King's Royal Rifles

Photographs and history of the King's Royal Rifles, during the reign of Queen Victoria. This, like the Rifle Brigade, is one of the exceptional regiments in the "Army List", in having more than two battalions. At present it possesses four, the first of which was raised about 1755 in America, and was composed of Swiss and German Protestants; but, later, it was increased to four, of which two were twice reduced and restored before 1788. A fifth battalion was added in 1797, created from Hompesch's Mounted Rifles and Loewenstein's Chasseurs. By 1813 there were eight battalions, but after the war they were reduced to two - the Rifle and the Light Infantry battalions (originally the 2nd battalion of the force raised in 1795, and the 3rd of the increase in 1787), to which a third was added during the Crimean War, and a fourth after it. So mixed, however, were the recruits in 1824, that in that year it was decided to collect all British-born subjects into the 1st battalion, leaving the 2nd battalion to the aliens. Its glorious battle roll records its valuable services since its formation, and is a history too lengthy to be more than briefly summarised. Its first important service was naturally in the American War of 1757-60, when it saw much continuous frontier fighting, besides being engaged at Louisburg, Ticonderoga, Quebec, Abraham Plains, defence of Quebec, and at Montreal; while, interspersed with active service at Martinique and Havannah, at Jamaica and St Vincent, it shared materially in the great War of American Independence. on Hobkirk Hill, Guildford, and York Town; after this other detachments of the regiment were still employed in the West Indies - at Martinique, St Lucia, Guadaloupe, Trinidad, and Porto Rico. Meanwhile the other battalions were earning honours at Surinam in 1804, at Bergen and in Denmark in 1799 and 1807; and especially in the Peninsula, where the "green jackets" were present at Obidos, Lorinda, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Douro, Oporto, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Albuhera, Pombal, Casal Nova, Olivenza, Badajoz, El Bodon, Aldea de Ponte, Arroyo dos Molinos, siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, escalade of Badajo, Almarez, Fort St Cayetano, Castragon, battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, St Jean de Luz, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Alba de Tormes, passage of Bidassoa and Adour, Fort St Michael, Burgos, and Bayonne. Again in the West Indies in 1809, the regiment appeears at Los Saintes and Guadaloupe; in Portugal in 1826; and in India between 1846 and 1850, when it served at the siege of Mooltan, at Goojerat, in the Eusufzie expedition, and against the Afridis. The then 2nd battalion served also in the Kaffir War of 1851-53. The 1st and 2nd battalions took an active part in the Mutiny, from the outbreak at Meerut to Hindun and Delhi; with the Rohilcund and Oude expeditions; at Bareilly, and numerous other "affairs", and in the jungles of Jugdespur. Soon after this the 2nd battalion was ent to China, in 1860, and assisted in the capture of the Taku forts, the occupation of Pekin, and the other operations that led to peace. So varied and extensive are the services of the regiment that it is, as we have said, only possible to enumerate the chief battles in which it has borne so distinguished a part. Up to 1854 there had been only two battalions, increased in 1855 to three, and to four in 1856. The 1st battalion took part in the arduous, though bloodless, Red River Expedition of 1870; the 2nd, in 1878, shared in the Afghan War at Ahmed Khel, Ghuzni, Arza, and the march to and battle at Kandahar; the 3rd, in South Africa, fought at Ginghlovo, the relief of Ekowe, and Ulundi; in the Transvaal at the disastrous skirmish of Ingogo (where Sergeant-Major Wilkins was specially mentioned for coolness by Sir George Colley); and in North Africa in the campaign of 1882, when it was under fire at Tel-el-Mahuta and Kassassin, as well as being in second line at Tel-el-Kebir. The same battalion also took part in the operations round Suakim, at El-Teb and Tamai, and, finally, returning again to Egypt proper, shared in the labours of the Nile Column. Victoria Crosses have been won in 1857-58 by privates Bambrick, Divane, Turner, Thompson, Sergeants Waller, and Garvin, Bugler Sutton, and Lieutenant Heathcote; in 1879 by Captain Redevers H Buller at Inhlobane during the Zulu War; and in 1884 Lieutenant Scrope Marling won it at Tamai. The uniform when General Wolfe, in 1759, gave the regiment its motto of "Celer et