounded at the Somme, 16 September 1916

Citation
During a strong enemy counter-attack, a Lewis gun in a forward post in a communication trench leading to the enemy lines was buried by a shell, and the crew, with the exception of one man, killed.

Serjt. Hobson, though not a gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun, and got it into action against the enemy who were now advancing down the trench and across the open. A jam caused the gun to stop firing.

Though wounded, he left the gunner to correct the stoppage, rushed forward at the advancing enemy and, with bayonet and clubbed rifle, single-handed, held them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot. By this time however, the Lewis gun was again in action and reinforcements shortly afterwards arriving, the enemy were beaten off.

The valour and devotion to duty displayed by this non-commissioned officer gave the gunner the time required to again get the gun into action, and saved a most serious situation.

- The London Gazette, 16 October 1917

Burial
Sgt Hobson was buried where he fell at Hill 70. His name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial in France along with the other 11,000 Canadian men from World War I whose graves are unknown.

Vimy Memorial Plan

The Book of Remembrance
World War I, Page 257

Additional Information
The first member of a Toronto regiment to win a VC, Sgt Hobson single-handedly killed 15 Germans with only his bayonet and his rifle butt before he himself was killed.

Sgt Hobson also served in the Boer War, (South Africa 1899-1902), with the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.

Sgt Hobson's medal is on display at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa

[Hutz]

New "regiment":

Billy Bishop
On 2 June 1917, he flew a solo mission behind enemy lines to attack a German-held aerodrome, where he claimed that he shot down three planes that were taking off to attack him and destroyed several more on the ground. For this feat, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, although it has been suggested that he may have embellished his success. His VC was the only one ever awarded in violation of the warrant requiring witnesses, and since the German records have been lost, and since the archived papers of his VC were lost as well, there is no way of ever knowing if there were any witnesses or not. It was, however, common practice among airmen of the day (especially Aces who flew solo missions) to report their kills without requiring confirmation from witnesses.
Victoria Cross
Enlarge
Victoria Cross

The citation for his VC, published in the London Gazette on 11 August 1917, read:

For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and skill. Captain Bishop, who had been sent out to work independently, flew first of all to an enemy aerodrome; finding no machines about, he flew on to another aerodrome about three miles southeast, which was at least 12 miles the other side of the line. Seven machines, some with their engines running, were on the ground. He attacked these from about fifty feet, and a mechanic, who was starting one of the engines, was seen to fall. One of the machines got off the ground, but at a height of 60 feet, Captain Bishop fired 15 rounds into it at very close range, and it crashed to the ground. A second machine got off the ground, into which he fired 30 rounds at 150 yards range, and it fell into a tree. Two more machines then rose from the aerodrome. One of these he engaged at a height of 1,000 feet, emptying the rest of his drum of ammunition. This machine crashed 300 yards from the aerodrome, after which Captain Bishop emptied a whole drum into the fourth hostile machine, and then flew back to his station. Four hostile scouts were about 1,250 feet above him for about a mile of his return journey, but they would not attack. His machine was very badly shot about by machine-gun fire from the ground.

[digrar]

Roaly Australian Regiment

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/585/awheatleyyj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Kevin 'Dasher' Weatley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Arthur_Wheatley
http://www.somf.org/moh/wheatley_kevin_VC.htm

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3772/apaynegl6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Keith Payne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Payne
http://www.somf.org/moh/payne_keith_VC.htm

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8462/asimpsonca8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ray Simpson was at the Japanes POW breakout at Cowra before going on to the 2nd AIF and seeing service in 2/3 Pioneer Battalion and 26th battalion AIF. He then served in the RAR in Korea and Malaya before moving on to the First SAS Company RAR. By the time he got to his third tour of Viet Nam with the Australian Army Training team Viet Nam the SAS had become a Regiment in it's own right, but Simpson was only barely part of the Army, having discharged after his second tour with the team, he pretty much entering Viet Nam under his own steam, showing up at AATV HQ looking for a job.
His VC picture shows him wearing a Commando hat badge, a unit it doesn't appear he spent much time with.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayene_Stewart_Simpson
http://www.somf.org/moh/simpson_raymond_VC.htm

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6231/badcoevcuh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Maj Badcoe was an Artileryman by trade and had only just transfered to the Royal Australian Regiment when he went to Viet Nam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_John_Badcoe

[british-airborne]

