VirusVictor Over Valour Handouts-D

VirusVictor over Valour Handouts-d.
docx
Virus;
Victor over
Valour
HANDOUTS
A tribute to the holders of the Victoria Cross for services in WW1, who
though surviving the destiny of War were brought down by the “Spanish
Influenza” pandemic
The Great War related influenza respected no form of courage and

claimed the lives of those recognized for valour. After surviving the
battlefield at least five recipients of the Victoria Cross died from influenza
and its related complications.
Unrewarded for their bravery were the many medical personnel who
cared for those struck by the infection and through their dedication also
succumbed.
Complied by W. J Nash; Lodge Victoria Cross 928 UGLNSW&ACT

2020
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VirusVictor over Valour Handouts-d.docx
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Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod VC

Alan McLeod was a member of the Canadian Militia before the
war but was too young for overseas service when war broke out.
Despite repeated attempts to enlist it was not until 20th April
1917—his 18th birthday— that he was allowed to join the Royal
Flying Corps (Canada).
After military training at the University of Toronto and flight
training in Long Branch and Camp Borden, on 19th Aug ’17 he was
commissioned 2nd Lieutenant (Temp). The very next day McLeod
boarded the Canadian Pacific liner S.S. Metagama and sailed to
Bantry Bay, Ireland.
After four months further training with the Royal Air Force1
McLeod was shipped to France joining No. 2 Squadron2 on the
Western Front, flying his first operation in December 1917.
On 27th March 1918 flying at 5,000 ft. over Albert, France3, McLeod, with his observer Lt
Arthur Hammond, in a “ Big Ack” (Armstrong Whitworth F.K.84) was harassing hostile ground
formations with bombs and machine-gun fire, when eight enemy triplanes dived at him from all
directions. By skillful manoeuvring McLeod enabled Hammond to fire bursts at each machine
in turn, shooting three of them down out of control. During the fight, both McLeod and
Hammond were wounded by machine gun rounds, the petrol tank was punctured, and the
aircraft began to burn. McLeod instantly pushed the aircraft over into a very steep side-slip.
But the flames were scorching him, so he jumped out of his cockpit, onto the left bottom wing
and, crouched low with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand, he smashed a hole
through the fabric in the fuselage so that he could reach the rudder-wire with his left hand,
thus he guided the “Ack” towards friendly lines. In this way he kept the flames away from his
wounded observer, who continued to fire at their attackers, and prevented the aircraft from
burning up. When the machine finally crashed5 in “No-Man's Land”, the young pilot, not
minding his own injuries, dragged his comrade from the burning wreckage. The exploding
bombs from his own plane further wounded McLeod, but despite heavy ground-fire, he carried
Hammond to comparative safety, before collapsing from exhaustion and loss of blood. McLeod
had three wounds in his side and shrapnel injuries and Hammond had six wounds, losing a leg
as a result.
1
The RFC was in existence from 1912 to 1918. In July 1914 the RFC’s naval wing was detached to form the Royal Naval
Air Service (RNAS). On 1st April 1918 the two services were merged again to form the RAF. The Fleet Air Arm was
formed in 1924 as a unit of the RAF operating aircraft embarked on RN ships, it did not come under the direct control of
the Admiralty until mid-1939. During WW2 the Fleet Air Arm operated aircraft on ships and land defending naval assets.
Coastal Command remained part of the RAF until disbanded on 27th November 1969, when it was subsumed into RAF
Strike Command.
2
No. 2 R.F.C. Squadron, was under the command of Major Wilfred Snow, who was also an Australian, from Adelaide.
3
This action was during “Operation Michael”, a major German offensive that began on 21st March 1918. Although the
Germans advanced up to 65 km they did not achieve their objectives (Amiens & Arras), both sides lost 250,000 casualties
each –In July the Allies began the 100 day offensive which led to Germany’s defeat.
4
Two Victoria Crosses were won by pilots of F.K.8s; the one by McLeod and the second by Captain Ferdinand Maurice
Felix West VC, CBE, MC of No. 8 Squadron RAF on 10 August 1918. West’s wounds in this action led to the amputation of
his left leg. He later achieved the rank of Air Commodore, he left the RAF after WW2 and joined J. Arthur Rank Film
Distributors becoming Managing Director in 1947, retiring as Chairman in 1958. He died on 8th July 1988.
QANTAS first passenger flight [2nd Nov 1922] from Longreach to Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia was made in a F.K.8;
the passenger was Alexander Kennedy. He was 85 yrs old!
5
Leutnant Hans Kirschstein of Jasta 6, an experienced ace was credited with the victory.
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McLeod was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order but received the Victoria Cross6.
Hammond was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross7.
Following the action McLeod began a long recovery from his wounds and a decision was
made for him to return to Canada. On 20th Sept ’18, he sailed from Southampton aboard R.M S.
Aquitania [Cunard liner], arriving in New York seven days later. Having travelled to his home in
Stonewall his father, a doctor, supervised his care, however, on the 29th October, diagnosed with
the Spanish Flu, he was admitted to Winnipeg General Hospital, where he died on the 6th
November 1918, still only 19 years old. 89
6
See The London Gazette, Number 30663, Wednesday, 1st May 1918, at Pages 5287 and 5288
7
Hammond (1890 - 1959) was from Lancashire, he joined the Royal Horse Guards as a trooper and in Oct ’15, he was
commissioned as a Temp 2nd Lt in the Royal Engineers before transferring to the RFC as an observer. Prior to his mission
with McLeod he had been in previous action with pilot Capt.Jack Allport (1895 – 1978; Jack’s family lived in Mosman, NSW) where
Hammond had shot down two enemy aircraft, for this engagement and other courageous work both were awarded the
MC. At the invitation of Alan McLeod’s family he emigrated to Canada after the war, where, in Stonewall, he worked as a
road engineer for a year. Moving to Winnipeg he joined the Great West Life Company. During WW2 he served as an
adjutant in the Royal Canadian Air Force. On retiring from Great West in 1946 he moved to Victoria, BC where he
remained until his death.
8
Alan was born on 20th April 1899, in Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada. He was laid to rest in the family plot in Winnipeg
(Old Kildonan) Presbyterian Cemetery, Manitoba, and today lies alongside his mother, Margaret Annett McLeod, and father,
Dr. Alexander Neil McLeod.
9
See Gliddon. G.(Ed); 2014: “For Valour – Canadians and the Victoria Cross in the Great War”; Dundrun, Toronto, Canada.
pp228 et seq
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Able Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie VC

Able Seaman Mckenzie10 served with the Royal Navy, initially
posted to HMS Neptune part of the huge fleet formation which
took part in the Battle of Jutland. On 22nd-23rd April 1918 he
took part in the Zeebrugge Raid aboard HMS Vindictive part of B
Company of a seaman storming party.
U-boat sinkings of Allied shipping had so increased that the
Admiralty risked this raid to block the Belgian port of Bruges-
Zeebrugge, a base for German U-boats, by scuttling obsolete
ships in the canal entrance to prevent vessels leaving the port.
Under cover of the regular bombardments of the harbour the
plan was for an old cruiser, Vindictive, with two ex-Mersey
ferries, Daffodil and Iris II to create a diversion on the mile-long
Zeebrugge harbour mole, by landing at midnight a force of 200
sailors and a battalion of Royal Marines and attack the mole’s gun positions11. Meanwhile two
old submarines, filled with explosives were to blow up the viaduct connecting the mole to the
shore.
At the time of the landing, but two cable’s lengths from the Mole, the smokescreen covering
the ships was blown offshore, and Vindictive was spotted by the Germans, who immediately
opened fire as she approached killing or wounding many of the assault party crowded on her
deck. “They hit us with the first two shells and killed seven marines. They were still hitting us
when we got alongside”, McKenzie later wrote.
At one minute past midnight Vindictive was forced, under heavy fire, to land the raiders 300
yards further down the mole than planned. The storming and demolition parties, with further
to advance, began working their way along the Mole, destroying wireless stations, clearing out
machine-gun nests, and hurling explosive missiles upon the decks of the German torpedo-craft
lying alongside, and generally making a mess. The trapped Germans on the seaward end of the
Mole put up a stubborn fight.
Submarine HMS C3 commanded by Lt. R. D. Sandford with five tons of amatol packed in the
fore-end, successfully blew up the viaduct at fifteen minutes past midnight. (HMS C1 parted its tow
and arrived too late to take part), trapping the Germans on the landward side of the mole from
Vindictive.
Under withering fire the attack on the mole failed to silence the German guns now
concentrating their fire on the three concrete filled block-ships (HMS Thetis, Intrepid and Iphigenia) 12.
Thetis did not make the canal entrance, damaged by the gunfire and hitting an obstruction,
fouling her propeller, and being scuttled prematurely. The two other ships were sunk at the
narrowest point of the canal. After 55 minutes of close quarter combat the troops on the mole
were withdrawn, having been signaled that the block-ships were in place.
The 19 year old Mackenzie landed on the Mole, “I tucked the old Lewis gun under my arm
and nipped over the gangway aft.” A Lewis section normally comprised four men, by the time
the ship was alongside the Mole AB White and O Sea Ryan had already been wounded, so
10
Born 23rd October 1898 in Bermondsey, he was the son of Alexander and Eliza Mckenzie of Shorncliffe Road, London.
At 11 yrs. old McKenzie had joined the Training Ship Arethusa, (operated by “Shaftesbury Homes” [previously the “Ragged
Homes”] which provided refuge destitute boys of London and trained them for a career in the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy). In June
1914 at 15yrs Albert joined the Boys Service of the RN initially stationed at the training depot HMS Ganges, Shotley,
Suffolk. See https://sites.google.com/view/albert-mckenzie-vc/home see also
https://mckenzie.uk.com/mckenzie/short-life-albert-mckenzie/short-life-albert-mckenzie .
11
LONDON GAZETTE NAVAL DESPATCHES, 31189; Zeebrugge and First Ostend Raid, 22/23 April 1918, Operations; at
http://www.naval-history.net/WW1Battle1804ZeebruggeOstend.htm
12
11 RAN men from HMAS Australia, then serving in the North Sea, were selected to take part in the raid aboard the
blockships. Ldg Stkr Norbert Joseph McCrory was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery during the attack, and was later
awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He continued in the RAN until 1922, serving in HMA Ships Australia, Cerberus,
Brisbane and Penguin. Employed for some years as a bank caretaker, he died of heart failure on 23rd Dec 1944 in
Randwick, NSW.
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Mckenzie and his No3, Ldg Sea W.W. Childs13 staggered up the aft “brow”14 carrying over 100lbs
each, including 24 drums of ammunition for the Lewis (47 rounds / drum = 1,128 rounds). A weighty
load even for a tough and street wise Londoner from the Old Kent Road and a navy boxing
champion who was only 5’2’’ tall!
With Lewis-guns and bombs they advanced down the mole parapet with Lt Cmdr Harrison and
his party. McKenzie opened up on several of the enemy who were running from a shelter to a
destroyer alongside the inside of the mole, which he subsequently described in the vernacular
of the time; “this little chicken met them half way with the box of tricks, and I ticked about a
dozen off before I clicked15”. German fire put McKenzie’s Lewis gun out of action and wounded
him in his back and foot, they lightened their load of the now useless Lewis drums into the sea
and continued to advance; McKenzie now armed only with a pistol, Childs his rifle. Having
cleared another concrete sentry box they heard the massive explosion of the C3 under the pier,
and shortly after the recall signal on Daffodil’s
siren. Lt CDR Harrison had been killed and of his
party all that remained were McKenzie and
Childs who fought their way back to
Vindictive16, Childs eventually carrying his
wounded and weakening pal17.
The British suffered 580 casualties [224 dead
and 356 wounded (accounts vary)] and the Germans 24
[8 dead 16 Wounded].
A few days after the raid the Germans had
opened the canal to submarines at high tide.
Mackenzie was one of the eight “heroes of
Zeebrugge” to be awarded the VC by the King The battered port side of HMS Vindictive after Zeebrugge.
Note the derrick masts for lowering the brows & the fenders to prevent damage when
at Buckingham Palace on 31 July 1918.
st 18 alongside the mole. Library of Congress
13
Ldg. Sea. William Wallace Childs, O.N. J20481 (Portsmouth.) [1896-1978] was the leader of the B Company Lewis gun
crew, a similar crew was in A company – only McKenzie’s gun made it to the mole. see also
14
Vindictive had been fitted with 16 landing “brows” each operated on a derrick; after the initial shelling only two
remained serviceable. A “Brow” is the proper term for a temporary bridge from the ship to the jetty, or in some cases to
another ship, often called a "gangway" which “technically” is the opening in the bulwark of the ship which allows
passengers to board or leave the ship from the weather deck through which the “brow” is placed!!
15
The sound of the bolt going forward with no ammunition left on the drum magazine of the Lewis.
16
HMS Vindictive, Iris II and Daffodill all made it back to Dover. Vindictive was badly battered, but was quickly patched
to be scuttled as a blockship for a second raid on Ostend Harbour on 9th May ’18. Ostend had been raided on the same
night as Zeebrugge, but the blockships had not made it to the harbour mouth.
17
Both Childs and White were awarded the DSM.
18
The other seven VCs were awarded for the Zebrugge raid were ;
1- Lt-Cmdr Arthur Harrison, was in immediate command of the Storming Parties on 'Vindictive'. Just before coming
alongside the Mole Harrison was struck on the head by a shell fragment which broke his jaw and knocked him senseless.
Recovering he proceeded to the Mole and took command of his party. Knowing that delay in silencing the guns on the
Mole head might jeopardise the main objective, though severely wounded and undoubtedly in great pain, gathered his
men and led the attack though fully exposed to the enemy fire. He was killed at the head of his men, all of whom were
either killed or wounded. Harrison’s body was never recovered, he was 32 years old.
2- Lt Sandford RN commanded the obsolete HM Submarine C.3, he skilfully rammed the vessel between the piles of the
viaduct connecting the Mole with the shore, though wounded successfully set the fuse and he and his 5 crew
successfully escaped before the viaduct was destroyed. Sandford recovered from his wounds, but later fell ill [probably of
typhoid fever] and died on 23rd November, he was 27 years old.
3- Capt Edward Bamford (Royal Marines) landed from "Vindictive" he showed the greatest initiative and total disregard of
danger, and a magnificent example to his men, first establishing a strong point on the right of the disembarkation, and
then leading an assault on a battery to the left with the utmost coolness and valour. He was later awarded the DSO.
Bamford died of pneumonia on 30th Sept 1928 aboard HMS Cumberland en-route to Hong Kong, he was then 41 years
old.
4- Lt-Cmdr George Bradford commanded the Storming Parties on Iris II, which was having great difficulty in placing the
special parapet anchors to secure the ship to the mole. Though not part of his duties, Bradford climbed up a derrick,
carrying a large parapet anchor, and jumped on to the Mole and placed it in position, in the process Bradford was riddled
with machine guns bullets and fell into the sea between the mole and the ship, without a moment's hesitation he had
gone to certain death, recognising this was the only possible chance of securing Iris II and enabling her storming parties
to land. His action was one of absolute self-sacrifice, attempts to recover his body failed., it was his birthday! His
brother 25-yr-old Lt Col (Temp) Roland Bradford, had been awarded the VC ( to add to his MC) for actions on 1st Oct ’16 at
Eaucourt l’Abbaye, promoted to Brig Gen (Temp) he commanded 186th Inf Bde when he was killed at Cambrai on 30th Nov ’17.
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Almost a mere footnote to his wartime exploits, in that October while he was suffering from
a flare up of infection in his wounds, he contracted Spanish ’Flu and died at Chatham Naval
Hospital eight days before the 11th November Armistice, but a few days after his 20th Birthday.
McKenzie is buried in CWGC Camberwell Old Cemetery, London.
A third brother, James, awarded the MC for actions at Gommecourt in Mar ’17, died of wounds received near Arras in
May 1917. Only the eldest brother Lt. Col. Sir Thomas Bradford DSO D.L DCL JP (1886-1966) survived the war.
5- Lt Percy Dean [RNVR] commanding Motor Launch 282 took off more than 100 officers and men from the scuttled
blockships Intrepid and Iphigenia under constant and deadly fire from heavy and machine-guns at point blank range;
clearing the canal his steering gear broke down, despite only being able to manoeuvre on his engines he returned to the
canal to rescue another officer still left in the water.
6- Sgt Norman Augustus Finch RMA [27 yrs old] was 2IC of the pom-poms and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS Vindictive
when it was being hit every few seconds but Finch and his officer kept up a continuous fire, until two direct hits killed or
disabled everyone except Finch who, although severely wounded, remained in his battered and exposed position,
harassing the enemy on the Mole until another direct hit, put the remaining armament out of action. Finch was initiated
into Lodge of Hope No. 2153 at Portsmouth on 18th Sept 1918. He was subsequently the founding Snr Warden of Royal
Marine Portsmouth Lodge No. 6423 when it was consecrated on 23rd Apr 1947, and was installed as their second WM – on
the thirtieth anniversary of the Zeebrugge Raid.
7- Capt Alfred Carpenter RN was in command of HMS Vindictive tasked to land 200 Marines on the mole at Zeebrugge,
navigating mined waters, & bringing his ship alongside the mole in darkness his calm composure & magnificent example
to all under his command, he showed most conspicuous bravery, and did much to encourage similar behaviour in the
crew while supervising the landing, walking round the decks directing operations and encouraging the men in the most
dangerous and exposed positions under heavy fire from batteries, machine guns and rifles. By his encouragement to
those under him, his power of command and personal bearing, he undoubtedly contributed greatly to the success of the
operation.
Albert McKenzie was selected, with Carpenter, by the officers & crew of the "Vindictive," "Iris II.," and "Daffodil” and the
naval assaulting force, to be awarded the Victoria Cross; Bamford, & Finch, were selected by the R.M.A & R.M.L.I
detachments to receive the VC; all under Rule 13 of the 1856 Royal Warrant instituting the award. This means of
selection for the award has not been used since WW1, although in 1920 the warrant was amended to include the
provision for the selection to be by secret ballot.
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William Leefe Robinson VC