audax" was red with royal blue facings, and so it remained until the present century, when one battalion at least had assumed the green jacket; and the whole regiment was clad by 1816 in "a green jacket with short skirts, lapels lined with red," etc. There has been a tradition that the present dark colour of the jacket was selected as best matching the tint of the foliage of the cork woods in Spain; but there is no authoritative foundation for the statement as far as can be gathered. In the "forties" the pelisse seems to have been worn. The general character of the dress has necessarily followed that of the British army, colour of uniform excepted. The facings are red. The button bears the bugle crowned within a wreath. The Maltese Cross - a survival possibly of the time when the mounted riflemen of Hompesch, a relation of the last Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, joined the ranks - bears the regimental battle roll, as rifle regiments have no colours; these having been abandoned in 1824, at which time they bore the royal cypher crowned. The head-dress is of sealskin or astracan, and has a red and black plume. The Militia battalions are the Huntingdon, Royal 2nd Middlesex, the Carlow and North Cork battalions; a 6th battalion, mentioned in some books, does not appear in the present "Army List", and was disbanded in 1889. The Volunteer battalions are the 1st Middlesex - Victoria and St George's (green with scarlet facings), the 2nd South Middlesex (grey and scarlet), the 4th Middlesex - West London (ditto); the 5th West Middlesex and 9th Harrow (grey and scarlet, and green with green facing respectively); the 12th, Civil Service, and 25th, Bank of England (clad in grey and blue and in rifle green); the 13th, Queen's Westminster (grey and scarlet); the 21st Finsbury Rifles (green and scarlet); the 22nd, Central London Rangers (ditto); and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd City of London Rifle Volunteer Brigade (green with green facings, green with scarlet, and scarlet with buff facings, respectively). Their usual name is the "Royal Rifles", or the "Green Jackets"; but the regiment was once known as the "Royal Americans", and to distinguish their dark dress, with red facings, from the Rifle Brigade, have been called the "Sanguinary (or B----y) Sweeps". The depot is at Winchester. *Extract from "The British Army and Auxiliary Forces" Colonel C. Cooper King, R.M.A. ,* 1894** LLEWELLYN ALBERIC EMILIUS PRICE-DAVIES, D.S.O. (Lieutenant, now Captain) King?s Royal Rifle Corps At Blood River Poort, on September 17^th 1901, the Boers had overwhelmed the right of the British column, and some 400 of them galloped round the flank and rear of the guns, charged the drivers (who went trying to get the guns away), calling upon them to surrender. Lieutenant Price-0Davies, hearing the order given to open fire upon the Boers, at once drew his revolver and dashed in among them, firing in a most gallant and desperate manner to save the guns. He was immediately shot and knocked off his horse, but happily was not mortally wounded, although he had ridden without hesitation to what seemed almost certain death. Lieutenant Price-Davies, son of Lewis Richard Price-Davies, of Marrington Hall, Cherbury, Salop, was born on June 30^th 1878; educated at Marlborough, and entered the Royal Rifles, February 23^rd 1898. Served in South Africa, as Adjutant to Smyth?s Mounted Infantry 1889-1902, receiving both medals, mention in despatches anf four clasps. For his distinguished service in the earlier place of war, during which he was three times wounded, he was created a member of the D.S.O. Lord Kitchener presented him with Voctoria Cross at Pretoria, on June 8^th 1902. JOSEPH BRADSHAW (Private) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort?s Own) For his gallant exploit he received a gratuity of ?5 and was promoted on the spot. CLAUDE THOMAS BOURCHIER (Lieutenant, afterwards Colonel) 1^st Battalion (The Prince Consort?s Own) Rifle Brigade Knight of the Legion of Honour These places were appropriately called by the besiegers ?ovens,? or ?wasps? nests,? and from the Russian riflemen killed many of our men every night. To put an end to this, Major Bourchier determined that they should be captured and destroyed. In doing this he so highly distinguished himself that his name and his acts of bravery were promulgated in French General Orders. On the fall of Lieutenant Tryon he succeeded to the command of the two hundred men of his regiment engaged in effecting this important capture. WILLIAM JAMES MONTGOMERY CUNINGHAME (Captain, afterwards