Lieutenant Grayburn was a platoon commander of The Parachute Regiment which was dropped on 17th September 1944, with the task of seizing and holding the bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem.
.....The north end of the bridge was captured and, early in the night, Lieutenant Grayburn was ordered to assault and capture the southern end with his platoon. He led his platoon on to the bridge and began to attack with the utmost determination, but the platoon was met with a hail of fire from two 20-mm quick-firing guns, and from the machine-guns of an armoured car. Almost at once Lieutenant Grayburn was shot through the shoulder. Although there was no cover on the bridge, and in spite of his wound, Lieutenant Grayburn continued to press forward with the greatest dash and bravery until casualties became so heavy that he was ordered to withdraw. He directed the withdrawal from the bridge personally and was himself the last man to come off the embankment into comparative cover.
.....Later, his platoon was ordered to occupy a house which was vital to the defence of the bridge and he personally organised the occupation of the house.
......Throughout the next day and night the enemy made ceaseless attacks on the house, using not only infantry with mortars and machine-guns but also tanks and self-propelled guns. The house was very exposed and difficult to defend and the fact that it did not fall to the enemy must be attributed to Lieutenant Grayburn's great courage and inspiring leadership. He constantly exposed himself to the enemy's fire whilst moving among and encouraging his platoon, and seemed completely oblivious to danger.
.....On 19th September 1944 the enemy renewed his attacks, which increased in intensity, as the house was vital to the defence of the bridge. All attacks were repulsed, due to Lieutenant Grayburn's valour and sskill in organising and encouraging his men, until eventually the house was set on fire and had to be evacuated.
.....Lieutenant Grayburn then took command of elements of all arms, including the remainder of his own company, and reformed them into a fighting force. He spent the night organising the defensive position to cover the approaches to the bridge.
.....On 20th September 1944 he extended his defence by a series of fighting patrols, which prevented the enemy getting access to the houses in the vicinity, the occupation of which would have prejudiced the defence of the bridge. This forced the enemy to bring up tanks, which brought Lieutenant Grayburn's position under such heavy fire that he was forced to withdraw to an area further north. The enemy now attempted to lay demolition charges under the bridge and the situation was now critical. Realising this, Lieutenant Grayburn organised and led a fighting patrol, which drove the enemy off temporarily, and gave time for the fuses to be removed. He was again wounded, this time in the back, but refused to be evacuated.
.....Finally an enemy tank, against which Lieutenant Grayburn had no defence, approached so close to his position that it became untenable. He then stood up in full view of the tank and personally directed the withdrawal of his men to the main defensive perimeter to which he had been ordered.
.....He was killed that night.
.....From the evening of 17th September until the night of 20th September 1944, a period of over three days, Lieutenant Grayburn led his men with supreme gallantry and determination. Although in pain and weakened by his wounds, short of food and without sleep, his courage never flagged. There is no doubt that, had it not been for this officer's inspiring leadership and personal bravery, the Arnhem bridge could never have been held for this time.

http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/Col%20H%20Jones%20(2).JPG
.....On 28th May 1982 Lieutenant Colonel Jones was commanding 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on operations in the Falkland Islands. The battalion was ordered to attack enemy positions in and around the settlements of Darwin and Goose Green. During the attack against an enemy, who was well dug in with mutually supporting positions sited in depth, the battalion was held up just south of Darwin by a particularly well-prepared and resilient enemy position of at least 11 trenches on an important ridge. A number of casualties was received. In order to read the battle fully and ensure that the momentum of the attack was not lost, Colonel Jones took forward his reconnaissance party to the foot of a re-entrant which a section of his battalion had just secured. Despite persistent, heavy and accurate fire the reconnaissance party gained the top of the re-entrant, at approximately the same time time as the enemy positions. From here Colonel Jones encouraged the direction of his battalion mortar fire.
.....In his effort to gain a good viewpoint, Colonel Jones was now at the very front of his battalion. It was clear to him that desperate measures were needed in order to overcome the enemy position and rekindle the attack, and that unless these measures were taken promptly the battalion would sustain increasing casualties and the attack perhaps even fail. It was time for personal leadership and action. Colonel Jones immediately seized a sub-machine gun, and, calling on those around him and with total disregard for his own safety, charged the nearest enemy position. This action exposed him to fire from a number of trenches.
.....As he charged up a short slope at the enemy position he was seen to fall and roll backward downhill. He immediately picked himself up, and charged the enemy trench firing his sub-machine gun and seemingly oblivious to the intense fire directed at him. He was hit by fire from another trench which he outflanked and fell dying only a few feet from the enemy he had assaulted. A short time later a company of the battalion attacked the enemy, who quickly surrended. The devastating display of courage by Colonel Jones had completely undermined their will to fight further. Thereafter the momentum of the attack was rapidly regained. Darwin and Goose Green were liberated, and the battalion released the local inhabitants unharmed and forced the surrender of some 1,200 of the enemy.
.....The achievements of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment at Darwin and Goose Green set the tone for the subsequent land victory on the Falklands. They achieved such a moral superiority over the enemy in this first battle, that despite the advantages of numbers and selection of battle-ground, they never thereafter doubted either the superior fighting qualities of the British troops, or their own inevitable defeat. This was an action of the utmost gallantry by a commanding officer whose dashing leadership and courage throughout the battle were an inspiration to all about him.