William Leefe Robinson was born on 14th July 1895, the
youngest son of Horace & Elizabeth (neé Leefe) Robinson
on his parents' coffee estate, Kaima Betta Estate, at
Pollibetta in Coorg, India. He attended Bishop Cotton
Boys' School, Bangalore, and the Dragon School, Oxford,
before following his elder brother Harold to St Bees
School, Cumberland, in September, 1909.19
On 14th August 1914, he entered the Royal Military
College, Sandhurst, and was gazetted [16th Dec ’1914] a 2nd
Lieutenant in the 5th Militia Bttn of the Worcestershire
Regiment at Tregantle Fort20, Cornwall, where he found
base life quite boring.21
While William fretted in Cornwall, on the night of the
19th-20th Jan ’15, two airships dropped bombs over East
Anglia, although a relatively minor affair, it was a prelude
of things to come. German airships became a greatly
feared foe; civilians began to feel they might be attacked
from the air at any moment.
The outbreak of war had ruled out Indian or Egyptian army service, and after Robinson had
been knocked back for a posting in Africa, the boredom unabated, he requested a transfer to
the fledgling Royal Flying Corps who needed all the men it could get22. On 29th March ’15 he
was posted to No. 4 Sqdn at St. Omer, France as an Observer under Maj C.A. Loncroft, in BE2
reconnaissance patrols over the German lines. Robinson was now at last contributing and it
seemed in his element, writing home; “I love flying more and more everyday, and the work is
even more interesting than it was.”23 He was comfortably billeted with a French family, though
still close to the front.
On a dawn reconnaissance patrol [4.50 a.m.] over Lille on the 8th May ’15 Robinson was
wounded by shrapnel ball in his right arm, thinking he was only bruised he continued the patrol
until “..the blood dirtied all my maps..”24 and they returned to base. The ball was removed at the
19
William succeeded his brother as Head of Eaglesfield House in 1913, played in the Rugby 1st XV and became a sergeant
in the school Officer Training Corps, his first experience of army life at the large Corps 'camp' which took place at
Mytchett in Kent.. Leefe Robinson's name appears on the triple VC memorial in St Bees School chapel [dedicated in 1932].
The two other St Bees VC recipients are;
Capt John Fox-Russell VC MC (at S Bees 1908-10) - a promising pupil who left to study medicine at the Middlesex Hospital
t
aged only sixteen. At the beginning of the war he was initially commissioned into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers until
seconded to complete his medical studies, joining the RAMC becoming an MO of in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Egypt.
Having already been awarded the MC during the First Battle of Gaza (Mar ’17), on 6th Nov ’17 at Tel-el-Khuwwilfeh,
Palestine, he repeatedly went out to attend the wounded under murderous fire from snipers and machine-guns, and
carried many of them in himself, although almost exhausted he continued until he was killed, for this action he was
posthumously awarded the VC, he was 24yrs old.
Capt R.W.L. Wain, VC; (at S Bees 1911-14) – He joined up on war’s outbreak with the Public Schools Bttn , then with Manchester
t
Regiment participated in the Battle of the Somme until transferring to the Tank Corps. During an attack at the
beginning of the Battle of Cambrai on 20th Nov ’17 his tank was disabled by a direct hit near an enemy strong point which
was holding up the attack killing all but him and one member of his crew. Both were seriously wounded, but Wain
grabbed a Lewis gun and they both rushed the strong point, capturing it and taking about half the garrison prisoner.
Though bleeding profusely he picked up a rifle and continued to fire at the retreating enemy until he received a fatal
wound in the head. For this action he was posthumously awarded the VC, he was 20 yrs old.
One further “Old St Beghians” of note is Rowan Atkinson of “Mr Bean” & “Blackadder” fame.
20
Completed in 1865, Tregantle originally had provision for 35 large guns with barrack accommodation for 2,000 men.
In the 1900s it became an infantry Bttn HQ, with its own rifle ranges sloping steeply down towards the sea, which are still
in use (by the RN). During WW2 it was used by the Army Gas School and the US Army as barracks. It is currently used for
Royal Marine training and Royal Naval Electronic Warfare specialist teams (FEWSG).
21
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leefe_Robinson
http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/vc_w_l_robinson_page1
22
During the war some 111 officers and men of the Worcestershire Regt transferred to the RFC/RAF
23
Letter home to his mother April 1915
24
Letter home to his mother 14th May 1915 from Clapham.
Page 9 of 33
aerodrome dressing station and Robinson was sent to Boulogne, and from there to London. By
now he had decided to apply for flying training “I am going to be a pilot there's nothing like
driving oneself about.25”
After a month’s leave, on the 29th June ’15, Robinson reported at Farnborough. The next day
he made his first flight, going solo on the 18th July, on the 28th July he qualified26 after a mere
230 minutes logged. On 14th August he reported to the Central Flying School [Upavon] for
advanced instruction, gaining his "wings" on the 15th Sept.
On the 18th he was appointed Flying Officer and on the 20th reported to 19 Squadron27 at
Castle Bromwich under Capt R. M. Rodwell. By the 21st Oct he was acting as a Flight Commander,
delivering aircraft all over the country, and honing his piloting skills which appear to have been
well above average. Being a delivery pilot was not without its perks;
“… I have a simply ripping time. … Of course, if you are wise you generally pick out the
grounds of a country house … to land in … one girl caught hold of my machine and said she
would not leave go until I signed [her book]. The girl I liked best of all was a sweet little Flapper of
about 17 called Kathleen Lennox for whom I drew our aeroplane. … We stayed … two days and a
night!!!!” [Robinson’s exclamation marks!!]
On the other hand flying was not always uneventful; I was [taking] a passenger to Gosport ….
We got as far as Oxford when the weather, wind, rain and fog, got so bad, that we had to land.”
After an entertaining night in Oxford the weather the next morning was fine so they took off to
fly on to Farnborough to refuel. Near 9,000 feet the engine began missing, making his
passenger very nervous; “… I then shut off the engine and did a long glide of about six miles into
Farnborough aerodrome.”28
The best training for Robinson was clearly to be up in the air in all kinds of weather, flying
many different types of aircraft, gaining self-confidence, stamina, knowledge of the machine,
flying in adverse weather conditions, and a particular skill he was to need, flying at night.
On the 24th Dec ’15 he found himself lodged at the Lion Hotel in Farningham, Kent, on loan
to No.10 Reserve Squadron, part of the London defence network. But all was quiet. However,
Robinson had not been loaned willingly, his squadron commander pressed the authorities for
his return, so on 12th Jan ’16 he delivered an
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 from their works on
Town Moor in Newcastle to Upavon29. Due mostly to
bad weather, Robinson did not return to Castle
Bromwich until 31st Jan.
That night nine Germans airships launched one
of the largest air raids of the war inflicting
considerable damage. Twenty Home Defence
aircraft went up to meet them in the dark at a dear
cost, for though none made contact with an airship,
A BE2c aircraft of 39 Home Defence squadron.
Photo, RAF Hendon Museum.
25
Confided in a letter to his sister Ruth 14th May 1915 from Boulogne
26
Royal Aero Club Certificate No. 1475 flying a Maurice Farman.
27
19 Squadron had only been formed on the 1st Sept ’15 the motto was “Possunt Quia Posse Videntur” (They can because
they think they can – The badge/ Crest was authorised by Edward VIII in 1936) - By war’s end 19 Sqdn had 20 “Aces” (Pilots with 5 or
more victories), 6 Canadians, 13 Britons, and 1 Australian. Capt A.A.N.D. ["Jerry" ] Pentland, MC, DFC, AFC; (from Terrigal,
New South Wales – 1894-1983) scored 9 victories in 1917 with 19 Sqdn, flying SPADs, and a further 13 victories in Sopwith
Dolphins with 87 Sqdn. Post-war, he served two years with the fledgling RAAF , later re-joining the RAF in UK until 1926.
He became a somewhat unsuccessful entrepreneurial aviator forming an airline in the goldfields of New Guinea, and
piloting for ANA (founded by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm). In 1940, he re-joined the R.A.A.F (as Sqdn Ldr) as an
instructor and later as CO of 1 Rescue and Communication Unit, Goodenough Island. After WW2 he returned to New
Guinea trading and coffee planting. Jerry died on 3rd Nov 1983, at the War Veterans Home in Collaroy.
28
Letter to his mother 10th Dec ’15.
29
This delivery would have been one of the first seven F.K.3 prototypes (some sources refer to them as F.K.2) delivered for
testing at Upavon. Intended as an improvement in cost and performance on the B.E.2c (which AW were then building for
R.A.E.) the F.K.3 had a smaller useful load but better flying characteristics. The prototypes were rejected by the RFC (this
was the time of the Fokker Scourge). Only after modified airframes were trialled at Upavon in May 1916 was the aircraft
adopted, most were used for training in the UK, some by 3 Sqdn AFC. The F.K.3 never flew operationally in France (Only 47
Sqdn in Salonika flew the F.K.3 operationally overseas), until it was improved as the F.K.8 ; sent in Jan ’17 to France with 35 Sqdn
RFC.
Page 10 of 33
eight aircraft crashed, and two pilots were killed30.
Robinson did not hear of the raid until the next morning, followed by the news that he was
to report on 2nd Feb ’16 to Sutton's Farm at Hornchurch, Essex31, the home of part of 19th
Reserve Squadron32 under Maj T. C. Higgins33, part of LADA (London Air Defence Area).34 LADA
needed pilots of Robinson's calibre, especially those who were experienced in flying at night.
The ‘station’ was in reality a grass field, some tents, and two Bessonneau hangars35,
containing two modified single seat BE2c aeroplanes, their purpose “Straffing Zepps, when they
next come this way”. 36
Robinson had yet to see any action as a pilot37, but in truth LADA had
not seen much either, as the Zeppelins at that time seemed to remain
invisible, if not untouchable. Though their droning engines may have
been heard and their dark shapes spotted as they crossed the coast, the
aircraft of the time took nearly an half an hour to reach the Zeppelins
operating height (10,000 ft), and could just outpace them at their 70 knot
top airspeed.
Experiments with different types of ordnance to destroy Zeppelins
were continually being made. In early 1915 when few aircraft had fixed
armament, aircrew were sent up with a Zulu War vintage Martini-Henry
Carbine firing a “Flaming Bullet” 38. Although these had some success
with barrage balloons, against Zeppelins they were a “mozzie bite on an
elephant”. Various useless weapons were dreamt up by men who had
never flown at 10,000 feet and some were actually put into production
(like an explosive grappling hook wound down from the aeroplane!). Later in 1915 the favoured
method of attack was to climb above the Zeppelin and drop a bomb on it!! Too close and the
30
At the time this was almost the whole establishment of LADA aeroplanes
31
Sutton’s Farm Hornchurch was 18 miles east of London and five miles out of Dartford. As RAF Hornchurch it was to
become a famous “Battle of Britain” fighter station during WW2 it was closed in 1962, & is now mostly a nature reserve.
32
19 Squadron was used to host the cadre necessary to form 39 Squadron which was officially established on 15th Apr
’16; 39 Sqdn was to grow to 18 aircraft, in three flights.
33
Later Air Commodore Thomas Charles Reginald Higgins, CB, CMG, DL (21 Jul 1880 – 22 Sept 1953); initially serving in the
st
Navy, he was commissioned .[14 Mar1900] 2nd Lt in The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) serving in the 2nd Boer War,
th
and later the West African Frontier Force. Higgins learnt to fly in 1911 [Royal Aero Club Cert N 88.(16 May)], and transferred
o. th
to the RFC on 14th Sept ’15, Formation commander of 39 Sqdn in April ’17, he later commanded the Home Defence Wing
and from Sept ’17 the Home Defence Brigade, as a Brigadier General (Temp). Awarded a Permanent Commission as a Lt Col
in the new RAF [1 Aug ’19 - before the RAF ranks were established], Higgins served as Director of Training at the Air Ministry,
st
Chief Staff Officer in Iraq and Air Officer Commanding No. 10 Group before retiring [1929] as an Air Commodore.
34
The rest of the war could not be forgotten. On 26th Feb ’16, William’s cousin and husband of his sister Grace, 2nd Lt
Arthur Limnell Robinson [54677], Royal Engineers attached to the 8th Bttn Northamptonshire Regt , died of wounds in France,
he was 34yrs old. [He was the son of the late Major Mark Robinson, I.M.S., and Elizabeth Robinson; An Associate of the Royal School
of Mines Arthur had been born at Mercara, Coorg, India.]. Grace too was not to survive the war being taken by malaria in the
summer of 1917.
35
At the beginning of WW1 the timber and canvas Bessonneau aircraft hangars were in use with the “Aéronautique
Militaire”, and were quickly adopted by all the Allied Air Arms. Designed [1908] and manufactured by the French rope
and canvas manufacturer ‘Établissements Bessonneau’, they were supplied as a 5 ton kit of parts that could be “easily”
erected, dismantled, transported and re-erected [The author’s Grandfather (S. J. Kear WM Lodge Loyal Monmouth 457 UGLE 1935))
was seconded as an RE Sg to the RFC in France and directed the erection and dismantling of these hangars frequently throughout the
t
war]. Wooden hangers replaced the Bessonneaux at Sutton Farm by July 1916.
36
LADA BE2c's were fitted out with useful night flying aids such as illuminated instrument panels (using small lamps and
luminous dials) and landing aids (lamps and flares fitted to the leading edge of each lower wing), they had the forward observers
position faired-over and replaced with an extra fuel tank, bomb racks were fitted, a Lewis gun on a Foster mounting
fitted to the top wing. LADA included an intelligence network, collating reports of “Air Bandits” to allow time for
advanced warnings to the air stations like Sutton’s Farm. By 1918 this had developed into the MOS (Metropolitan
Observation Service), staffed by special police constables, and located in approx. 200 Observation Posts.
The MOS provided the basis of what was to become the Royal Observer Corps in 1925. See also Ferris, J.; [199?]:
“Airbandit:: C3I and Strategic Air Defence during the First Battle of Britain, 1915-18”; in Dockrill;, M.; [1996] :“Strategy &
Intelligence: British Policy During the First World War”; Hambledon Press; London. Pp 23.
37
Sadly at this time William’s brother Harold, with whom he had shared so much in India and St Bees, attached to the 1st
Bttn. 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry [he had joined the 101st Grenadiers- Indian Army], was badly wounded in the disastrous
attempt to relieve Kut-el-Amara [Mesopotamia]. Harold died of wounds on 10th Apr ’16, so soon after Arthur’s death.
38
The Martini-Henry rifle was in service from 1871-1918 (Though the author’s father (Then Sgt G.S.G. Nash) recollected using them
as a Musketry instructor in 1940). The IC1 Carbine was introduced in 1877, the Mk II carbines [1892] were conversions from
withdrawn stock. The “Flaming Bullets” were "Cartridge S.A. Incendiary .45” Mark I”
Page 11 of 33
explosion that destroys the Zeppelin could also blow the attacking aircraft out of the sky, too
far away a miss or glancing blow would leave the bomb to explode on the ground potentially
causing damage, injury or even loss of life!39 The work however remained dangerous; more
pilots were killed and injured in accidents than in combat. A heavy landing still armed with a
full bomb load could cause an aircraft to explode killing the pilot. The toll in aircraft destroyed
and pilots killed continued to mount, while the steadily increasing number of enemy airships
operated with impunity.
The pilots refused to be discouraged, and were rewarded when in the early hours of 1st Apr
’16 the combined efforts of the anti-aircraft crews and 39 Sqdn flyers 2nd Lts Ridley and Brandon
so damaged airship L1540 that it eventually crashed into the sea.41
39 Squadron was officially formed on 15th April ’16, Hainault Farm airfield became home to
‘C’ Flight, ‘A’ Flight was at North Weald, and ‘B’ Flight
at Suttons Farm, Hornchurch; the squadron’s
headquarters were at Salway Lodge42, Woodford Green.
Finally, patrolling about 10.45 p.m on 25th April ’16
at 5,000 feet, Robinson had his first chance at the
enemy. Of the eight pilots up that night, Robinson,
climbing to just over 7,000 feet he saw LZ9743 picked
out by searchlights near Ongar, continuing his climb
Wakefield Medal presented to Cpl H I Penfold
towards the Zeppelin he opened fire immediately
under the ship with his machine gun at just over 8,000 feet. “The firing must have had little or
39
Sub Lt Reginald(Rex) Warneford, VC (15 Oct 1891 – 17 Jun 1915), of 1 Sqdn RNAS downed a Zeppelin in this manner on 7th
Jun ’15 at Ghent, Belgium, in a Morane-Saulnier Type L, attacked German airship, LZ 37. After a chase, harried by
machine-gun fire from the airship, he succeeded in dropping his 20 lb Hales bombs on it setting the airship on fire, and
LZ37 subsequently crashed near Sint-Amandsberg. The bomb explosion overturned Warneford's aircraft and stopped its
engine. Warneford had to land behind enemy lines, where in 35 minutes he repaired and restarted the engine, and
returned to base at St. Pol. For this action Warneford was awarded the VC. 10 days later he was killed in an accident,
with his passenger American journalist and author Henry Beach Needham, when the wings of a new Henry Farman F27
he was delivering to the squadron collapsed in mid-air. Some sources claim Needham was the first journalist to be killed
in an air-crash!
40
Pilots Holt; Higgins; Brandon; & Ridley were mentioned for distinguished service in connection with the defence of
London against hostile air raids, with special reference to the raid on the night of 31st March -1st Apr ’16, for showing
“…great -bravery and readiness to take risks of all sorts, going up and landing at night in all weathers, more often than
not under most dangerous conditions … 2nd Lt Brandon is the first pilot to succeed in dropping bombs on a Zeppelin at
night.” Ten airships had set off to bomb eastern England and London, ([four turned back, L22[LZ64-Q class] bombed Grimbsy,
L16[LZ50-P class] Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft, L13[LZ45-P] Stowmarket & countryside near Wrentham, LZ90[LZ60-P] dropped no
bombs flew by Stowmarket and around Ipswich, all safely returning home). Only L14[LZ46-P] and L15[LZ48-P] began to close on
London. L14 bombed Sudbury, Braintree, open countryside north of Brentwood, and Coalhouse fort (East Tilbury) anti-
aircraft guns, and then returned to Germany unmolested. L15 bombed an area near Rainham [having flown almost directly
over the Sutton’s Farm aerodrome], where it was intercepted by Claude Ridley, who chased and fired a few rounds at extreme
range. Passing over Purfleet at 21.45 hours the L15 received a direct anti-aircraft hit damaging 4 of the 16 gas cells, then
it was attacked by Alfred Brandon, now able to climb above the sinking airship, using Ranken darts (a 1 lb incendiary
charge that detonated inside the airship – it never brought one down alone!). The airship circling and loosing height eventually
came down in the sea close to the Kentish Knock lightship (00.15 (1 April) 15miles north of Margate) all but one of the 17
st
crew were rescued by the armed trawler Olivine. (The zeppelin was towed towards the shore but broke up and parts dragged up
onto the beach at Westgate-on-Sea). [Brandon & Ridley were in 'C' Flight then based at Joyce Green aerodrome, Dartford]
41
Wakefield Medals were presented to the anti-aircraft gunners who brought down L15. The Lord Mayor of London, Col
Sir Charles Wakefield, (of ‘Castrol’ fame) promised a bounty of £500 for him or those who could be the first to bring
down a Zeppelin which bombed London. So many gun crews, and the two pilots, claimed to be less or more responsible
for bringing down L15 that the money was spent on producing 353 medals [in 14 carat gold made by Hallmark, Birmingham
for Jewellers Mappin & Webb] which were presented to each member of the crews involved. The obverse design was
Wakefield’s coat of arms & motto “Vigilans et Audax” [Watchful and bold] & the text: 'PRESENTED BY THE LORD MAYOR .
COLONEL SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD', the reverse design a : 3-inch QF anti-aircraft gun, enclosed by a scroll bearing the
text; 'WELL HIT MARCH 31st - APRIL 1st 1916 & 'L15', and the reverse was engraved with the name of the individual to
whom it was presented.
42
Salway Hill Woodford was named after a rich merchant, Richard Salway [circa 1770], who lived in Salway Lodge (now
demolished and replaced with apartments) on the hill opposite the Cricketers Inn. Between 1900 &1910 the Lodge was
the home of Joseph Malaby Dent, founder of the Everyman’s Library. Loc’n; 51°36'07.1"N 0°01'10.3"E
43
This was a raid over London by five Army Zeppelins [LZ 81, 87 , 88, 93, 97]; LZ97 was commanded by Hauptmann Erich
