Local VCs

[Pivole]

I was at a remembrance day parade this morning. In the orders of service at the church, every year, they print an article about Thomas Barratt, Coseley's VC. I was wondering, does anyone know of a VC from near them, and if so, could they post their story?
Here is Pte. Barratt's story:
For most conspicuous bravery when, as Scout to a patrol, he worked his way towards the enemy line with the greatest gallantry and determination, in spite of continuous fire from hostile snipers at close range. These snipers he stalked and killed. Later his patrol was similarly held up, and again he disposed of the snipers. When during the subsequent withdrawal of the patrol it was observed that a party of the enemy were endeavouring to outflank them, Pte. Barratt at once volunteered to cover the retirement, and this he succeeded in accomplishing. His accurate shooting caused many casualties to the enemy, and prevented their advance. Throughout the enterprise he was under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and his splendid example of coolness and daring was beyond all praise. After safely regaining our lines, this very gallant soldier was killed by a shell.
—The London Gazette," No. 30272, 4 September 1917

This article covers events across one day.

[Mr. Boltneck]

"VC" means something very different where I am...

[greensteam]

"VC" means something very different where I am...

What else could it possibly mean other than the Victoria Cross, all cast from crimean cannons?

If it means something rude, then I dont want to know.

[Mr. Boltneck]

"Venture Capitalist." This part of the world is stiff with them.

[Sgt.Whatshisname]

From our own American military history, VC also stood for VietCong, or "Victor Charlie:..." Charlie" for short

[Major Willoughby Chase]

One of my ancestors got put up for a VC.  As slightly convoluted tale, which basically boils down to, he did something which one officer thought was outstandingly brave and another thought was worth a court martial, as a compromise the army gave him neither.

[Sgt.Whatshisname]

One of my ancestors got put up for a VC.  As slightly convoluted tale, which basically boils down to, he did something which one officer thought was outstandingly brave and another thought was worth a court martial, as a compromise the army gave him neither.

That's usually how it works out. From that story alone I can surmise that your ancestor was one helluva soldier and probably didn't like the high level command BS.

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Our local (Tamworth, Staffordshire) VC was Samuel Parkes of the 4th Light Dragoons, who was cited for gallantry during the retreat from the guns at Balaclava.

His citation reads:

“In the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava Trumpet-Major Crawford’s horse fell and dismounted him, and he lost his sword: he was attacked by two Cossacks, when Private Samuel Parkes (whose horse had been shot), saved his life by placing himself between them and the Trumpet-Major, and drove them away with his sword. In attempting to follow the Light Brigade in the retreat, they were attacked by six Russians, whom Parkes kept
at bay, and retired slowly, fighting, and defending the Trumpet-Major for some time, until deprived of his sword by a shot.”

A fuller account from the London Gazette:

"The 4th Light Dragoons reached the guns without difficulty. However, during the retreat, terrible things were to happen to the men of the 4th Light Dragoons. Both Lord Paget’s trumpeter, Hugh Crawford and Samuel Parkes who had been by their Colonel’s side throughout, lost their horses in quick succession. Crawford’s horse collapsed of exhaustion trapping his sword under it’s bulk, and he was just about to fall victim to two Cossacks when Parkes heedless of these Cossacks swarming nearby, intervened, driving the Cossacks off. Parkes then dragged the injured and now unarmed Crawford from under his horse and supported him with one arm, they tried to escape this awful Valley of Death on foot. It was not long before they were joined by Private Edden of the 4th Light Dragoons, whose horse had also been shot. He was a Tamworth man like Parkes. These three men tried to run for freedom to escape the Valley of Death.

After a short distance they came across Major Halkett who was second in command of their regiment. He had collapsed on the ground with a hideous wound in his side. The gallant Halkett asked the men to take his money for the women at home, leave him and seek for safety to save themselves. Ignoring Halkett’s pleas to save themselves, Edden, the injured Crawford and another man named Whiteman managed to lift Halkett onto Parkes’ back. They had gone only a short way when six Russian Lancers rode towards them. Halkett pleaded with Parkes to put him down and save himself. Initially Parkes Refused, these Russian Lancers then encircled this group. Samuel Parkes fought like a madman, Halkett on his back, his arm around Crawford and slashing at the Russians with his other hand

Parkes finally had to concede to Halkett’s request leaving him with a sword in his hand. Parkes kept the Russians at bay, fighting and retiring slowly. This gave Edden and others precious time to make their escape. Parkes fought like a tiger to defend himself and Crawford until finally he was shot in his sword arm. The two men were taken prisoner and dragged past the now dead body of Halkett back to the Russian lines.