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/long4.gif

.....During the night of 11/12 June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an enemy battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the northern side of the long east/west ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong mutually supporting positions.
.....By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fearcely. As 4 Platoon's advanced it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of well-sited enemy machine-gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realising that no further advance was possible, the platoon commander ordered the platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon.
.....The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the plkatoon was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a corporal and a few others, and covered by supporting machine-gun fire, the platoon commander moved forward to reconnoiter the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay.
.....It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position.
.....The assault was met by a hail of fire. The corporal was seriously wounded, a private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses, Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he dispatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleagured 4 and 4 Platoons, who were now able to deploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker.
.....Without doubt Sergeant McKay's action retrieved a most serious situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a cooly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been only too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perserverance and courage. With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him

http://www.parachuteregiment-hsf.org/Capt-Queripel.gif
.....At Arnhem on 19th September 1944 Captain Queripel was acting as company commander of a composite company composed of men of three parachute battalions.
.....At 1400 hours on that day his company were advancing along a main road which runs on an embankment towards Arnhem. The advance was conducted under continuous machine-gun fire, which at one period became so heavy that the company became split up on either side of the road and suffered considerable loss. Captain Queripel at once proceeded to reorganise his force, crossing and recrossing the road whilst doing so under extremely heavy and accurate fire. During this period he carried a wounded sergeant to the Regimental Aid Post under fire and was himself wounded in the face.
.....Having reorganised his force, Captain Queripel personnaly led a party of men against a strong point holding up the advance. This strong point consisted of a captured British anti-tank gun, and two machine guns. Despite the extremely heavy fire directed at him, Captain Queripel succeeded in killing the crews of the machine-guns and recapturing the anti-tank gun. As a result of this the advance was able to continue.
.....Later in the same day Captain Queripel found himself cut off with a small party of men and took up a position in a ditch. By this time he had received further wounds in both arms. Regardless of his wounds and the very heavy mortar and Spandau fire, he continued to inspire his men to resist with hand grenades, pistols and the few remaining rifles. On at least one occasion he picked up and threw back at the enemy a stick grenade, which had landed in the ditch.
.....As however, the enemy pressure increased, Captan Queripel decided it was impossible to hold the position longer and ordered his men to withdraw. Despite their protests, he insisted on remaining behind to cover their withdrawal with his automatic pistol and a few remaining hand grenades. This is the last occasion on which he was seen.
.....During the whole of the period of nine hours of confused and bitter fighting Captain Queripel displayed the highest standard of gallantry under most difficult and trying circumstances. His courage, leadership and devotion to duty were an inspiration to all.

[edit - Speculative information removed - DW58]

[indigo_prime]

I cant find any information as regards the citations but two VCs were awarded to personnel that took part in the Battle Of Rangariri in New Zealand. The Battery I used to serve with took on the historical title during 'Options for Change' when a lot of units were disbanded and titles were transferred between units. Our Battery became '94 (New Zealand) Headquarters Battery', part of 4 Regt RA.

Theres a few bits about the battle on the web, but not a lot more :(

[Bombtrack]

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry


http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/media/images/merrifield.jpg

William Merrifield, V.C.