Linnarz the most experienced Army Zeppelin Commander and the first to bomb London [31 May/ 1 June 1915], LZ 97
st st
[Construction number LZ 67 ] was a Q-class ship commissioned; 4th Apr ’16 it made 4 attacks; London (twice), Boulogne
and, later, Bucharest, dropping 5,760 kg (12,700 lb) of bombs, plus several unsuccessful flights due to bad weather. It
was decommissioned on 5th Jul ’17.
Page 12 of 33
no effect, for the Zeppelin must have been a good 2,000 feet above me, if not more.. I fired at the
Zeppelin three times … the machine gun jammed five times, and I only got off about twenty
rounds. When the Zeppelin made off in an ENE direction, I followed for some minutes, but lost
sight of it.”44
Patrolling as well that night was Robinson’s flight commander, Capt Arthur Travis Harris45, on
his first night sortie. He also spotted LZ 97 caught by the
searchlights, his Lewis gun was loaded with the then experimental
“Brock Explosive Bullets”, he fired but the gun jammed after six
rounds, which he cleared, climbed back up, and the gun jammed
again46. By the time he had cleared this second jam he had lost the
Zeppelin.47
In 1916 both airship and aeroplane were at the limit of
technology. The airship was ascendant, though a little slower it
could out-climb available aeroplanes and operate at higher
altitudes48.49 Tracking an airship, despite its size, with only ear and
eye was difficult enough in daylight let alone at night, and navigating
and directing an aeroplane to intercept barely better than chance.
Once a pilot had been lucky enough to find his quarry how should
he destroy it, even injure it? Standard “Ball” rounds could pierce the
skin of the airships, but even with a couple of hundred little holes
the airships were still able to fly back to their bases in Germany.
Bombs and darts proved more dangerous to the pilot and the public below than the airship, if
only the Airship’s weakness, 30,000 m3 of flammable hydrogen, could be used to advantage. To
burn hydrogen needs not only to be mixed with oxygen but ignited with a spark50, so a large
hole was needed in both the Zeppelin skin and gas bag, and a spark! The “Brock Bullet” (Harris
had tried some of the early production rounds) needed to hit a target hard enough to deform and
detonate the explosive, so if it didn’t hit the airship frame it was as useful as the “Ball”, another
more sensitive explosive bullet called the “Pomeroy” was approved in August 1916, but if either
exploded in only hydrogen no fire would result. An incendiary round was needed to ignite the
hydrogen as it mixed with the air, the “Buckingham” became available in the summer of 1916.
The solution was an alternate mix of these rounds in the Lewis gun drums.51
44
W L Robinson’s letters
45
He was to become the famous (if not infamous) Bomber Harris of WW2 Bomber Command and later Marshal of RAF Sir
Arthur Travers Harris
46
Jams with “Brock Bullets” were a constant issue with Lewis Guns, and clearance drills quite complex.- Ammunition had
to be selected to reduce feed problems.
47
Powis, M.; [2017]: “The Defeat of the Zeppelins: Zeppelin Raids and Anti-Airship Operations 1916-18”; Casemate
Publishers, Oxford, UK. Ch 8. & Sutherland, J.; [2006]: “Battle of Britain 1917: The First Heavy Bomber Raids on England”;
Pen and Sword, Barnsley, UK. pp14 & 15.
48
Crews often suffered badly from altitude sickness until means were discovered to carry supplemental oxygen. See-
Neumann, G. P.; Gurdon; J.E.(Tr); [1921]; “The German air force in the Great War” ; Hodder and Stoughton, London; pp
.30, 89, 124 (Original German)
49
Flying at more than 10,000ft meant the airships' aim was abysmal (bombsights were virtually non-existent at the time), in
many ways not knowing where the bombs might fall only heightened the fear of those on the ground. The terror was
further amplified by the constant failure of conventional attempts to shoot them down.
50
Autoignition an oxyhydrogen mixture occurs at about 570 °C
51
The RFC initially forbade the use of incendiary and explosive rounds in air-to-air combat as their use against personnel
was considered a violation of the St. Petersburg Declaration. Their use was permitted against the gas chamber of
zeppelins and balloons, not the crew. Pilots were required to carry written orders concerning their use when engaging
these targets. The three special bullets, were the progeny of unconventional inventors;
The "Cartridge S.A. Incendiary BIK .303 inch (VIIK) Mark I" was designed by Wing Commander F.A. Brock OBE, RNVR,
unusual in having been commissioned in all three service arms; Brock having developed smoke generating flares and
floats for the Zeebrugge Raid (see above), went ashore with the mole storming party with the intent of gaining intelligence
on the German sound ranging equipment, but was killed in the hand to hand fighting, he has no known grave. The Brock
family
The “Cartridge S.A. Ball .303 inch Pomeroy Mark I ” John Pomeroy (1873-1950) was a New Zealander who first invented an
explosive bullet in 1902 but the NZ army, although impressed, did nothing. Disappointed, Pomeroy left for Australia and
later England where, as early as August 1914, he submitted his design to the British War Office. After his initial rebuttal,
Pomeroy was recalled from Melbourne to develop his idea, which culminated in Robinson’s successful downing of the
SL11 airship. Pomeroy was a prolific inventor with a defiantly amateur style. From the 1920s Pomeroy maintained a
steady income through the proprietorship of Melbourne hotels and by establishing, 'Pop's Pie Cart' a night pie-stall and
Page 13 of 33
During the summer the raids continued, the
short summer nights should have helped the
defenders but in 1916 the weather was terrible, mist
and fog helping the airships. However the London
defences gradually improved, by July 1916, 39
squadron, now commanded by Maj A. H. Morton, was
made up of "A" flight under Capt L. S. Ross at
Hounslow, Robinson replacing Harris at Sutton's
Farm for "B" flight52, and 2nd Lt A. de B. Brandon
taking over "C" flight at Hainault Farm.
At 2308 hrs on 2ndSeptember 1916 Lt Robinson
took off in his BE2c 53 to patrol between Sutton's
Wreckage of Airship SL11
Farm and Joyce Green. By midnight he had climbed
to 10,00 feet. He had spotted and lost one airship when at 0110 hrs (Sunday 3rd) he saw two
searchlights, hampered by clouds, trying to hold an airship which was flying east S.E. of
Woolwich, in their beams. The BE2c struggled on up to 12,000 feet slowly gaining on the
airship, which was coming under sporadic anti-aircraft fire, for about ten minutes. The airship,
now just 800 ft below him, went behind some clouds, avoiding the searchlight, and Robinson
lost sight of it. After fifteen minutes of fruitless search he continued his patrol.
At about 01.50 hrs Robinson began climbing to nearly 13,000 feet oward a red glow of fire
in London’s NE. At 02.05hrs an airship was ‘coned’ by the searchlights over N.N.E. London
shells bursting and tracers flashing around it. Smarting over losing his prey earlier he put
down his nose to gain speed toward the enemy craft.
“I flew about 800 feet below it from bow to stem and distributed one drum among it (alternate
New Brock and Pomeroy) 54. It seemed to have no effect;
I therefore moved to one side and gave them another drum along the side - also without effect.
I then got behind it and by this time I was very close - 500 feet or less below, and concentrated
one drum on one part (underneath rear). I was then at a height of 11,500 feet when attacking the
Zeppelin.
I had hardly finished the drum before I saw the part fired at, glow. In a few seconds the whole
rear part was blazing. When the third drum was fired, there were no searchlights on the
Zeppelin, and no anti-aircraft was firing.
I quickly got out of the way of the falling, blazing
Zeppelin and, being very excited, fired off a few red Very
lights and dropped a parachute flare.
“Having little oil or petrol left, I returned to Sutton's
Farm, landing at 2.45 a.m. On landing, I found the
Zeppelin (sic) gunners had shot away the machine-gun
wire guard, the rear part of my centre section, and had
pierced the main spar several times.” 55
The attack was illuminated by the search lights and
witnessed by thousands of people on the ground. The
burning wreckage crashed in a field behind the Plough
Robinson leaving Windsor Castle after his VC investiture
Melbourne landmark outside Flinders Street station. John apparently refused imperial honours for his work but his wife
Amy who had hand filled the first 5,000 prototype explosive bullets was awarded the MBE for her services.
The “Cartridge S.A. Incendiary Buckingham .303 inch Mark I” developed by J. F. Buckingham [He is referred to in some
sources as ‘John” but research indicated he was ‘James’, proprietor of the Buckingham Engineering Co, manufacturer of the “Chota” cycle car, and the Buckingham engine].
Buckinghams were true incendiaries filled with phosphorus.
52
Robinson's flight at Sutton's Farm comprised Lieutenants Brock, Durston, Mallinson, Sowrey and Tempest. Consumed
with hunt for the enemy the pilots became close friends.
53
Flying B.E.2c No. 2693 converted as a night fighter.
54
Aircraft Lewis drums contained 90 rounds; Robinson’s report does not mention Buckingham incendiaries in the
magazine load, some sources state he used a cocktail of the three types, certainly the three round mix was used by some
of the pilots at this time.
55
From Robinson’s combat report, written immediately after landing.
Page 14 of 33
Inn at Cuffley in Hertfordshire56. Commander Hauptmann Wilhelm Schramm and the 15-man
crew of SL1157 were all killed. Robinson landed at 2.45 a.m. to tremendous acclaim.58
"When I reached the ground once more I was greeted with 'was it you Robin?'. 'Yes I've strafed
the beggar this time', I said, whereupon the whole flight set up a yell and carried me out of my
machine to the office, cheering like mad."59
He woke next day to find he was a national celebrity splashed across the newspapers. On the
9th September the King decorated Robinson with the Victoria Cross (thought to be the fastest such
award on record) at Windsor Castle, the town’s streets lined with huge crowds60.
His action marked a turning point in the war against the airship menace and the 3rd Sept
became known as “Zeppelin Sunday” there being such jubilation (both press and public) that
German airships were no longer invincible. 61 A further five German airships were shot before
the end of the year using the techniques proven by Robinson’s attack, and it caused the German
airship bombing campaign to falter the airship threat could be countered.62 By July 1917 the
Germans had withdrawn the now highly vulnerable Zeppelins from bombing sorties over the
British mainland, and replaced them with the new “Gotha” & “Giant” bombers
Unfortunately, on 16th September, Robinson crashed his BE2c (2693)63 when attempting to
take off for another night patrol. It was a total wreck; he escaped just before it was consumed
by fire. After the crash he was grounded,
the now fêted national figure was too
valuable to run such risks, and was
lumbered with a long string of official
engagements. 64
After continual pestering of the
authorities to allow him to return to active
service, in April 1917 Robinson was
posted to France as a flight commander
with No. 48 Squadron, flying the then new
Bristol F.2 Fighter.65
Robinson’s F2a (one digit was often missed on the tail numbers )
56
The area is now built-up, a memorial commemorating Robinson’s action marks the spot. Tens of thousands of people
went to see the airship remains at Cuffley over the ensuring weeks. The Pub is still there.
57
SL 11 was a Schütte-Lanz airship [almost brand new first flight 1 Aug ’16] which differed from those of Zeppelin
st
manufacture in that its framework was made of laminated wood [Zeppelins were aluminium alloy, at the time and for many
years after, this airship was misidentified as the Zeppelin L 21.] To the British people below all German airships were simply
‘Zeppelins’. 16 airships had left German bases that evening making this was one of the largest airship raids of the war
over England.
58
The aircraft [No. 2693 ] had been damaged during the attack, both by the airships machine guns and some of his own
fire! The machine gun wire guard & the rear part of the upper centre wing section were shot away, and the rear main spar
pierced several times.
59
Letter [22 Oct ’16] to his parents
nd
60
After the investiture came the other rewards; £2,000 form Col Joseph Cowen proprietor of the Newcastle Daily
Chronicle; ; £1,000 Lord Michelham of the Bankers Herbert Stern £500 from William Bow, a Paisley shipbuilder; £500
from L. A. Oldfield Esq.; £100 from Messrs G. Wigley and J. Ball; a silver cup bought with 300 subscriptions from the
residents of Hornchurch; a gold watch donated by the Overseas Club members; and many smaller gifts. Robinson
treated himself to a new Vauxhall car from the prize money!
61
There were some 50 airship raids on Britain during WWI. For nearly 2 years they had attacked Britain with impunity.
The German army withdrew the airships from bombing raids in 1917 - by which time 77 out of 115 had been shot down,
lost in accidents, or totally disabled.
62
In the whole year of 1917, the Zeppelin raiders only caused 87,760 pounds worth of damage to England, a mere
fraction of the damage Heinrich Mathy had inflicted upon London on one night in 1915.
https://www.historychannel.com.au/articles/death-zeppelin-l-31-shot/
http://www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/pottersbar/pottersbar.htm http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/zeppelin.htm
63
Only the BE2c’s propeller survived, it was given to the Marquis of Ailsa in thanks for letting land at Turnberry for an
RFC flying school, it is on public display in the Armoury of Culzean Castle in Ayrshire.
64
Even though young West End actresses jostled to get an introduction to him, Robinson chose this time to announce his
engagement to Mrs Joan Whipple, widow of Capt H. C. Whipple of the 1st Bttn Devonshire Regt [Whipple (35yrs old) died of wounds 24 Nov’’14
th
having been shot in the head 19 Nov near Wulverghem, Belgium.- The following day B T E Rendle DCLI attended wounded under heavy fire
th mn
100 meters from the Devon’s position, actions for which he was awarded the VC. Rendle was a Freemason [initiated Needles Lodge No.
2838 2 Aug ’16]. The Devons lost of their officers and of their men in Oct ’14.]. Considering his many admirers, there must
nd
have been something very special about Mrs Whipple! Circumstances, however, conspired to prevent their marriage.
65
No. 48 Squadron had been formed on 15th Apr ’16 at Netheravon (Wiltshire) relocating on the 8th Jun ’16 to a new
airfield at Rendcomb near Cirencester in Gloucestershire (there were numerous training airfield in the Cotswolds). It was the
Page 15 of 33
On 5th April on 48 Squadron’s very first patrol
over the lines, Robinson led a formation of six
aircraft which encountered five Albatross D.III
fighters66 of Jasta 11, led by Manfred von
Richthofen.67 Four were shot down, Robinson’s
Bristol F2a [A3337]68 a ‘victory’ for Vizefeldwebel
Sebastian Festner69. The aircraft near came down
Mericourt, behind the German lines, and Robinson
and his observer [Lt Edward Warburton] were
immediately captured virtually unscathed. They
were held for a few days in Karlsruhe, and then
transferred to the prisoner-of-war camp in Freiberg-
Allied POW "Camp Committee" at Camp Freiburg Germany.
t rd t th ttn
Back row, far left is L William Leefe Robinson VC, 3 from left is L Maurice Francis Burke, 29 B AIF
in-Breisgau. There were reports that Robinson had
been killed, stunning the nation, only to be
countered when a letter arrived from Robinson in captivity.70
The Germans were aware of Robinson’s fame, and this combined with his persistent
attempts to escape led to much harsher treatment than other prisoners. He was moved around
from camp to camp, including Zorndorf71 and finally Holzminden72, where he was treated poorly
and often kept in solitary confinement to prevent further escape attempts. Brought low
physically and mentally he barely survived to the Armistice.
Robinson was swiftly repatriated, and arrived on the 14th December 1918 to spend Christmas
with his friends and celebrate his freedom. However, the joy was to be short-lived as in his
weak and susceptible state he contracted the Spanish ’flu, and despite the attentive nursing of
his sister Kitty and his fiancée Joan Whipple he died on 31st December 1918 of cardiac failure,
he was 23-years-old. 73
first Squadron to receive the new Bristol F2a two-seater (aka “Biff” or “Brisfit”) developed as a replacement (like the AW FK8)
for the BE2. 50 model F2a were delivered to Rendcomb (Serials A3305- A 3354), 30 were allocated to 48 Sqdn and 18 went to
France on 8th Mar ’17 (These airframes and the two prototypes were the sum total of all the “a” models, all delivered after
this batch [May ’17 onwards] were model F2b. The later model “b” aircraft had a more powerful engine, but the limited
production of the Rolls Royce Falcon engine meant Bristol could never satisfy the demand for “Biffs”, eventually over
5,300 F2b models were delivered when production ceased in Dec 1926, and they stayed in service into the 1930s in air
forces around the world.
One of 48 Sqdn commanders was Keith Park, then a Major, who later led No. 11 Group of Fighter Command during the
Battle of Britain [1940] as an Air-Vice Marshal.
66
The Albatros D.III had only entered squadron service in Dec ’16, and early models were prone to wing failures (even
Richthofen cracked a lower spar on24 Jan ’17 –he did not fly the fabled Fokker Dr.1 triplane until Sept ’17 )
th
67
This was the “Biff’s” very first combat and the close formation tactics (the crossfire of the observers' guns countering enemy
fighters aka Lufbery circle ) used were the same as employed for the slow BE2s. The strength, power, and manoeuvrability
of the “Biff” was as yet unappreciated. The aircraft were thus vulnerable to Ricthofen’s new hunter tactics. The average
flying life of an RFC pilot in Apr ’17 was 18 hours and from 4th –8th April, the RFC lost 75 aircraft and 105 aircrew. This
became known as “Boody April” in which the RFC lost 250 aircraft, and 400 aircrew flying nearly 20,000 sorties in their
vital role in the battle for Arras. The high casualty rate created a pilot shortage which meant that replacements sent to
the front were inexperienced resulting in a further 56 aircraft being lost in non-combat crashes. Richthofen alone
claimed 21 victories that April.
68
Bristol F.2a Fighters military serials A3305 to A3354 [Construction numbers 1431 to 1480 - 50 a/c], ex Brislington tram
works against RFC contract 87/A/552, and fitted with 190 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon I engines, were delivered to Rendcombe
between 20th Dec ’16 and 23rd Mar ’17.
A3303 was the first prototype Bristol F.2A; and piloted Capt Clifford Alban Hooper by undertook its maiden flight on 31st
May ’16; A3304 was another prototype fitted with an Hispano engine for flight tests on 25th Oct ’16. This really was the
very first batch of Bristol Fighters.
69
Vizefeldwebel Sebastian Festner [30 Jun 1894 -25 Apr 1917]; Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Member's Cross with
th th
Swords, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class; units: FA 5, 18, Jasta 11; 12 Victories; KIA Between Gavrelle and Bailleul. Wounded
in the infantry, he joined the Air Force in 1914, first serving as a mechanic, then becoming a pilot in 1916. He scored all
but two of his victories flying an all red Albatros D.III in Jasta 11.
70
He wrote to his fiancée Joan that he was safe & a POW. Of the 4 downed RFC “Biffs” crews only Observer 2nd Lt Herbert
Duncan King George (Flying in A3340 Richthofen’s 31 victory) died of his wounds the next day, 2nd Lt A N Leckler his pilot, Lt
st
H Cooper & 2nd Lt A Boldison (in A3320), and Lt A T Adams and Lt D J Stewart (in A3343) became POWs.
71
see Hardy, J. L.;2014: “I Escape!: The Great War's Most Remarkable POW”; Pen & Sword Military; Kindle Edition
72
See The 1st Great Escape: Amazing Forgotten Story From WW1 PoWs Who Tunnelled Out of Camp Using Cutlery
73
The reports of Robinson’s death vary in details; it is clear that both his sister Kitty and his fiancée Joan Whipple were
present and nursed him to the end, and that at the time he was staying in Harrow Weald or Stanmore (neighbouring
villages). But whether he was in “Lavender Cottage” Gordon Avenue, Stanmore, or “Harrow Weald House”, or “his sister’s
Page 16 of 33
He was buried at All Saints' Churchyard
Extension in Harrow Weald, with great ceremony74.
A flight of aircraft, led by Brig Tom Higgins, flew
overhead, and dropped a large wreath before the
house. It was placed, along with some of the
hundreds of other tributes, on the coffin.
Thousands lined the route of the procession, led by
the Central Band of the RAF.
Robinson’s story exposes a theatre of WW1
almost forgotten in the popular histories of the
war; aviators of both sides took unprecedented
risks not only with their foes but also with the
technology in their pursuit of the conquest of the
air.75 Within three short years Robinson had flown
to the greatest heights of proficiency, fame, and
acclamation; suffered misadventure,
vindictiveness, and brutality; and finally fallen to a
potent and pitiless pestilence.
Fred Sowrey, D.S.O. (left) and Noel Clifton (right) were