Colonel Sir William, Bart) 1^st Battalion (Prince Consort?s Own) Rifle Brigade ROBERT HUMPSTON (Private) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade A new battery was being erected by our men on the extreme right front of the 2^nd Parallel Left Attack and every night the work was greatly impeded by the fire from some Russians in a rifle pit, situated among the rocks overhanging the Woronzoff Road, between the 3^rd Parrallel Right Attack and ?the Quarries.? On April 22^nd 1855, in broad daylight Robert Humpston and Joseph Bradshaw stormed and took it, and on further support being obtained, they eventually destroyed it. Both men received a gratuity of ?5 and were promoted, in addition to being awarded the Victoria Cross. R. McGREGOR (Private) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade Decorated for his conspicuous bravery when employed as a Sharpshooter in July 1855. Two Russians occupying a rifle pit went were most annoying by their continuous fire, and McGregor crossed the open space under a hail of bullets, took shelter under a rock and dislodged them, occupying the position himself. SAMUEL TURNER (Private) 1^st Battalion 60^th Rifles On June 19^th 1857 when before Delhi, Lieutenant Humphrey?s, of the Indian Service, was mortally wounded, and had he been allowed to remain where he fell, he would have mutilated beyond recognition, a fate unfortunately too often met by many another soldier during that terrible time. Turner carried him to the rear on his shoulders under a brisk fire from the enemy posted around, and, at one time, even at close quarters. During his humane act he was severely wounded by a sabre cut. STEPHEN GARVIN (Colour-Sergeant) 1^st Battalion. 60^th Rifles Besides being brought in prominent notice for his gallant conduct during the entire operations before Delhi, Garvin was specially noticed for his bravery on June 23^rd 1857, when he; led a little party of men under a terrific fire to assault the ?Sammy House,? a well-defended post which gave particular trouble to our advancing troops. After a sharp contest this hostile post was captured, chiefly by his noble example and daring conduct. JOHN DIVANE (Private) 1^st Battalion 60^th Rifles Elected by the privates of his regiment under Rule 13 of the Warrant, for his distinguished conduct at Delh, September 10^th 1857, when he headed a charge made by the Beloochee and Sikh troops upon the enemy?s trenches. Followed closely by the native troops, he jumped from our trenches and, making straight for the enemy?s breast-works, was shot down when within a few yards of the goal. WILLIAM SUTTON (Bugler) 1^st Battalion 60^th Rifles Elected by the privates of his regiment under Rule 13 of the warrant, for his brave conduct at Delhi, September 13^th 1857, the day before the great assault, when he volunteered to make a reconnaissance to ascertain the state of the breach. Throughout the operations of the siege his behaviour was most noticeable, especially on August 2^nd, when, seeing a bugler of the enemy during the attack about to sound an order, he rushed forward and killed him before he could carry out his purpose. ALFRED SPENCER HEATHCOTE (Lieutenant) 60^th Rifles Lieutenant Alfred Spencer Heathcote was elected by the officers of his regiment under rule 13 of the Victoria Cross Warrant, for his daring conduct during the siege of Delhi from June to September 1857, during which he was wounded. He volunteered for services of extreme danger, especially during the terrible six days of the assault by our troops, when such severe fighting took place in the streets of the city. He was born in London March 29^th 1832. GEORGE WALLER (Colour-Sergeant) 1^st Battalion 60^th Rifles Elected by the non-commissioned officers of his regiment under Rule 13 of the Warrant, for conspicuous gallantry before Delhi, when he charged and captured the enemy?s guns near the Cabul Gate, on September 14^th 1857; and again, four days later, when the Sepoys made a most determined attack on a gun near the Chandian Chouk, his conduct was partially noticeable. HENRY WILMOT (Captain, afterwards Colonel, K.C.B.) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade On March 11^th 1858, Captain Wilmot, when his company was engaged with a large force of the enemy near the Iron Bridge, Lucknow, found himself with only four men at the end of a street, and a very large body of the enemy opposed to him. One of the men fell, shot through both legs. Corporal Nash and Private D. Hawke?s (although the latter was wounded) took him up and carried him away a very long-distance, under a severe fire from the enemy, while Captain Wilmot covered their retreat, using the men?s rifle in turn. Sir Henry Wilmot, born February 3^rd 1831, was the son of the late Sir Henry Sacheverel Wilmot. Educated at Rugby, he joined the 43^rd Light Infantry in 1849. In 1851, on obtaining his company, he was transferred to the Rifle Brigade, the 2^nd Battalion of which he joined in the Crimean War, January 1856. In July 1857, he sailed for India, and after the siege of LuckHope Grant as Deputy-Judge-Advocate-General in Oude. In 1860 as Judge-Advocate-General of the expeditionary force, he took part in the campaign in China, which terminated his active services. He died at his residence, Chaltenden on April 7^th 1901. DAVID HAWKES (Private) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade Associated with the late Sir H. Wilmot (V.C.), in a very brave act at the Iron Bridge, Lucknow on March 11^th 1858. Hawkes died in 1859, shortly after being gazetted. W. NASH (Corporal) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade Associated with Sir Henry Wilmot (V.C.), in a most courageous and humane action near the Iron Bridge at Lucknow March 11^th 1858. SAME SHAW (Private) 3^rd Battalion Rifle Brigade In a despatch, dated June 17^th 1858, from Nowabgunge, Major-General Hope Grant, K.C.B., brought the conduct of this soldier to the notice of the D.A.G. of the Army, saying that he trusted his Excellency would allow him to recommend Shaw for the Victoria Cross, and would approve of his having issued a divisional order stating that he had done so. The act was as follows: - On June 13^th 1858, an armed mutineer, a ghazee was seen to enter a ?tope? of trees, and someofficers and men dashed after him. Shaw, armed only with a short sword, rushed in single handed and killed him after a desperate struggle, in which he himself received a severe wound from the rebel?s tulwar. FREDERICK CORBETT (Private) 3^rd Battalion 60^th King?s Royal Rifle corps On August 5^th 1882, the Mounted Infantry, to which Corbett was attacked, made a reconnaissance upon Kafr Dowar. They came under a severe fire from the enemy, and Lieutenant Howard-Vyse was mortally wounded. Hee fell in the open, in a very exposed position, and, they?re being no time to move him, Corbett asked for, and was granted, leave to say at his side and endeavoured to stop the bleeding of his officer?s wound. Although a target for the rifles of the enemy, who poured a constant fire upon him, he did not move until the Mounted Infantry retired to where he was knelling, when he assisted in carrying the officer from the field. PERCIVAL SCROPE MARLING (Lieutenant) 60^th the King?s Royal Rifle Corps (Now Lieut-Colonel, 18^th Hussars) On March 13^th 1884, at the battle of Tamaai Private Morley (35^th Regiment) was severely wounded. Lieutenant Marling at once rode up, and had the injured man placed on the saddle in front of him, but he immediately fell off. Thereupon Lieutenant Marling dismounted, and giving up the horse, succeeded in carrying him for eighty yards into safety, the enemy being close upon him and keeping up a sharp fire. Lieut. ?Colonel Marling, son of Sir William Marling, was born in Glocestershire March 6^th 1861. Educated at Harrow and R.M.C., Sanhurst. Served through the Boer War 1881; present at Laing?s Nek and Ingogo engagements. Through Egyptian Campaign of 1882, present at the battles of Tel-el-Mahuta, Kassassin, and Tel-el-Kebir. In Suakim Campaign, battle of El-Teb, and relief of Tokar, actions of Tamaai, and Tamanib; Khartoum Exhibition 1884; battle of Abu-Klea, El-Gubat, and Metemmeh, and through the many actions fought under Sir H. Stewart. Major August 1896. On the outbreak of the Boer War embarked for South Africa, taking part in the operations extending over 1899-1900. REDVERS HENRY BULLER, C.B. (Captain and Brevet-Lieut. ?Colonel, now General, the Right Honourable G.C.B., G.C.M.G., P.C.) 60 Rifles &n The Zulu War of 1879, though successfully carried out in the end, was responsible for terrible loss of life during the short time occupied n forcing the Zulus to submission. The disaster at Isandlwana was terrible enough, that at Intombi followed soon after, and the affair at the Inhlobane Mountain narrowly escaped equalling the first-named in appalling consequences.Hearing that vast herds of cattle were on the top of the Mountain, a raid upon them was arranged, and on March 28^th, 500 mounted men set off to bring them down. The ascent of the side approached was so steep, that it was hardly passable for horses, but they succeeded in gaining the summit, and had commenced to drive the herds together, when Sir Redvers