Sergeant Merrifield's Victoria Cross was one of a total of 30 earned by Canadians in the last "Hundred Days" of the First World War. During this period, which began with the huge victory at Amiens on 8 August 1918 and ended with the German surrender on 11 November 1918, Canadian troops were consistently in the vanguard of the Allied advance. Merrifield, a member of the 4th Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), won the Victoria Cross on 1 October during an assault on the so-called "Marcoing Line". This was the last of the formidable network of German defences known collectively as the "Hindenburg Line", the breaking of which opened the way for the assault northwards into Belgium.
The objective of Merrifield's battalion was the village of Abancourt, which lay about four kilometres north of the town of Cambrai. The 4th Battalion and its neighbour to the right, the 1st Battalion, found themselves pinned down and unable to move, due to heavy German machine gun fire. This, in turn, resulted in Canadian units operating further south being enfiladed by enemy fire coming from Abancourt. It was this opposing enemy machine gun fire that prompted Sergeant Merrifield, who had earlier won the Military Medal at Passchendaele, to perform the deeds that won him the Victoria Cross. As recounted by the citation for the award, with his platoon pinned down by fire from two enemy machine guns, he charged out of the shell hole in which he had taken cover, and, leaping from one shell hole to another, attacked both guns single-handed. After killing the crew of one of the guns, although wounded, he then attacked the second, killing its gunners with a bomb. Then he proceeded to lead his platoon forward until another wound forced his evacuation from the field. "Sergeant Merrifield has served with distinction on many previous occasions," proclaimed the citation, "and throughout the action of the 1st of October showed the highest qualities of valour and leadership."
According to his family, Merrifield never talked about himself and so they knew very little about his background. However, the Attestation Paper that he signed on joining the Canadian military indicates that he was born in Brentwood, Essex, England, on 9 October 1890. His subsequent move to Canada evidently was with his family, as the Attestation Paper gives the address of his next of kin, his father, also named William, as Aylmer Road, Ottawa. In his book on Canadian Victoria Cross winners, Arthur Bishop, states that Merrifield moved to Sudbury and took a job as a fireman with the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Attestation Paper records one year of previous military service, with the Sudbury-based unit, the 97th Regiment, the Algonquin Rifles. Also, Merrifield lists his "Trade or Calling" as "fireman". Merrifield did not enlist in the CEF at Sudbury, but rather on 23 September 1914 at Camp Valcartier, where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion. He fought with this unit at Second Ypres in 1915 before being transferred to the 4th Battalion, with which he served for the remainder of the war.
Merrifield received his Victoria Cross from King George V at Sandringham on 26 January 1919. He left Southampton to travel back to Canada on board the S.S. Olympic on 15 April 1919 and was discharged from the service on 24 April. He subsequently took a job with the Algoma Central Railway in Sault Ste. Marie, where he married Maude Bovington in 1921. He suffered a stroke in 1939 from which he never recovered, and he died at Christie Street Military Hospital on 8 August 1943. He is buried in West Korah Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie.

http://www.rhli.ca/images/foote.jpg
Rev. John Weir Foote


At Dieppe on 19th August 1942, Honorary Captain Foote, Canadian Chaplain Services, was Regimental Chaplain with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

'Upon landing on the beach under heavy fire he attached himself to the Regimental Aid Post which had been set up in a slight depression on the beach, but which was only sufficient to give cover to men lying down. During the subsequent period of approximately eight hours, while the action continued, this officer not only assisted the Regimental Medical Officer in ministering to the wounded in the Regimental Aid Post, but time and again left this shelter to inject morphine, give first-aid and carry wounded personnel from the open beach to the Regimental Aid Post. On these occasions, with utter disregard for his personal safety, Honorary Captain Foote exposed himself to an inferno of fire and saved many lives by his gallant efforts.
During the action, as the tide went out, the Regimental Aid Post was moved to the shelter of a stranded landing craft. Honorary Captain Foote continued tirelessly and courageously to carry wounded men from the exposed beach to the cover of the landing craft. He also removed wounded from inside the landing craft when ammunition had been set on fire by enemy shells. When landing craft appeared he carried wounded from the Regimental Aid Post to the landing craft through heavy fire. On several occasions this officer had the opportunity to embark but returned to the beach as his chief concern was the care and evacuation of the wounded. He refused a final opportunity to leave the shore, choosing to suffer the fate of the men he had ministered to for over three years.
Honorary Captain Foote personally saved many lives by his efforts and his example inspired all around him. Those who observed him state that the calmness of this heroic officer as he walked about, collecting the wounded on the fire-swept beach will never be forgotten.'
The London Gazette, 14th February 1946.

[I_hate_posers]

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry: Sgt G.H. Mullin, Lt Hugh Mckenzie and Sgt Robert Spall.

