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Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall
On
the 7th November 1915 pilot Gilbert Stuart
Martin Insall gained a VC and his companion
observer-gunner T.H.Donald
a DCM for action
over Achiet
(Achiet-le-Petit or Achiet-le-Grand?)
with a vickers FB5 5074
11th squadron.
Wounded with his observer
later on the 14th December, he became
a prisoner of war
and
attempted to
escape three times.
On the
28th August 1917, his
third attempt,
he managed during nine
nights to travel to the Dutch border and
freedom. For his efforts
to escape imprisonment, he received an MC
Insall
was promoted to wing commander of the 35th
squadron in March 1929
Source : RAF Museum
Achiet-le-Grand
Christopher Augustus Cox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christopher Augustus Cox (December 25, 1889 -
April 28, 1959) was an English recipient of the
Victoria
Cross,
the highest and most prestigious award for
gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be
awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was 27
years old, and a Private in the 7th Bn., The
Bedfordshire Regiment, British Army during the
First World War when the following deed took
place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 13
March 1917 at
Achiet-le-Grand,
France during an attack by the battalion, the
front wave was checked by very heavy artillery
and machine-gun fire and the whole line had to
take shelter in shell holes to avoid
annihilation. Private Cox, a stretcher-bearer,
went out over fire-swept ground and, single-handed,
rescued four men. Having collected the wounded
of his own battalion he then helped to bring in
the wounded of the adjoining battalion. On two
subsequent days he carried out similar work with
complete disregard of his own safety.
Further information
He was
born on 25 December 1889 and was married with
one son when war was declared but still
volunteered in September 1914 when Kitchener
made his appeal. He went to France in July 1915
and spent nearly 2 years in the trenches first
on the Somme near Albert. He was wounded on the
first day of the Somme offensive. He was also at
Thiepval in September 1916 and back to the
Bihucourt assault in March 1917 where he won his
VC and sustained serious wounds to his foot
which resulted in him being sent back to England.
His
family expanded to 8 children and 14
grandchildren, and he was much loved by them
all. On 28 April 1959 he died aged 69.
His
Victoria Cross is currently on display at the
Imperial War Museum, London, England.
Logeast Wood
Daniel Marcus William Beak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel Marcus
William Beak (VC, DSO, MC & Bar) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and
most prestigious award for gallantry in the face
of the enemy that can be awarded to British and
Commonwealth forces.
He was 27 years
old, and a T/Commander in the Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve, (Drake Bn., Royal Naval
Division) during the First World War when the
following deed took place for which he was
awarded the VC.
During the
period 21/25 August and on 4 September 1918 at
Logeast Wood( North
Achiet ), France,
Commander Beak led his men and captured four
enemy positions under heavy fire. Four days
later, although dazed by a shell fragment, in
the absence of the brigade commander, he
reorganised the whole brigade under extremely
heavy gun fire and led his men to their
objective. When an attack was held up,
accompanied by only one runner he succeeded in
breaking up a nest of machine-guns, personally
bringing in nine or ten prisoners. His
initiative and the confidence with which he
inspired all ranks, contributed very materially
to the success of these operations.
He later
achieved the rank of Major General.
Achiet-le-Petit
George Onions
From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
George Onions (March 2, 1883 - April
2, 1944) was an English recipient of
the Victoria Cross, the highest and
most prestigious award for gallantry
in the face of the enemy that can be
awarded to British and Commonwealth
forces.
He
was 35 years old, and a
Lance-Corporal in the 1st Battalion,
The Devonshire Regiment, British
Army during the First World War when
the following deed took place for
which he was awarded the VC.
On 22
August 1918 south of
Achiet-le-Petit,
France, Lance-Corporal Onions,
having been sent out with one man to
get in touch with the battalion on
the right flank, saw the enemy
advancing in large numbers. Seizing
his opportunity, he boldly placed
himself and his comrade on the flank
of the advancing enemy and opened
fire. When the enemy were about 100
yards from him the line wavered and
some hands were thrown up, whereupon
the lance-corporal rushed forward
and helped by his comrade, took
about 200 of the enemy prisoners and
marched them back to his company
commander.
He
later achieved the rank of Major.
After
the war, Onions served in the
Auxiliary Division
of the Royal
Irish Constabulary.
His
Victoria Cross is displayed at the
Military Museum of Devon and Dorset
(Dorchester, Dorset, England).
Courcelles le Comte
Hugh McIver
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
Hugh McIver (VC, MM &
Bar) (21 June 1890- 2 September
1918) was a Scottish recipient
of the Victoria Cross, the
highest and most prestigious
award for gallantry in the face
of the enemy that can be awarded
to British and Commonwealth
forces.
He was 28 years old, and
a private in the 2nd Battalion,
The Royal Scots (The Lothian
Regiment), British Army during
the First World War when the
following deed took place for
which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 August 1918 east
of Courcelle-le Compte, France,
Private McIver was employed as a
company-runner and under heavy
artillery and machine-gun fire
carried messages regardless of
his own safety. Single-handed he
pursued an enemy scout into a
machine-gun post and having
killed six of the garrison,
captured 20 prisoners and two
machine-guns. Later he succeeded,
at great personal risk, in
stopping the fire of a British
tank which was directed in error
against our own troops. He was
killed in action 10 days later.
He was killed in action,
Near Courcelles, France, on 2
September 1918.
His Victoria Cross is
displayed at the Royal Scots
Museum, Edinburgh Castle,
Scotland.
Bucquoy (2 Men awarded)
William Beesley&William Gregg
William Beesley
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Beesley (5
October 1895-23 September 1966)
was an English recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest and
most prestigious award for
gallantry in the face of the
enemy that can be awarded to
British and Commonwealth
forces.He was 22 years old, and
a private in the 13th Battalion,
The Rifle Brigade (Prince
Consort's Own), British Army
during the First World War when
the following deed took place
for which he was awarded the
VC.On 8 May 1918 at Bucquoy,
France, when Private Beesley's
platoon sergeant and all the
section commanders were killed
he took command. Single-handed
he rushed a post, shot four of
the enemy, took six prisoners
and sent them back to our lines.
He and a comrade then brought
his Lewis gun into action,
inflicting many casualties and
holding their position for four
hours until the second private
was wounded. Private Beesley, by
himself, maintained his position
until nightfall, when he
returned to the original line
with the wounded man and the
Lewis gun which he kept in
action until things had
quietened down.
He later achieved the
rank of sergeant.
His Victoria Cross is
displayed at the Royal Green
Jackets Museum (Winchester,
England).
William Gregg
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Gregg VC , DCM , MM (27 January 1890 -
10 August 1969) was an English recipient of the
Victoria Cross (British medal of achievement),
the highest and most prestigious award for
gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be
awarded to British and Commonwealth forces
Details
He was
28 years old, and a sergeant in the 13th
Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's
Own), British Army during the First World War
when the following deed took place for which he
was awarded the VC.
On 6
May 1918 at Bucquoy, France, when all the
officers of Sergeant Gregg's company had been
hit during an attack on an enemy outpost, he
took command, rushing two enemy posts, killing
some of the gun teams, taking prisoners and
capturing a machine-gun. He then started to
consolidate his position until driven back by a
counter-attack, but as reinforcements had by now
come up, he led a charge, personally bombed a
hostile machine-gun, killed the crew and
captured the gun. When driven back again, he led
another successful attack and held on to his
position until ordered to withdraw.
Further information
He
later achieved the rank of company
sergeant-major.
The medal
His
Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green
Jackets Museum (Winchester, England).
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