Buller saw, about six miles away, a force of 20,000 Zulus advancing This impi was known to be ?on the way? from Ulundi, bit it was never imagined that it could compass the distance in so short a time. There was now nothing for our en but a hasty retreat, and down the precipitous paths they had ascended (the easier road on the other side, which they had intended to use being now blocked by the enemy) men and horses struggled, fell, and crowded together. The advanced Zulus promptly fell upon them, assuaged the horses, and speared every man they could reach, and it was during the terrible time that Captain Buller performed the many heroic acts for which he was deservedly awarded the Cross bsp; style="mso-spacerun: yes"> upon him. WALTER NORRIS CONGREVE (Captain, now Lieut. ?Colonel, M.V.O.) 2^nd Rifle Brigade On December 15^th 1899, at the battle of Colenso Bridge, during the early part of Buller?s advance to the relief of Ladysmith, the guns of the 14^th and 66^th Batteries R.F.A. had dashed forward, far in advance of their flank supports, and opened fire on the Boer position. Without shelter of any descrition, and in full view of the enemy strongly entrenched, they became the object of as gearful and pitless a storm of bullets and shell as any battery has had to face in modern war. The horses were torn to pieces, the gunners littered the ground around the guns, but with that dogged and stolid endurance, and that incapability of the British soldier to know when he is beaten, officers and men, with a heroism unsurpassed before or snce, worked their guns in a desperate and hopeless endeavour to turn tide. At last hardly enough remained to serve the guns, and any attempt to bring relief from the donga, five hundred yards to the rear, seemed only to increase the blizzard of shot and shell which swept, without intermission, the space between the donga and the guns. Soon the batteries had no one to serve them, and they wre deserted, but there were some heroic spirits who echoed Colonel Long?s words, uttered as they removed him from the storm stricken gun by which he had fallen, ?Abandon be damed! We don?t abandon guns!? General Buller, on hearing of the diaster, called for volunteers to attempt to bring them in. His call was readily answered by, among others, Captain Schofield, Captain Congreve, Captain Reed and Lieutenant Roberts, son of the Commander-in-Chief. Captain Schofield got together his team, and was able to bring in one of the only two guns, which were saved. Captain Congreve and Lieutenant Roberts started out on their almost hopeless task, getting as far as hooking a second gun to a limber, and though it was brought back, it cost the life of Lieutenant Roberts, who fell mortally wounded. Captain Congreve, badly wounded, made for the donga, but he saw his brother officer fall, and bravely returned through the hell of fire and brought him into shelter. Captain Reed brought up three teams to see what could be done at this point, and heroically dashed for the guns, but the horses could not be induced to face the storm, and as men were falling fast at every attempt, no further endeavour was made and the remaining guns had to be abandoned. Corporal Nurse, for his gallant services during the awful ordeal, was, with the four officers, awarded the Victoria Cross. Further details of Captains Scholfield and Reed, Lieutenant Robert and Corporal Nurse are given under their respective headings. Captain Congreve, son of the late William Congreve, J.P., of Congreve Staffrodshire, was born on November 20^th 1862. Educated at Harrow he entered the Rifle Brigade February 7^th 1885, becoming Captain in December 1893, Major in the regiment and Army Lieut. ?Colonel December 21^st 1901. Served on the Staff in south Africa as A.M.S. and private sevretary to Lord Kitvhener, after which in November 1902, he became Assistant Military Sevretary and A.D.C. to H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught in Ireland, being made a member of the Royal Victorian Order by His Majesty the King when on a visit to that country in 1903. THE HONOURABLE F.H.S. ROBERTS (Lieutenant) King?s Royal Rifle Corps Son of Field Marshal the Earl Roberts, V.C., K.G., Commander-in-Chief. Born at Umballa, India January 8^th 1872, he entered the King?s Royal Rifle corps June 10^th 1891, and during the four following years, was on active service on the NorthWest frontier of India-including Chitral, receiving medals and clasps and being mentioned in despatches. His heroic bravery at Colenso, December 15^th 1899, for which had he survived, he would (according to the Gazette) have received