[pkeating]

Just to add a couple of notes, The Parachute Regiment has won four VCs, all of which were posthumous.

http://www.chilternrugby.co.uk/profiles/images/grayburn.jpghttp://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/grayburn01.JPG
Captain John Grayburn, A Coy, 2 PARA, Arnhem bridge. KIA on 20.9.1944.

http://www.parachuteregiment-hsf.org/Capt-Queripel.gifhttp://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/Assets/memorials/quiperal.jpg
http://www.parachuteregiment-hsf.org & http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/oosterbeek.htm

Captain Lionel Queripel, 2ic, A Coy, 10 PARA, Arnhem perimeter. Captured 19.9.1944. Died of wounds a few days later.

http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/Col%20H%20Jones%20(2).JPG
Lt Col Herbert Jones, CO, 2 PARA, Goose Green, Falkland Islands. KIA 28.5.1982.

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/long4.gif
http://www.britains-smallwars.com
Sgt Ian McKay, B Coy, 3 PARA, Mt Longdon, Falkland Islands. KIA 12.6.1982.

http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/Aldershot-Military-Cemetery.gif

Utrinque Paratus...

PK

[pkeating]

I cant find any information as regards the citations but two VCs were awarded to personnel that took part in the Battle Of Rangariri in New Zealand. The Battery I used to serve with took on the historical title during 'Options for Change' when a lot of units were disbanded and titles were transferred between units. Our Battery became '94 (New Zealand) Headquarters Battery', part of 4 Regt RA.

Theres a few bits about the battle on the web, but not a lot more :(

http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/vc/images/temple_headstone.jpg
Grave of Temple VC

One of the VCs went to Assistant Surgeon William Temple of the RRA. Temple was a native of Monaghan Town in Ireland, where he was born in 1833. He rose to the rank of Surgeon General in the Indian Army. He died in England in 1919. The other went to Lt Arthur Pickard of the RRA for the same action. Temple and Pickard tended the wounded under intense Maori crossfire, exposing themselves time and again to fetch water and other supplies.

Pickard's VC resided in the Daryl Hicks collection until Mr Hicks died in 2002 and the Pickard group was sold at auction, probably to Sir Michael Ashcroft, for $NZ 190,000.00 (£56,000.00).

His citation, as published in The London Gazette on 22.9.1864, reads as follows:


Rangiriri, New Zealand, 20 November 1863, Lieutenant Arthur Pickard, Royal Regiment of Artillery.

"For gallant conduct during the assault of the Rangiriri Redoubt on 20th November 1863 in exposing their lives to imminent danger in crossing the entrance to the Maori Keep at a point upon which the enemy had concentrated their fire, with a view to render assistance to the wounded, and more especially to the late Captain Mercer of the Royal Artillery. Lieutenant Pickard crossed and recrossed the parapet to procure water for the wounded, when none of the men could be induced to perform this service, the space over which he traversed being exposed to a cross-fire, and testimony is borne to the coolness displayed by him and Assistant-Surgeon Temple under the trying circumstances to which they were exposed."

Temple's VC was gazetted the same day so if you wanted to acquire copies/scans of the relevant pages for your unit bar or mess, I am sure you could track some down. Sadly, Pickard died young of TB, aged just 35 on 1.3.1880 in Cannes, southern France, where he lies to this day. He was Equerry to HM Queen Victoria. Here's a link to report about the sale of his medals: http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbpickar.htm. There's a further link there that shows a photo of him wearing the VC.

Hope this helps.

PK

[EsoognomEhT]

Wasn't in my unit when he won it, but it's where he started so I'll claim it..we have a smaller room just off the main mess called the "Allen VC room" that contains a copy of the citation and a copy of his VC (along with several other medals)
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William Barnsley Allen


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/VCWilliamBarnsleyAllen.jpg

William Barnsley Allen (VC, DSO, MC & Bar) (8 June 1892 - 27 August 1933) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 24 years old, and a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, British Army, attached to 246th (W. Riding) Bde., Royal Field Artillery during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 3 September 1916, near Mesnil, France, when gun detachments were unloading high explosive ammunition, the enemy suddenly began to shell the battery position. The first shell fell on one of the limbers, exploded the ammunition and caused several casualties. Captain Allen at once ran across under heavy shell fire and started attending to the wounded. He himself was hit four times by pieces of shell, but he went coolly on with his work until the last man had been attended to and removed. He then went to tend a wounded officer and only then reported his own injuries.

He later achieved the rank of major.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum (Aldershot, England).


Citation;
http://www.chrishobbs.com/wballennotice.jpg