among the bearers at the funeral.
(Sowrey downed the second Zeppelin in England)
Daily Sketch 4th Jan 1919
house” in Stanmore is unclear. Robinson showed his private address at the time to be “Lavender Cottage” Gordon
Avenue, Stanmore; “Harrow Weald House” was the residence of Capt Edward Noel Clifton's wife (E.L. Clifton), (Clifton was
a pal from 39 Sqdn) these two addresses being with walking distance of one another. The author was unable to confirm if
Kitty, who had married Baron Alphonse Heyking the year before (prior to the Nov 1917 Russian Revolution Baron Heyking was
the Consul General of the Imperial Russian Court)
One might conjecture that Robinson after over 20 months apart might want to spend time with Joan, and that it was she
who was the tenant of “Lavender Cottage”, and that she was a good friend of Mrs Clifton, and maybe that was how Joan
had met William.
Trivia.. During the period 1962-69 No. 58 Gordon Avenue, Stanmore was the home of Roger Moore, just a 20 minute
drive from Elstree Studios where he was filming “The Saint”
74
Apart from his grave memorials to Robinson have been erected; in Cuffley near the spot where the SL11 airship
crashed; in East Ridgeway, unveiled on 9 June 1921; Robinson Close in Hornchurch is named after him; . His name
appears on the memorial at the Madikeri [Coorg India] museum; and in great British tradition the pub but 50 yards from
his grave was named “The Leefe Robinson VC”, though new corporate owners rebranded it as “Miller & Carter Harrow”
(steakhouse) public outrage had the name restored.
75
About 4,400 British Empire pilots of the 22,000 trained and assigned to combat squadrons in WW1 died in either
accidents or combat, over 1,000 more died in training accidents on home soil (The Sopwith Camel killed almost as many pilots
in training as in combat!). The German statistics are remarkably similar.
Page 17 of 33
Intentionally Blank
Page 18 of 33
Julian Royds Gribble VC