the Victoria Cross now possessed by his family-is detailed in the account given under the heading of Captain Congrece (V.C.) The gun, in the saving of which Lieutenant Roberts lost his life, has been presented o his gallant father as a family heirloom by the War Office authorities. A. DURRANT (Private) 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade When one considers the terrible surroundings of a battlefield, the awful spectacle of dead and dying men, the strain on the nerves, the excitement and noise of firing, it is not strange to hear of any soldier succumbing to the mental strain involved. At Spion Kop, while men were being literally torn to pieces by shellfire, it has been placed on record that some of our men were seen wandering about calmly as if among the peaceful fields of England, and it is not difficult to realize that men, in the midst of such awful carnage, became battle-dazed and temporarily deranged. Sucj a case occurred at Bergendal, on august 27^th 1900, when a soldier, Acting-Corporal Wellar, having been wounded, became dazed, and getting up from the firing line, commenced to run towards the enemy. Private Durrant, seeing the man?s condition, started after him, caught and pulled him down, endeavouring to quieton him, but finding this too severe a task to accomplish alone, he carried the man for two hundred yards under a tremendous fire, and placed him in a safe position, afterwards returning to his place in the fighting line. JOHN EDMOND GOUGH (Captain and Brevet-Major, now Brevet-Lieut. ?Colonel) Rifle Brigade Lieut. ?Colonel, born on October 25^th 1871, is the son of General Sir Charles John Stanley Gough, V.C., whop gained his Victoria Cross in the Indian Mutiny 1857-8, by several acts of conspicuous daring. He is also nephew of General Sir Hugh Henry Gough, V.C., who gained the Victoria Cross for bravery at Alum Bagh in 1857, and Lucknow 1858, and thus establishes a record, for no other family has ever yet possessed three members of the decoration. He was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on March 12^th 1892; became 1^st Lieutenant, December 6^th 1893; Captain, December 5^th 1898; Brevet-Major (for distinguished service in South Africa-Boer War), November 29^th 1900; and in addition to being awarded the Victoria Cross was promoted Brevet-Lieut. ?Colonel to date April 22^nd 1903. His other was services include the expeditions against Chikusi and Chilwa in British Central Africa, the Nile Expedition of 1898, and South Africa 1899-1902 (Lombards Kop, Ladysmith, Laing?s Nek, Belfast and Lydenburg). He received the Victoria Cross at the hands o H.M. the King on Febraury 29^th 1904, at St. James Palace. The late Mr. W. T. Maud, artist correspondent of the Graphic, during the fight at Daratolch sent home the following account of the incident, and it will be seen, in the last two paragraphs, how ajor Gough, while bringing forward the bravery of his fellow-officers, kept back any reference to his own gallant conduct- ?At 2.30 the retreat commenced in square formation, the dead and wounded being tied on camels. The enemy immediately pressed upon the rear-guard, which owing to the thick bush got considerably inrear of the main column. Captain Bruce, R.A., staff officer to Major Gough, who was with the rear-guard, was wounded at twenty yards distance, falling on the path, unable to move. With him were Captains Walker and Rolland, of the Intelligence Department, two Yaos, one Sikh, and one man of the Somali Camel corps. Meantime the columns, unaware of what had happened, were getting further away. Captain Rolland ran back 500 yards, and returned with a Bikanir camel for Bruce, while Captain Walker and the men remained with Bruce, keeping off the enemy. This they successfully accomplished, but not before Bruce was hit again and the Sikh wounded. But for this gallant conduct, Bruce would have fallen into the enemy?s hands.? ?As a matter of fact, Gough personally directed the rear-Guard action, and joined Captain Walker, two Yaos, one Sikh, and one man of the Somali Camel corps in keeping back the enemy with rifle fire until Rolland returned with the camel. Gough then helped to place Bruce upon it. Poor Bruce was unconscious and mortally wounded, and died soon afterwards.? HENRY HUGH CLIFFORD (Lieutenant, afterwards Major General, K.C.M.G.) Rifle Brigade Son of the 7^th Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, he was born in Shropshire, on September 12^th 1828, and died at Ugbrooke park, Chudleigh, in Devonshire on April 12^th 1883 TIMOTHY O?HEA (Private) 1^st Battalion Rifle Brigade As will