For his selfless courage and devotion to Crawford. Private Samuel Parkes was awarded the VC."


Parkes was the second man to receive A VC, being presented with it by Queen Victoria at the inaugural ceremony in Hyde Park, 26th June 1857.





Parkes died in 1864, aged 49, and was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave at Brompton, London.

[Sir Henry]

I've never met anyone with a VC, but when I was a lad our next-door neighbour had an Iron Cross. He was awarded it in the First World War for bravery. When I was about 9 he showed us the medal and commendation and told us the story of how he had successfully defended a command bunker from repeated attacks. Despite losing all but one other member of his battalion they kept the enemy at bay for a further two days until reinforcements arrived. He reckoned that he had killed upwards of 50 enemy soldiers, "50 young men who would never see their families again."
In the Second World War he refused to fight and suffered terribly for it (though he never told us how, thankfully), but he ended the story by making us promise never to join the army or kill anyone unless it was a last resort, the only way to save our loved ones.

The haunted look he had as he told us about it will stay with me forever.

[bicyclebuilder]

From our own American military history, VC also stood for VietCong, or "Victor Charlie:..." Charlie" for short

My first thought to. (I used to watch the "tour of duty" series)

Back on topic, about the Victoria Cross.
I guess only a few where able and willing to put their @ss on the line and did the right thing. From those few good men and women, only a few survived and from those few, only few was documented and awarded.

[Capt. Dirigible]

Local boy makes good..

These days , around here, VC usually means 'Vacuous Chav' but I  managed (with Google's help) to find a great example of a Hackney man winning the VC in WW1

Henry Edward Kenny VC (Hackney, London 27 July 1888 - 6 May 1979)
He was 27 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 September 1915 near Loos, France, Private Kenny went out on six different occasions under very heavy shell, rifle and machine-gun fire. Each time he carried into a place of safety a wounded man who had been lying in the open. He was himself wounded as he handed the last wounded soldier over the parapet.

He later achieved the rank of Sergeant. He died on 6 May 1979, at the age of 90.

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

[The Kernel]

My old Corps (RAMC)

"Since the Victoria Cross was instituted in 1856 there have been 27 Victoria Crosses and two bars awarded to army medical personnel.[7]  A bar, indicating a subsequent award of a second Victoria Cross, has only ever been awarded three times, two of them to medical officers. Twenty-three of these Victoria Crosses are on display in the Army Medical Services Museum. The corps also has one recipient of both the Victoria Cross and the Iron Cross. One officer was awarded the George Cross in the Second World War. A young female member of the corps, Private Michelle Norris, became the first woman to be awarded the Military Cross following her actions in Iraq on 11 June 2006.[8]  One VC is in existence that is not counted in any official records. In 1856, Queen Victoria laid a Victoria Cross beneath the foundation stone of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley.[9]  When the hospital was demolished in 1966, the VC, known as "The Netley VC", was retrieved and is now on display in the Army Medical Services Museum, Ash, near Aldershot.[9]"


So - 27 VCs, two with bars (ie a second award of the same decoration) and an Iron Cross (probably best not to ask)!
A fuller story as attached http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAMC#Gallantry_Awards

[Maeg]

Not VC winner, but may I post a quick note in memory of my late friend Arthur "laurie" Pennington?

Discovering he was allergic to aircraft dope put paid to Lauries ambitions to fly with RAF (1939), so after he graduated from basic flight training he joined the Royal Artillery on coastal batteries (1940). After a stint protecting conveys in Iceland he went to Ireland for training (1942). He often told many stories regarding this half of the war, his "easy time", as he put it.

D-day saw him landing at Sword beach with the Royal Horse Artillery. His unit suffered heavy casualities and was folded into the 11th armoured division. He was in Hamburg by the time the war ended, still in the front line as an observer for anti-mortar work. He scarcely talked about the war in Europe and his involvement in it as he found the experience too traumatic.

It was only after he passed away that we discovered he had been part of the unit that discovered the horrors of Belsen, and he remained stationed there for two weeks as part of the relief effort.

Laurie passed away in 2008. A fine gentleman who wanted no recognition for what he had done.