Julian Royds Gribble was born into a wealthy
family in London on the 5th January 1897. From the
age of 13 he attended Eton76. Having earlier been
turned down by an admiralty board for the Royal
Navy in December 1914 he enrolled at the Royal
Military Academy at Sandhurst. He was
commissioned as a lieutenant (just 18 yrs old) into
the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in May 1915, and
was posted to train recruits at Albany Barracks,
Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight. Writing to his
mother, Norah Gribble, later that year he said
"Although we sent out over 8000 men to France
from this battalion since the war began, we sent out
our first draft to the Dardenelles yesterday. I went
down to Cowes to see them off". He remained on the
Island for a year, sometimes taking drafts of newly
trained troops as far as the French ports.
In April 1916 Julian was ordered to France, over the next six months, without leave, he was
in the thick of the fighting. In October he was sent home as sick with "trench fever". Although
he was recommended three months’ rest, he reported back to
Warwick’s Battles 1917-1918 Parkhurst after just one month. and was posted to the 10th
1917 Battalion with the rank of Captain77.
1st Messines (7 -14 Jun),
th th
Menin Road Ridge (20 –25 Sept), th Julian spent the winter of his twentieth birthday in the mud,
th
Polygon Wood (26 Sept – 3 Oct),

th frosts, and floods of Flanders "wet up to the middle and never
rd
Broodseinde (4 Oct),
th
warm or dry". He had another short leave, but after the epic
Poelcapelle (9 Oct),
th
horror of the hundred day of the Passchendaele campaign (31st
1 Passchendaele (12 Oct),
st th
July – 10th November 1917), the British army was seriously
2nd Passchendaele (20 -22 Oct).
th nd
undermanned and Julian's leave was postponed month after
1918
St Quentin, (21 Mar)
st month.
1 Bapaume, (24 -25 Mar)
st th th
By early 1918 the Germans had realised that their only
2nd Messines (10th-11th Apr) remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the
Bailleul, (13th-15th Apr) fresh US resources could be fully deployed. 78
1st Kemmel Ridge (17th-19th Apr)
The 3rd Aisne (27th May – 6th Jun) On 21st March 1918 the German Spring Offensive found the 19th
The Selle (17th–25th Oct) D defending the front near St Quentin. As the whole British front
iv
The Sambre (4th Nov) was driven back toward Baupaume on March 22nd the Beaumetz-
Grand Honelle. (5 -7 Nov)
th th
Hermies line was held by the 17th, 19th & 51st Divs against repeated
11 Nov 1918 The Warwicks were
th
German attacks79.
west of Bavai (France)
7676
During WW1 5,619 Old Etonians served in the Armed Forces (Royal Navy and Royal Marines 163; Army 5,320; Royal Air
Force 136); 1,157 died. Among the awards they received were; 13 VCs, 548 DSOs (incl. DSO and Bar 44, DSO and 2 Bars 4), 744
MCs (incl. MC and Bar 37, MC and 2 Bars 4), 10 DSCs (incl. 1DSC and Bar), & 20 DFCs & AFCs. 60 Old Etonians rose to the rank
of Major-General and above, and two became Admirals. 37 Old Etonians have been awarded the VC, including Captain
the Hon. Alexander Hore-Ruthven, later the 1st Earl of Gowrie (1872–1955) a past Grand Master of both the UGLNSW,
and Governor of NSW and SA, and later Governor General of Australia. The last Old Etonian to be awarded the VC was
Col H Jones (2nd Bttn Parachute Regt), a posthumous award for actions on 28th May 1983 at Goose Green in the Falklands.
77
The average life expectancy of junior British army officers at the front was the 17 weeks!! - Julian was already a veteran!
78
The Germans had a temporary numerical advantage, they deployed 76 Divs (50 Divs had been released by the Russian
surrender in late 1917). The operation was known as the Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser's Battle) and “Operation Michael”. The
British faced the most intense barrage of the war. In 8 hrs 6,500 German guns delivered 1.16 million poison gas and
high explosive shells, supported by over 5,000 mortars. The barrage moved forward 200m every four minutes,
annihilating defences and leaving the surviving defenders deaf and stunned. 425,000 men fell on all sides in 15 days of
fighting.
see Gliddon, G.(Ed); 2005: “VCs Handbook: The Western Front 1914-1918”; The History Press, ISBN: 0750952830
79
The 10th Warwicks were in the 57th Bde, part of the 19th Div. which was formed as Kitchener’s 2nd Army of volunteers and
later conscripts.
Page 19 of 33
The 10th Warwicks were in reserve when the German barrage began. Julian dashed off a
goodbye letter, “All I pray to God is to give me strength to lead D Company well- as they deserve.
I know mother that in any case you will not grudge to England your youngest son. We have
always been cheery so let’s go on being so - thanks to you and Father I have had a happy time in
this world as possible, almost”.
The 10th Warwicks hastily dug in along 1,600 yards of Hermies Ridge near Beaumetz-lez-
Cambrai80 behind the rearmost British defences with orders to hold the position to the last man.
On the 22nd March the Germans began shelling these new positions and the Army command
structure began to break down as it fought a fighting retreat. The next morning, as Julian
reported the Germans massing to attack, the Bttn's artillery were galloping away in retreat under
conflicting orders. The 10th Bttn found itself increasingly isolated and surrounded, HQ staff and
any retreating stragglers they could rally were thrown into the desperate fighting. They held on
for three hours.
By 12.30 just D Company was left holding onto the top of the ridge. Julian was the last
officer standing, he allowed all but six of his men to retreat, including Pte Madeley who recalled,
“I got hit and I am glad to say I broke through, but not with the Captain”. Julian was last seen
emptying his revolver into the final assault. “I saw him go down under about seven big German
brutes and that was the last I saw of one of England's finest officers”. Julian was awarded the
Victoria Cross for actions..81 82
Julian was wounded and lost consciousness, robbed and left for dead, but was resuscitated
by the Germans and taken prisoner and began to make good recovery in hospital in Germany.
When Julian arrived at the new officers’ prison at Mainz Castle he and his fellow inmates
suffered six weeks of near starvation before the first Red Cross parcels arrived. In May Julian
heard that he had been awarded the VC for his stand on Hermies Ridge. The other officers saw
the letters "VC" on the envelope and carried the embarrassed invalid about the barrack square
on their shoulders. Julian also celebrated Eton's “June 4th special day83” with four other old
Etonians "with a soup made of a few scraps of lettuce".
The First World War finally came to an end after the German Revolution of October 1918. By
that time some two million German civilians had starved to death, but worse was to come with
the "Spanish Influenza".
Sadly Julian never saw his medal, he caught pneumonia84 and died in the castle hospital
shortly after midnight on the 24/25th November 1918.85 His last words were to dismiss his
nurse; “Go away ‘gnadiger Frau’” (gracious lady). The following day the French Army arrived
80
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465167
81
Conan-Doyle , Arthur.; 1919: “The British Campaign in France and Flanders, Vol. V”; Hodder & Stoughton, London.
He wrote of the German advance that it was “rolling in like waves from some inexhaustible sea.” & “…Both the 8th
Gloucesters and 10th Worcesters (sic- should be Warwicks!) were almost overwhelmed by the swarms of Germans who poured
up against their front and flank. A splendid stand was made by this brigade north-east of Velu, in which the men of
Gloucester especially distinguished themselves. Captain Jones (sic – should be James) of A Company receiving the V.C. for his
heroic resistance. Colonel Hoath of the 10th Warwicks conducted this arduous retreat, and his own battalion shares in the
honours of a fight which was tragic in its losses, but essential for its effect upon the fortunes of the army. Captain Gribble
of this battalion also received the V.C, his D Company falling to the last man after the best traditions of the British army.”
82
Capt ( later Brig) Manley Angell James, VC, DSO, MBE, MC (12th Jul 1896 – 23rd September 1975) was honoured for his actions leading
A Coy The Glosters near Velu Wood, on 21st March ( just 2-3km SE of Beaumetz–les-Cambrai). He led A Coy forward, capturing
27 prisoners and 2 machine-guns. Although wounded, he refused to leave the Coy and repulsed 3 enemy assaults over the
next day. 2 days later, the enemy having broken through, the Coy made a determined stand gaining time for the guns to
withdraw. Acting as rearguard enabling the brigade to retreat, he led the Coy in a local counter-attack, and again
wounded, he was last seen working a machine-gun single-handed, and was wounded a 3rd time. A Coy company had
sustained 75% casualties by the end of the action and many believed James killed. But in May he managed to send a
postcard to his father informing him he had been taken prisoner. James was invested with his VC by King George V at
Buckingham Palace on 22nd Feb ’19. He was to serve in WW2 as a Brig and to be wounded yet again in the Invasion of Italy
(Sep ’43).
83
Eton College’s open day is named for the birthday of George III but never falls on the eponymous date!!! .1914-18 June
4th Film
84
Newspaper reports suggested he had died as a direct result of his wounds “ …concussion following a bullet wound to
the head ..” this is unlikely considering the 8 month gap! Pneumonia was a common complication of the ’flu at that time
epidemic among the weakened German population. The article also states he died in in Hameln Hospital which is 340
Km from the Mainz Zitadelle! The first British ex-POWs reached Calais on 15th Nov. The Mainz Zitadelle was also a POW
camp (Oflag XII-B) in WW2
85
http://www.warwickfusiliers.co.uk/pages/pg-56-captain_jr_gribble_vc/
Page 20 of 33
with food and medicine, his fellow prisoners had been released on that morning (24th) and
boarded a train towards home.
Following Julian’s death, one of his two sisters, Vivien, designed a stained glass window, that
can still be found in St. Martin's Church, in the Parish of Long Bredy in Burton Bradstock,
Dorset. Julian’s mother, Norah Gribble died in 1923, her grave and that of Julian’s other sister,
Leslie, can be found in the church-yard of St. Martin’s, just a few feet from the memorial
window. Although Norah Gribble did not bring her son's body home for burial in his native
land, she clearly felt the need to be near him, even in such an oblique way, after death. It
became her stated intention that she should be buried near the window dedicated to Julian.
Perhaps she felt that this would give her a sense of nearness to her beloved son.86
The Citation
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross
to Lt. (T./Capt.) Julian Royds Gribble for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.
Capt. Gribble was in command of the right company of the battalion when the enemy
attacked, and his orders were to 'hold on to the last'. His company was eventually entirely
isolated, though he could have easily have withdrawn them at one period when the rest of the
battalion were driven back to a secondary position. His right flank was 'in the air' owing to the
withdrawal of all the troops of a neighbouring division. By means of a runner to the company on
his left rear he intimated his determination to hold on until other orders were received from
battalion headquarters - and this he inspired his command to accomplish. His company was
eventually surrounded by the enemy at close range, and he was seen fighting to the last. By his
splendid example of grit, Capt. Gribble was materially instrumental in preventing for some hours
the enemy obtaining a complete mastery of the crest of the ridge, and by his magnificent self-
sacrifice he enabled the remainder of his own brigade to withdraw, as well as another garrison
and three batteries of field artillery"87
86
Facts taken from "One Soldier's Story" written for 'The Isle of Wight Beacon' by John Medland
87
The London Gazette No. 30770 dated 25th June, 1918
Page 21 of 33
Intentionally Blank
Page 22 of 33
Lieutenant George Raymond Dallas Moor VC MC & Bar88

‘Dallas’ Moor was born on 22nd October 1896 at Pollington Street, St
Kilda, Victoria, Australia89; at the home of his mother's sister. The
family returned to England shortly afterward. 90
He was privately educated at Appley House School91 on the Isle of
Wight between 1906 and 1910, before moving to Cheltenham College92
in Gloucestershire, studying Classics9394.
His education ended abruptly with the outbreak of war during the
summer of 191495, when at only 17 years old he enlisted at Barnstaple
as a Private in the Public Schools Bttn96, the Royal Fusiliers.
His spell in the ranks as Private No 4156 lasted less than 40 days.
On 27th October, five days after his 18th birthday97, he was granted a
commission in the Hampshire Regiment98, his father's old unit (no doubt
some strings were pulled!). After training in England as part of the 29th
Division99 the 2nd Hampshires departed in a convoy from Avonmouth Bristol on 29th March 1915,
bound for Gallipoli100.
88
The principle sources, unless otherwise referenced, for this article are; Snelling, S.; 2012: “VCs of the First World War:
Gallipoli”; The History Press, ISBN: 0752487523, 9780752487526; & Baker, C; “The Long, Long Trail”
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/; accessed June 2020.
89
His father, William Henry Moor, was the retired auditor-general of Transvaal, his mother Helen Eva (nee Pender) Moor
(born 1867 in Northcote, Victoria, Australia!). He was a nephew of Sir Ralph Denham Rayment Moor, KCMG (31 July 1860 – 14
September 1909) the first high commissioner of the British Southern Nigeria Protectorate, who during his years as high
commissioner oversaw the abolition of the slave trade in the protectorate, and its replacement with a growing labour
market and cash currency.
90
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Moor-692
91
Appley House School (later called Little Appely Prep School), was created in the first decade of the 1900's and closed in
December 1966. Actor Jeremy Irons (born on the Isle of Wight) also attended Little Appley Prep School. The building is now
the Appley Manor Hotel, it was designed by Thomas Hellyer in 1861–62 as Sturbridge House.
92
675 Old Cheltonians were killed in service in World War I (363 in WWII) 41 of them in the Gallipolli Campaign.
Cheltenham is one of only three English schools to have its own military colours (last presented in 2000 by The Princess Royal
- The others being Eton & the Duke of York's Royal Military School - Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, Scotland also has a colour).
Cheltenham College can claim 14 ex-students who have been awarded the V.C.[plus one GC] A tally exceeded only by Eton
(22) Haileybury independent school (17) and Harrow (15)
93
His original school application form (dated 12th Nov 1909), gave the Egyptian Civil Service as his intended profession
(following in the family tradition of colonial service). Moor became a member of Cheltenham College's Boyne House, where he
was noted more for his sporting prowess (particularly cricket) than his scholarship.
94
The Boer War memorial in Cheltenham UK (created by R.L Boulton & Sons of Cheltenham) unveiled on 17th July 1907 by the
then Lt.-Gen Hamilton, would have been well known to Dallas Moor! The memorial also commemorates Lt Col William
Henry Dick-Cunyngham VC (16 Jun 1851 – 6 Jan 1900) [Gordon Highlanders] awarded the VC for actions during the attack
on the Sherpur Pass, Afghanistan on 13th Dec 1879. Dick-Cunyngham, a Cheltenham resident, died of wounds received at
Ladysmith, [6th Jan. 1900].
95
In the same year Moor's mother had filed for a 'judicial separation on the grounds of adultery' and had been granted
custody of her three children. According to her solicitor she 'always had the children with her' and paid for Dallas’
education out of her allowance. The lawyers also noted (a year later) 'The father, has never interested himself in the Boy ...'
(But did “wangle” his commission!)
96
Officially styled the 21st (Service) Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers.
97
He was in the prime of life, 5ft 11 ins tall, he weighed 147 lbs, of ‘fresh complexion’, impressing the medical officer
with his 'very good physical development'. But he was one of the youngest officers then serving in the British Army!
98
Moor was initially posted into the Reserve 3rd Bttn and later transferred to the 2nd. The 2 Bttn had been in Mhow, India at
war’s outbreak and returned to England, arriving at Plymouth 22nd Dec ’14 to join the 88th Bde part of 29th Div. The 29th Div
was assembled in the East Midlands between Dec ’14 and Mar ’15 when they embarked for the Middle East.
99
An obelisk, built in 1921to recall the Division's review by King George V before they embarked for Gallipoli, stands at
the junction of the B4455 and the A 45 near Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire on what is now a roundabout!!
100
The Hampshires convoy included RMS Andania & her sister ship the RMS Alaunia, HMT Aragon, HMT Southland, &
the SS Caledonia. Arriving first at Alexandria (2nd April) the Hampshire’s sailed again together with the 4th
Worcestershire’s, in the Aragon on the 12th, and landing next day at Mudros (Lemnos) the advanced base for the Gallipoli
operations. Southland was torpedoed (UB-14) in the Aegean Sea on 2nd Sept ’15, while carrying the Australian 21st Bttn &
some of the 23rd Bttn, General Legge and staff and 2nd Div Signals Coy with the loss of 40 men. The ship was beached,
repaired (returned to service Aug ’16), only to be torpedoed again (U-70) on 4th Jun ’17 and sunk off the coast of Ireland with
the loss of 44 lives. Aragon was torpedoed by UC-34 off Alexandria on 30th Dec ’17, with a loss of 610 of the 2700
aboard. Both Andania & Alaunia were sunk later in the war.
Page 23 of 33
As part of the British 29th Divn, the 2nd Bttn Hampshires were tasked to land at V Beach, Cape
Helles101, from the now infamous HMT River Clyde102, on the morning of 25th April. While the
Dublin Fusiliers landed from small boats, at 06:30 hrs “Z” & “X” Coys of the Munsters attempted
a landing from the River Clyde, under extremely heavy fire103. After nearly two hours of trying
to effect a landing from the Clyde admit horrific casualties with only some 200 men ashore
further landings were postponed until dark.
A few Hampshire’s men made it wading ashore in the initial morning assault but after 20 Y
C men were killed attempting to get ashore, the CO104 stopped any further attempts because of
oy
the useless loss of life. The surviving Hampshires and Munsters remained all day in the River
Clyde with Turkish fire ponding on the ship’s side. Lt Moor and his men were to make it ashore
under the cover of darkness. 105 The next day an attack was made on the Village of Sed-el-Bahr,
once it was cleared of Turks the advance began on Krithia, which had been the objective on the
25th! Lt Moor had survived the initial landings unscathed only to be slightly wounded on 28th
April during the advance. 106
By the 10th of May the 2nd Hants were withdrawn for a brief rest. After the landing at V Beach
and two ill-prepared assaults on Krithia107 it numbered less than 250 men108.
The Bttn returned to the front on the 17th May, reinforced a draft of 382 other ranks and 39
officers109 among them 39 returning wounded including 2nd Lt G.R. Dallas Moor now a ‘wounded
veteran’ of the battle for the Helles beachhead.
During May the advance came within 200 yards of the Ottoman lines outside Krithia. Moor
had returned just in time to take part in the 3rd Battle of Krithia which began at noon on the 4th
June. The 29th Div supported by the 29th Indian Bde succeeded in securing their objectives on the
left while, in the centre, the recently arrived 127th (Manchester) Bde achieved a spectacular
breakthrough111, advancing to within half a mile of Krithia village. However, the French assault
on the right failed, and brought tragic consequences for the RN Div who were therefore
outflanked by the enemy on their left, and the ruination of the offensive.
The 2nd Hants achieved more than most, fortified by a stirring speech by their new CO, in
which he expressed the hope that one of them would “earn the Regiment's first VC since the
storming of the Taku Forts in 1862”. The Hants advanced across a feature called “Fir Tree
101
See article on the Cape Helles landings
102
The SS River Clyde had been requisitioned by the Admiralty at the beginning of the war. She was not an “old hulk”
having been completed by Russell & Co of Port Glasgow in March 1905. She was refloated after the war and sold to a
Spanish company. She was seized by the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil war (1937), and rescued three British
airmen in WW2. Despite attempts to have her preserved as a historic monument she was scrapped in 1966.
103
The Turks had only one or two machine guns a V Beach but used Nordenfelt Guns and German made Maxim Pom-
Poms and accurate rifle fire to great effect.
104
The CO was Lt Col CARRINGTON SMITH who was later shot dead on the bridge of the RIVER CLYDE by a sniper.
105
It was not until 17:00 hrs that the disaster at V Beach was reported to Colonel Wolley-Dod on W Beach. By then W
Beach troops were already advancing towards the rear of Fort No 1 above V Beach, and despite Wolley-Dodd’s orders to
capture the cliff above V Beach the Ottoman defenders swiftly stopped the advance and the troops dug in. On the
northern flank, Hill 114 was consolidated but an advance to the second objective from W Beach broke down (despite
outnumbering the Ottoman troops 6:1!) Fresh orders were not forthcoming as there was no-one ashore to devise an
alternative (the landing force commander Brig Gen Steuart Welwood Hare and many of his subordinates were casualties) and there were
difficulties in communication with the headquarters staff still afloat.
106
For his services at Helles, the young subaltern was given a Regular Army commission dated 1st Aug 1915.
107
These became known as the 1st (28 April ) & 2nd (6 -8 May) Battles of Krithia - Hamilton moved the Aust 2nd Infy Bde and the
th th th
NZ Infy Bde, along with 20 Aust field guns, to the Helles front as reserves for 2nd Battle, both Bdes suffered significant
casualties for little gain.
108
From the landing on the 25th April up to the 14th May, 11 Officers were lost, 12 were wounded and 1 invalided. 198
other ranks were killed, missing or died of wounds and 507 were wounded from the 2nd Hants (total casualties 729 from a
strength of approx 1025 men). The 2nd Hants were amongst the first to land at V Beach, and were the last to leave on the 8th
January 1916.
109
On the 30th May Lt Col Weir de Lancy Williams was appointed CO of the Bttn , the 5th CO since 25th April, the previous 4
having been killed or wounded!!
110
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Battle_of_Krithia and https://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/krithia3.htm
111
Once the beach-head had been secured significant numbers of reinforcements were landed at the Helles Beaches. The
Zion Mule Corps landed at Helles on 27th Apr. On 1st May, the larger part of the 29th Indian Bde (incl. 1/6th Gurkha Rifles)
landed. Later (prior to 4th June) to be joined by 1/5th and 2/10th Gurkha Rifles.(this Bde was attached to the 29th Div) Between 6th &
11th May, the 42nd (East Lancashire) Div, of which the 127th (Manchester) Bde was a part, arrived at Helles from Egypt. The Royal
Naval Division, had been ashore at various locations since the 25th - 27th. The two French divisions had transferred to
Sedd el Bahr, above V Beach, from their diversionary action at Kum Kale by the 28th .
Page 24 of 33
Spur”, despite having lost contact with the Sikhs hard pressed in
their assault of “Gully Ravine” on their left, and being forced to
defend along the bank of the ravine as well as to their front, they
captured two lines of trenches. At 18:00hrs the Hants were
ordered to withdraw one trench line to their rear to consolidate
the line.112
The following day passed with some half-hearted Ottoman
attacks quickly beaten back by machine-gun fire.
Lt. Col. Williams (Hants CO) later recalled: “Moor, myself and one
other officer were the only officers left untouched. I said to him:
‘Well done, boy! Hold what you've got.’”113 An hour afterwards
Williams was wounded, and by the morning of 6th June, Moor, the
Bttns youngest and most junior subaltern, had been left in sole
command of the 88th Bde's right-hand forward sector.
On the morning of the 6th June “there was a slight mist. At dawn heavy fire broke out and a
message came through that H12 was lost. Almost at the same moment looking away to the right
one saw what appeared to be the whole of our trench garrisons streaming back in hundreds to
the old front line under heavy MG fire.
It was a most extraordinary sight and I shall never forget the sound made by troops coming
back — a sort of long drawn-out moan.
An officer of the HQ with us (I am not sure whether it was the Essex or the Borders) ran out towards
Nine Tree Copse to rally these troops. They must have rallied quickly as we got in touch with the
Essex later in the morning. The Turks took no advantage of this momentary panic.”114
Having outflanked the KOSBs' positions on the left of the salient, the Turks burst through
the 1st Essex line and, as the survivors fell back, the men in the second line broke, threatening to
unhinge the entire 88th Bde defence.
“A disorganised mass of men was being pressed back against the
Royal Fusiliers’ left, where crowded and narrow trenches impeded
any reorganisation of the defence. The situation was becoming
critical, officer-less men were retreating in confusion when 2nd Lt
G.R.D. Moor dashed across the open from the Hants’ lines with a few
men and stemmed the retirement by vigorous and forcible measures,
actually shooting one or two panic-stricken fugitives! He did not stop
here: having rallied and reorganised the men in a hollow, he led
them back to the lost trench and cleared the Turks out, setting a
magnificent example of bravery and resourcefulness…”115
The counter-attack led by Moor, no mean feat in itself
considering the shock of the initial panic, dislodged the Turks from
their slender hold on the trenches. Had the disorderly rout
continued it would have resulted in far higher casualties among the
fleeing troops and those attempting to repulse the attack. Another
attack at about 6.00 p.m. was repulsed with heavy Ottoman losses.
116
The possibility of a decisive Turkish breakthrough ended; trench
warfare resumed, with objectives being measured in hundreds of yards.
112
The trenches initially captured are shown on contemporary maps as H8—H9 and H10. The Hants withdrew to the
H11 line. The H12 trench remained for many month under contention.
113
Williams had come across Moor in one of the captured trenches, describing him as “a tall, wild-looking, dark-haired
boy of 18”.
114
As recorded by Lt. Col. A.G. Paterson DSO, MC, of the 1st KOSBs, who with the 1st Essex were occupying the H12 salient
on the left of 2nd Hants.
115
Snelling, S. (Ibid) andalso Atkinson, C.T.; 1952: “Regimental History: The Royal Hampshire Regiment. Vol. 2”;
Maclehose.
116
The 2nd Hants paid heavily for their trouble with 18 officers and 224 other ranks killed or missing. The 3rd Battle of
Krithia was costly the casualties ( killed & wounded) for the British 4,500 (of 20,000 troops engaged), the French 2,000 (of
10,000), and the Ottoman’s 9,000 to 10,000 (of approx 24,000). In WW1 29th Div casualties were among the highest in any
single Div around 94,000, 34,000 alone at Gallipoli (ANZAC Casualties at Gallipoli were 28,000 Australian and 8000 NZ; approx a
quarter died). This division was awarded a record 27 VCs (12 at Gallipoli).
Page 25 of 33
Details of this action, and, in particular, the ruthless methods employed by the young officer
to turn back the fleeing troops, are sketchy and contorversial. Moor left no record of the most
dramatic event of his young life. War correspondent Charles Bean recorded in his private
records that “A young 18-year-old Lieutenant, said to have shot four of his own men who had
bolted was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross”. 117
These reports create the perception of misdeed on Moor’s part. Bean never interviewed or
spoke to anyone actually involved in the incident. Patterson does not mention any shooting,
and the Regimental history may well have been reporting hearsay. If such an incident occurred
it cannot be concluded that Moor summarily executed any soldiers, as he may have been
defending himself (What is now termed as “fragging” can be traced back to the 18th Century!), and
“shot at” may have corrupted to “shot dead” in its sensational recounting at the Furphy water
cart. There are no first-hand accounts that suggest any impropriety118.
These actions may have gone unrewarded119 but for the officers of the 2nd Royal Fusiliers,
who, having witnessed Moor's desperate efforts to prevent a catastrophe, recommended this
young officer for the Victoria Cross120, who but nine months before was a schoolboy.
The citation reads; “…for most conspicuous bravery and resource on the 5th June, 1915121,
during operations South of Krithia, Dardanelles. When a detachment of a battalion on his left,
which had lost all its officers, was rapidly retiring before a heavy Turkish attack, 2nd Lieutenant
Moor immediately grasping the danger to the remainder of the line, dashed back some two
hundred yards, stemmed the retirement, led back the men, and recaptured the lost trench.
This young officer, who only joined the Army in October, 1914, by his personal bravery and
presence of mind saved a dangerous situation.”122
Moor had been under almost continuous fire for eleven hours, and “That evening, Second
Lieutenant Moor had to be taken to Brigade Headquarters, being completely exhausted”. It was a
further fourteen hours before he recovered, and shortly afterwards, he was evacuated to
hospital in Malta suffering from “exhaustion”.123
By the 6th August Moor was back with the 2nd Hants when they took part in a diversionary
attack close to the scene of his gallant action (W of the Krithia Nullah). Fortunately he was “left
out of battle” (probably in a liaison role) as the operation was an unmitigated disaster. More than
240 2nd Hants officers and men were killed, and 210 wounded, for no gain; leaving Moor one of
only four officers left in the Bttn, and again in temporary command!124
Moor was invalided to England on 15th September suffering a severe bout of dysentery
spending some time in a London hospital before being invested by George V with his VC at
Buckingham Palace on 18th October. Afterwards, he went to stay with his mother in Braunton,
North Devon, where the local citizens had prepared a special welcome
“As Lieut Moor and his mother walked from the platform to the waiting motor car ... the large
crowd gave three hearty cheers, with an additional cheer for Mrs Moor. Lieut Moor, in
acknowledgement, rose from his seat in the car and saluted.” His poor health was apparent
117
Lt. Gen. Sir Beauvoir de Lisle, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., who had arrived on the peninsula on the 2nd June as GOC 29th Div, later
stated that Moor; “had to shoot the leading four men, and the remainder came to their senses” (Obviously a reflection of what
was reported to him.). He described Moor as; “one of the bravest men I have met in this war” and his deed a “very
remarkable performance”.
118
TREVOR DIXON; 2014: British Officer awarded VC for Shooting Deserters; Jonathan King, Michael Bowers; 2005
“Gallipoli: Untold Stories from War Correspondent Charles Bean and Front-line Anzacs”; Doubleday; ISBN 1863254714,
9781863254717
119
He did also receive a congratulatory message from the CO 88th Bde. However, having not personally witnessed the
event the CO could not initiate a recommendation within the VC charter rules.
120
This brought (as wished for by Lt. Col. Williams) the Hampshire Regiment’s first Victoria Cross of the war, which is now
displayed at The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum & Memorial Garden, Winchester, England.
121
Even the Gazette and citations include errors! The deed occurred on the 6th. More understandable was the official
reticence over the supposed methods used to stop the troops “rapidly retiring”.
122
London Gazette; issue 29240 supplement 7279 23rd July 1915 - It is worth noting that the award of a VC immediately
below Moor's on the same Gazette page is that of No. 465 Lance-Corporal Albert Jacka, 14th Bttn AIF (Later Bro Jacka!) –
The first Australian to be awarded the VC in WW1.
123
Snelling, S. (Ibid)
124
Despite these appalling losses Moor’s morale seems not to have flagged! Maj. John Gillam noted in his diary how ten
days after the ill-fated attack, he was taken to one of the 2nd Hants forward positions by “a cheery young man named
Moore [sic], who has recently won the VC”.
Page 26 of 33
when the townsfolk presented him with an illuminated address 125; “Lieut Moor, who was looking
pale and was evidently very weak, briefly replied that he was very glad to be home.”126
Moor's sick leave was extended until 8th February ’16, when he joined the 3rd Hants at Gosport
on light duties. On 3rd October the now Lieutenant Moor was deemed fit enough for frontline
service and joined the 1st Hants in time for the closing of the Somme offensive. 127
He remained with them until 23rd Dec ’17, when he was severely wounded in the arm and
evacuated to England once more. A spell of convalescence was recommended by a medical
board who ruled it would be at least four months before he was fit enough for even “category C
duties”. However, on 26th Jan ’18, while still in Lady Ridley's Hospital, he was posted as aide-de-
camp to Brigadier Seely, CO of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade in France. Although still wanted
by Seely he was, instead given three weeks more leave and told to await orders. Deemed (very
speedily!) fit for duty on 22nd Feb, his next posting was not to the Canadian Cavalry but, on 20th
Mar ’18, to the staff of the now Maj Gen. Williams CB, CMG, DSO, his former CO from Gallipoli, now
GOC 30th Div128 . Moor, having still not yet recovered the full use of his arm, was given the acting
rank of GSO 3 and quickly adapted to his new role.
The 30th Div GSO1 was Lt Col Philip Neame VC DSO129 who with Moor was involved in two
narrow escapes in October 1918, as the Div advance guard pursed the Germans towards the
River Scheldt. Neame later wrote:
“We had dismounted and handed our horses to our orderlies while I looked with my field-glass,
when I heard the ominous roar of a heavy shell coming through the air. By experience I knew
that it was a 5.9 inch howitzer shell, and that it was coming very dose. There was no cover at all,
so we just stood there. The shell landed with a thud within three yards of our feet: by good
fortune it was a dud.
Another day Moor and I were walking down a lane with the CRA, Brig Gen F.F. Lambarde CMG,
DSO130, when a German field-gun battery bracketed us with two salvoes. Moor and I, as I thought
sensibly this time, made to get into the ditch, where there was good cover. Lambarde frightened
us by walking straight down the middle of the road without batting an eyelid, and for very shame
we went too, while the shells kept on coming, but behind us.” 131
Williams’ “..tall, wild-looking, dark-haired boy” did not disgrace him, and his battlefield
leadership led to the award of a Military Cross and Bar. The first;
“For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He carried out a daylight reconnaissance all along the
125
The toll on his health may be gauged his GP’s report written [4th Dec ’15] while staying with his mother: “Lt. Dallas
Moor has been under my care suffering from dysentery with jaundice. Jaundice now improving but as yet he has no solid
motion and does not gain in weight and probably will not until fluid motions cease. There is considerable nervous
exhaustion. He is quite tired out after walking one mile. Reflexes are exaggerated and fields of vision contracted. I
should suggest further complete mental rest and abundance of fresh air.”
126
The North Devon Journal; Thursday 21 October 1915; Page: 8
127
Moor was promoted to full Lieut on 25th Aug’16; London Gazette issue 29883 page 12665;29th Dec 1916
128
(see Snelling Ibid) Williams, had not forgotten his young subaltern's battlefield leadership powers, he had tried in vain to
have Moor posted to his staff in April 1917 when taking command of 30th Div. He later stated: “My first thought was for young
Moor. I wrote to his Battalion CO asking for him, saying that ‘the boy has been at it so long he must want a rest’. His CO wrote back that he
could not spare him.” “…Early in 1918 I heard from him that he was wounded and in England, and though he could not get passed fit he
could come to me as ADC. He joined me on March 20th, 1918, during our retreat before the German main attack [sic]. ” He later wrote
“This officer has a positive contempt for danger, and distinguishes himself on every occasion.” & “In the open fighting of the last few weeks
of the war he was invaluable, day after day reconnoitring well out in front of our most advanced troops.” See also Flenley, R.;
(reprint)2012: “A Brief History of the 30th Division: From its Reconstitution in July 1918 to the Armistice, 11th Nov. 1918”; Andrews UK
Limited, ISBN: 1781493774, 9781781493779
129
Later Lt Gen Sir Philip Neame, VC, KBE, CB, DSO (1888 – 1978), also on Old Cheltonian, and a Freemason initiated 4th Nov ’19
into the Old Cheltonians Lodge No 3223 GLE! Neame is the only VC recipient who has also won an Olympic Gold Medal,
he was a member of the GB 1924 “Olympic Running Deer team” at Paris. In WW2 he was captured by the Germans [6th
April ’41] during the retreat to Tobruk and held in Italy (he made several attempts to escape!) until the Italian surrender [Sept
’43] when he made a hazardous journey of several hundred miles through the chaotic, and still German occupied, Italian
countryside to reach the Allied Lines.
130
CRA = Commander Royal Artillery (Div.) - Brig Gen [Temp] Francis Fane Lambarde; [24th Dec 1868- 1948], entered the Army 17th
Feb.1888; was promoted to Major, 1st May, 1907; retired 21st Feb 1910, having served in South Africa, 1901-2 (Queen's Medal
with 4 clasps). Returned to service in WW1 receiving MID, DSO [Gazetted,23rd June, 1915], C.M.G. [1919], Chevalier de la Legion
d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre [France & Belgium]. Post war he was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and for over 40 yrs a
member of the Kent Archaeological Society.
131
This tale is found almost verbatim in Snelling and Cawthorne, N.; 2015: “Too Brave to Live, Too Young to Die - Teenage
Heroes From WWI”; Metro Publishing, ISBN: 1784189006. The source is probably Neame’s autobiography written while
in captivity in Italy in WW2.
Page 27 of 33
divisional front in face of heavy machine-gun fire at close range, in many places well in front
of our foremost posts”
was for actions in the period of the 30th August and 3rd of September when the Div was
advancing from Mont Rouge to Wulverghem. The bar to his MC was awarded for actions on the
20th October as the Div moved toward the River Scheldt after the Battle for Courtrai;132
"On 20th October 1918, near to Pijpestraat, the vanguard commander was wounded and
unable to carry on. Owing to heavy shelling and machine-gun fire, the vanguard came to a
standstill. Lieut. Moor, acting General Staff Officer, who was reconnoitring the front, noticed
this; he immediately took charge, and by his fearless example and skilful leading continued the
advance until the objective was reached. He has a positive contempt for danger, and
distinguishes himself on every occasion." 133
30th Div’s advance across Flanders continued after Courtrai, on 9th November, 89th Brigade
forced a crossing of the River Scheldt and by that night elements of the Division were at Renaix.
At the time when the Armistice came into effect, 11am on 11 November, the advanced units
had reached the line Ghoy – la Livarde, NW of Lessines. At Cortrai and in the pursuit to the
Scheldt the Germans used gas, and ever near the action, Moor was inevitably exposed and
invalided to the No 3 Canadian Clearing Station at Mouveaux.
Tragically, Moor did not live to receive his MC & Bar134, having surpassed everything the
military enemy had thrown at him for four long years, his health strained by sickness and
wounds, he succumbed to the horrific Spanish influenza pandemic at Mouvaux, France, on 3rd
November 1918, just eight days prior to the Armistice. Maj.-Gen. Williams described him “a fine
character and as fearless a soldier as ever lived”, he was just 22 years old. He is buried in the
Commonwealth War Graves Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier. 135
132
The Battle of Courtrai [14th -19th Oct ’18] Pijpestraat [50.810068 N, 3.168796E] is 8km W of Coutrai now called Kortrijk]
133
The M.C. was gazetted 2nd December, 1918 [Gazette Supplement 31043; pg 14254]; the bar 30th July 1919 [Gazette Supplement 31480; pg
9700]
134
Both the Military Cross and Bar were presented to his family posthumously. In 1961 CDR. W. Sylvester Moor RN, Dallas’
elder brother - a former champion lightweight boxer, who had served throughout WW1, wrote to the Hampshire
Regiment: “I now hold my brother Dallas' Victoria Cross, and as I have no Blood Relations left, would like to present it to the
Regiment.” It now resides in the regimental museum in Winchester in memory of the youngest Army officer VC of the
war. Thanks to his Australian birth he is also remembered on the Commemorative Roll at the Australian War Memorial.
135
‘VC’s of the First World War:Gallipoli’ by Stephen Snelling https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-
dead/casualty-details/193325/GEORGE%20RAYMOND%20DALLAS%20MOOR/ . 163 1st AIF soldiers also lie at Y Farm
Military Cemetery.
Page 28 of 33
Nurse Bertha Bartlett (14th Nov 1894-3rd Nov 1918)
Each of these four holders of the VC had been wounded and

cared by the nurses and VADs of the military hospital system. The
nurses, auxiliaries, and doctors themselves faced significant danger
not only from shot and shell but also from infection and disease
contracted from their patients. Influenza was not selective on those
who it felled.
Women from Newfoundland and Labrador were not allowed to
enlist in the armed forces during WW1, but served overseas working
long hours in crowded and chaotic hospitals treating the seriusly ill
and severely wounded.
Some were professional nurses who joined the Canadian Army Bertha Bartlett with a
Medical Corps, but most were part of a league of nursing aids, patient 1918
known as VADs, who joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment formed
by The British Red Cross Society in 1909 to provide auxiliary medical service in the event of
war. VADs, having completed several weeks of training before going overseas, worked as
hospital cooks, clerks, welfare officers, and maids, they assisted at operations, they cared for
patients, and they drove ambulances. The VADs had to pay for their own training and received
no payment until 1915, when they were granted £20 per annum. VADs136 typically came from
the middle and upper classes who could afford training fees and had enough time and money
to work for little or no income.
The Newfoundland VADs were taught in their training in St. John's
how to pitch hospital tents, care for wounded soldiers, and build and
cook on camp fires. Newfoundland and Labrador sent 40 VADs
overseas during the war, the first contingent of five leaving in
November 1915.
The work was not without danger, nurses working on the hospital
ships, like the ‘Carrisbrooke Castle’, criss-crossed the English
Channel, picking up wounded soldiers from French ports and
bringing them back to England across the Channel for treatment
where German U-boats prowled torpedoing Allied vessels, and laying
mines. Some 20 hospital ships sank during the First World War.
The hospitals were chronically understaffed and struggled to treat
the constant flow of wounded from the front. The VADs worked long
hours (often 12-hour shifts) and had little time off (one half day a week,
and one full day a month).137
The Territorial Force Nursing Service [TFNS] had been formed in
1908, trained nurses working in civilian hospitals or in private
Newfoundland VAD Nurses - nursing were recruited and readied in preparation for war. Mobilised
left-right Clare Janes, Frances Cluett,
Bertha Bartlett, Henrietta Gallishaw
in August 1914 they staffed 23 territorial force hospitals which were
accommodated in schools, colleges and other public buildings. Four
136
A “Canadian” VAD of note was Amelia Earhart, the later famous American aviatrix. During the Christmas vacation in
1917 the 20 year old Earhart visited her sister in Toronto Canada where seeing the returning wounded soldiers she was
inspired to complete the Red Cross training as a nurse's aide, she then worked with the VAD at Spadina Military Hospital
[Toronto], preparing food for patients with special diets and working in the dispensary. When the 1918 Spanish flu
reached Toronto, Earhart hospitalized with the ’flu in early November 1918 suffering from pneumonia and maxillary
sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis significantly affected Earhart's flying and activities in later life. t was around this time that
Earhart and a young woman friend visited an air-fair held in conjunction with the Canadian National Exhibition in
Toronto. A highlight was a flying exhibition by a WWI ace, who spotting Earhart and her friend watching from an
isolated clearing, dived his plane at them. Earhart later recorded that she believed he had said to himself, “Watch me
make them scamper..”, but the girls stood their ground as the aircraft came close. Earhart later recalled “I believe that
little red airplane said something to me as it swished by”. Earhart had her first lesson on January 3, 1921, at Kinner Field
near Long Beach, her teacher was Anita "Neta" Snook, a pioneer female aviator.
137
Newfoundland and Labrador in the First World War; Voluntary Aid Detachment
Page 29 of 33
territorial hospitals were rapidly opened in London138.
More beds were urgently needed as large numbers of
casualties from Flanders continued to arrive throughout
1915. The War Office started requisitioning the better
equipped and more modern Poor Law infirmaries and
workhouses. By 1917 nine out of London's 30 Poor Law
infirmaries, including Bermondsey had become war
hospitals, staffed by their existing personnel bolstered
by TFNS and VADs. 139
Bertha (Roberta) Bartlett of the Newfoundland140
Voluntary Aid Detachment141 was born in Brigus,
Conception Bay, Newfoundland, the daughter of Mary
and Robert Bartlett.
Bertha arrived in England in December 1916 and was
posted to the 4th Northern General Hospital [a TFNS
Hospital] in Lincoln which occupied the old buildings and
fields of the former Lincoln Grammar School. After a
few months, Bertha was posted to The Bermondsey
Military Hospital in London142.
The risks to the medical staff were well known, on
10th of July 1918 the Bermondsey hospital lost Sister
Isobel M.Mackintosh, A.R.R.C., [31yrs] to influenza. She
had trained at the Prince of Wales's General Hospital,
London, and received the Mons Star for her service in o.
The British Journal of Nursing - Vol. LXI, N 1,594,
th
British hospitals at Wimereux, Calais, and Le Touquet. SATURDAY, October 19 1918. Pp232.
Earlier that year had been awarded the Royal Red Cross
(2nd Class)143,
Sister Mackintosh had been Night Superintendent and later Sister-in-Charge of one of the
medical blocks at Bermondsey and had nursed with great devotion many soldiers with
influenza144
138
The 1st London General Hospital at St Gabriel's Teacher Training College in Camberwell. The 2nd London General
Hospital, St Mark's teacher training college, Chelsea. The 3rd & 4th London General Hospitals in the Royal Victoria Patriotic
Schools, Wandsworth, and the new King's College Hospital at Denmark Hill.
139
The requisitioned infirmaries (some including the adjoining workhouse) were Bermondsey, Bethnal Green, Fulham,
Hammersmith, Hampstead, Lewisham, Mile End, Southwark, and Wandsworth St John's Hill Infirmaries (Burdett's
Hospitals and Charities 1917). Edmonton Union Infirmary and Percy House, the Brentford Board of Guardians former
residential school, also became military hospitals. St Marylebone Residential Schools at Southall became an auxiliary
hospital for Australian troops. The disused Endell Street Workhouse, which on the outbreak of war had been used for
Belgium refugees, in May 1915 became a military hospital staffed by women doctors. See London Hospitals in the Great
War
140
Newfoundland & Labrador was a British colony, self-governing from 1855., and then became a British dominion from
1907 to 1934 when it surrendered self-governing dominion status in exchange for British Royal Commission rule as a
crown colony, due to a crisis in Newfoundland's public finances exacerbated by building a railway (completed in the
1890s), and raising its own regiment for the First World War. Eventually in 1949 Newfoundland joined Canada becoming
the tenth province.
The 1st Newfoundland regiment was wiped out (90% Casualties) on the 1st July 1916 at Beaumont Hamel on the First Day
of the 1st Battle of the Somme. Reformed it served with distinction through the rest of the war.
141
The Voluntary Aid Detachment was civilian organisation established by the British Red Cross and Order of St John to
provide military nursing, patient care and support to the Imperial armed forces. Known as ‘VADs’, the volunteers were
generally young middle or upper-class women who worked as cooks, laundresses, maids, clerks, drivers and nurses.
Over 80,000 people served with the VAD during WW1.
142
The Bermondsey Military Hospital was formerly the St Olave’s Ladywell Institution (aka the “workhouse”) on Ladywell
Roadin Lewisham which had been taken over by the military early in the war. The hospital boasted 796 beds, of which
103 were for tuberculosis patients, 25 for isolation and 6 for dysentery cases.
143
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Red_Cross; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914_Star (Mons Star) A few women
who served in France and Belgium as nurses or auxiliaries during the qualifying period were also awarded the medal.
144
The British Journal of Nursing - Vol. LXI ,No. 1,579, SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. pp44.
Page 30 of 33
Bertha soon proved herself a capable nurse, and in late 1918 was also caring for many
suffering from the Spanish ’Flu. Unfortunately, she contracted the illness herself and died 11
days before her 24th birthday, her diaries revealed that she had never planned to return to
Newfoundland after the war, but had been hoping to go
to Australia to be married, probably to one of her
patients!145 That same week the Metropolitan Asylums
Board reported its nursing staff had suffered severely in
the influenza epidemic; “Over three hundred nurses and
ward attendants have been attacked by the disease, and
the death roll is eleven.” 146
Bertha was laid to rest in Wandsworth (Earlsfield)
Cemetery, London. She is buried the only woman
alongside seventeen other Newfoundland servicemen.
Upon her headstone are inscribed the words, ‘She died
for those she loved’.147
o.
The British Journal of Nursing - Vol. LXI, N 1,596,
nd
SATURDAY, November 2 1918. Pp264.
145
See https://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/beatrix-potter-schoolchildren-meet-families-of-newfoundlands-wwi-
dead-whose-graves-they-tend-223076/
146
The British Journal of Nursing - Vol. LXI ,No. 1,597, SATURDAY, Nov 9th, 1918. Pp290.
147
https://www.cwgc.org/learn/news-and-events/news/2018/11/03/11/30/heroic-newfoundland-nurse-remembered-
100-years-on?fbclid=IwAR1PM5QdJHQn-Y8j7cvD9yrsAeiqlWDkulwPtJ6brViPMgsm6_Ih5v_QehY
Page 31 of 33
Sister Rosa O’Kane148

During the First World War, 2,139 nurses served with the Australian Army Nursing Service
(AANS) and 130 Australian women served with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing
Service (QAIMNS) or contributed to the war effort overseas through associations like the British,
French or Belgian Red Cross or the Young Women’s Christian Association.
Australian nurses served in the Mediterranean, France, Belgium, England, Salonika and India
as well as on hospital ships. On the Western Front, they
worked in advanced dressing stations and field hospitals
behind the lines, often within range of artillery and
subject to aerial bombardment. However, by the end of
the First World War, 23 of these women had died in
service.
On the 22nd of October, 1918, HMAT Boonah sailed
from Port Adelaide on bound for the UK via Fremantle
and South Africa. The 1,200 troops on board HMAT
Boonah were bound for the trenches of the Western
Front in World War One. It was the last troop ship to
leave Australia bound for Europe, but the Armistice was
signed on 11th November 1918 before HMAT Boonah
reached the Western Front.
Three days later, she docked in Durban, South Africa,
to re-coal before heading back to Australia. Although the
Aussie troops weren't allowed to go to shore in Durban,
they mingled with local men re-coaling the ship to buy
ostrich feathers as souvenirs. This encounter proved to
be a deadly mistake for dozens on board, who became
infected by influenza. This spread resulting in more than
300 cases.
By the time the troopship reached the shores of
Fremantle on 7th December 1918, 400 of the 1,000 men
on board were infected. The HMAT Boonah149 wasn't
allowed to dock and was left stranded in Gage Roads, nd t
2 L Sister Rosa O’Kane (QLD State Archives)
with the hundreds of infected men taken to the
Woodman Point Quarantine Station. With no medical staff to care for the men, authorities
desperately turned to a ship of military nurses on board SS Wyreema, also on its way back to
Australia.
Second Lieutenant Sister Rosa O’Kane was born in Charters Towers on 14 April 1890. She
was the daughter of John Gregory O’Kane and Jeanie Elizabeth O’Kane and grand-daughter of
the former owner of the Northern Miner, Thadeus O’Kane. Rosa qualified as a nurse in the
Townsville Hospital in 1915. She then worked in Charters Towers and Hughenden before being
appointed Matron at the Winton Hospital in 1917.
The military authorities called her up for duty at the military hospital in Kangaroo Point,
Brisbane on 27th November 1917 where she worked until June 1918, when she sent a telegram
to her mother stating she was leaving immediately for six months overseas.
O’Kane embarked on the troopship SS Wyreema from Sydney on 14th October 1918 with a
party of 40 Australian army nursing sisters bound for Thessalonica (Salonika). They had
already reached Cape Town when Armistice was declared on 11 November 1918, then returning
to Fremantle on 10th December 1918.
148
Based on an article by By Glenn Davies | 25 April 2019] see also https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-
display/sister-rosa-okane-a-forgotten-hero,12607 - https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/128736
https://blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2016/07/27/a-war-mothers-plea/
149
Somewhat disappointed to be missing their chance to become national heroes, some soldiers referred to themselves in
an on-board publication called the Boonah Buzzer, as “The Too-Bloomin’-Late-Brigade” and named another onboard
publication “The Boonah Boomerang” – the ship that returned to sender!
Page 32 of 33
Rosa O’Kane volunteered as one of the 20 nurses
who would tend the ’flu infected returning soldiers at
Woodman Point Quarantine Station.
Of the 20 volunteer nurses from the SS Wyreema
15 contracted Spanish Flu and four made died —
Army staff nurses Rosa O’Kane, Doris Ridgway and
Ada Thompson and civilian nurse Hilda Williams. The
tragedy also claimed the lives of 26 soldiers.
The Catholic Press, 16th January 1919, stated :
“General regret was expressed in Townsville, when it
became known that Sister Rosa O'Kane Had made the
supreme sacrifice, dying from the effects of that dread
scourge, Spanish influenza, whilst nursing the soldier
patients at Woodman's Point”.
Most of the dead were initially buried at Woodman
Point, however, many of the service personnel were
exhumed in 1958 and re-interred at Perth War
Cemetery. Ada Thompson was exhumed and re-
interred at Fremantle Cemetery.
The WA Defence Department wanted to transfer
O’Kane’s remains to Karrakatta cemetery as her story
had become of great interest to the community, but
her mother Jeannie O’Kane ‘would not have the
remains disturbed’.
The bodies of Rosa O’Kane and Hilda Williams remain at Woodman Point the former marked
by an impressive granite obelisk150 and the latter by a simple wooden cross. In the century since
1919, the surroundings have overgrown with bushland, but the graves are maintained by the
Friends of Woodman Point Recreation Camp, who have kept the Quarantine Station open to the
public.
From that moment Rosa’s mother was in every respect a ‘war mother’ and no cause was ever
so dear to her as that of the digger or the nursing sister. Jeanie O’Kane had three children –
two sons and her daughter Rosa – before being widowed at an early age. To support them, she
took over the family newspaper that had been started by her father-in-law, Thaddeus O’Kane,
successfully managing it for several years until she sold the business to return to teaching.
It was uncommon for the families of women to apply for the pension as women were not
generally considered to be part of the workforce and were not viewed as providers at the time.
Jeanie O'Kane made an application for a war pension after the death of her only daughter,
Nurse Rosa O'Kane. It was common for a widow to receive a war pension if an unmarried son
was killed during the war and the mother could show that she was a dependent. But a special
decision had to be made as to whether a widowed mother of a deceased and unmarried
daughter should receive the same benefits, eventually the Repatriation Department stated:.
“...as members of the Army Nursing Service are soldiers within the meaning of the Repatriation
Act an application….may be accepted from Mrs. O'Kane...” and she was granted a pension of two
pounds per fortnight.
In the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, there are 15 stained glass
windows. Each shows a figure dressed in military uniform and under each figure is a word
which describes a quality displayed by Australians during wartime. One window features a
nurse. She represents all military nurses who have shown dedication to their patients and a
commitment to catering for the sick and wounded during wartime. This window bears the word
‘Devotion’.
W J Nash - October 2020
Rosa’s home town of Charters Towers ( N QLD) funded the monument which also commemorated all who died in
150
WW1.
Page 33 of 33

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The Great War related influenza respected no form of courage and

Complied by W. J Nash; Lodge Victoria Cross 928 UGLNSW&ACT

Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod VC

Able Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie VC

William Leefe Robinson VC

Robinson leaving Windsor Castle after his VC investiture

Fred Sowrey, D.S.O. (left) and Noel Clifton (right) were

Julian Royds Gribble VC

Polygon Wood (26 Sept – 3 Oct),

Lieutenant George Raymond Dallas Moor VC MC & Bar88

Nurse Bertha Bartlett (14th Nov 1894-3rd Nov 1918)

Each of these four holders of the VC had been wounded and

Sister Rosa O’Kane148

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