be seen on referring to Rule 5 of the Victoria Cross Warrant, the decoration could not be originally be awarded except for the acts performed ?in the presence of the enemy,? but on August 10^th 1858, a new clause was inserted in the Order and under that rule Private O?Hea was awarded the decoration eight years later, being the only man who has benefited by the change. On June 9^th 1866, a railway van, carrying 2,000 pounds of ammunition, caught fire at Danville Station while on the way from Quebec to Montreal, in Canada. While the guard was hesitating what to do under such terrible circumstances, O?Hea kept his nerve and, seizing the keys, opened the van doors, calling for water and a ladder. He tore the covering from the cases, discovered the source of the fire, and by his example it was suppressed, and a frightful explosion averted. Some years ago this brave man was lost in the Australian Bush, and no trace of him ever found.
	The Machine Gun Detachment of the 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles. (1896) Under the mobilization scheme for Home defence a machine gun detachment is attached to every Brigade of Infantry, which detachment is drawn from the men of one Battalion of the four, which together constitute the Brigade. Each machine gun detachment consists of one officer, one sergeant, and thirteen men, and is provided with two guns, each drawn by one horse, and two two-horse carts. The men of the detachment are borne in excess of the ordinary field establishment of the Battalion. Our photograph shows the detachment and the two Maxim guns belonging to the 3rd Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (the old 60th Rifles), now stationed at Shorncliffe Camp, and belonging to Sir William Butler's command, the South Eastern district.
How Rifleman Daniel Shee, Of The King?s Own Rifle Corps Won the D.C.M. At St. Eloi Fifteen miles north of Neuve Chapelle, on the southern ridge of Ypres, stands the village of St. Eloi. Here in the late afternoon of March 14^th-15^th 1915, the Germans opened a terrific bombardment, which played havoc with the defences to the southeast of the village. A most determined infantry attacked followed, which forced our men out of the first line trenches. There was, however, no intention on our part to allow the enemy to remain in even temporary possession of what he had won, and as soon as darkness fell a counter attack was organised. It was delivered very early in the morning of the 15^th, by the 82^nd Brigade, with the 80^th Brigade in support, and resulted in the recovery of all the lost ground, which was of material importance. I the counter attack our men displayed the greatest gallantry, a notable instance of this being the dashing piece of work which gained Rifleman Daniel Shee, of the King?s Own Rifle Corps, the Distinguished Conduct Medal. On the night of the 14^th-15^th the K.R.R.?s were in reserve, when the order came for them to advance and retake four trenches just east of the St. Eloi-Oostevern road, which had been captured by the enemy. It was a pitch-dark night and raining in torrents, and all the surrounding country was a sea of liquid mud, into which in places the men sank up to their knees. As they approached the German position our artillery shelled it vigorously, lighting it up with the glare of bursting shrapnel. The K.R.R.?s were ordered to attack the two easterly trenches, in conjunction with the Cornwalls, while the Royal Irish Fusiliers, with the assistance of half of the company to which Rifleman Shee was attached, were to advance against the other two. The K.R.R.?s attack began, when our men, emerging from an old disused trench situated about sixty yards from the German lines, splashed bravely through the mire, and in a few minutes had carried three of the lost trenches. It was in the only one of the four trenches still remaining in the hands of the enemy that Rifleman Shee, who had been on the extreme right of his half company, found himself just as the day was beginning to break. There he saw Captain Franks, the adjutant of his battalion, who inquired his name. Shee told him, upon whom the officer said, ?Follow me,? and led the way out of the trench. Under a heavy machine gun and rifle fire the two men advanced towards 19 trenches. When close to it, Captain Franks shouted to the Germans who occupied it to surrender, and shot one of them dead as he was trying to get away. Shee also fired, and then the officer shouted, ?Charge!? and they both sprang into the trench. They must have presented the most truculent appearance, being literally plastered with mud from head to heel, while Shee could boast a two-day?s growth of beard. Anyway, the sight of them proved altogether too much for the nerves of the sixteen valiant Teutons in the trench, who, notwithstanding that there were a number of their comrades in support trenches forty yards behind, forthwith threw down their rifles and held up their hands. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire' How Acting-Corporal Cecil Reginald Noble And Company Sergeant Major Harry Daniels, Of The 2^nd Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort?s Own) Won The V.C. At Neuve Chapelle. There has been more cruel spectacle in the present war than that of dauntless courage baffled and rendered impotent by mechanical contrivances; of brave men advancing to the assault of the enemy?s position in the full confidence of victory, suddenly held up by the barbed wired entanglements which they had fondly imagined would have been completely swept away by their own artillery preparation, and while thus checked, exposed to a murderous fire from their entrenched foes. For, however heavy and long continued the bombardment preceding an attack may have been, there will always be places here and there in the defences where the high explosive shells have failed to do their work, and where the wire entanglements still hold firm; and cruel, indeed, is the fate of the regiment which finds itself obliged to cut away through such an obstacle while rifle and machine gun plays upon it at close range. If it escapes practical annihilation, it will be more than fortune. From such a fate was the 2^nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade saved, on March 12^th 1915, at the battle of Neuve Chapelle, by the heroism and devotion of two of its non-commissioned officers. When the ?Green Jackets? approached that section of the second line German trenches, which they had been ordered to take, they saw, to their consternation, that the wire entanglements protecting them were still practically intact, and that to force them would entail the most appalling loss. It was at this most critical moment that Acting-Corporal Noble and Company Sergeant Major Daniels resolved to sacrifice themselves for their comrades. While the others threw themselves on the ground to take what cover they might from the withering fire beneath which they were falling fast, the two heroes ran towards the entanglements and began to cut away at them like men possessed. Well they knew that they were courting almost certain death; that already a hundred rifles and half a score of machine guns were trained upon them. But they wrecked not of that; one thought alone possessed their minds: to make a way for their comrades before they were shot down. And they succeeded; for though both speedily fell dangerously wounded, it was not before great lengths of the barbed wire had been cut through and the path to victory stood open. With resounding cheers, the Riflemen rushed through the breach in the entanglements like a living tide; the bayonet soon did its deadly work, and the trenches were won. Both of these gallant men were awarded the V.C. ?for most conspicuous bravery?; but it is sad to relate that Corporal Noble never lived to receive the coveted distinction which he had so richly merited, as he died of his wounds shortly after the action. Sergeant-Major Daniels happily recovered, though it was not until towards the middle of May that he was finally discharged from hospital. Daniels is a Norfolk man, having been born at Wymondham in that county in December 1884. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire' How Lieutenant John Henry Stephen Dimmer, Of The 2^nd Battalion King?s Royal Rifle Corps Won The V.C. At Klein Zillebeke On the morning of November 10^th 1914, the 2^nd Kings Royal Rifles, who had been attached to the sorely shattered 4^th (Guards) Brigade relieved the London Scottish in the section of the trenches at Klein Zillebeke which the Territorial had held so gallantly in the face of heavy and persistent shelling. The machine gun section, which was in charge of Lieutenant Dimmer, took over from the Scots about noon, and that officer lost no time in pacing his two Vickers machine guns in position. The German trenches opposite to ours had been dug behind a bank on the edge of a woo, known to our men as the Brown Road Wood, and the trees of which, though it was already the second week in November, were still well covered with leaves. A great number of the trees had, however, been broken down by the fire of our artillery; indeed, as viewed from the British trenches, the wood appeared almost impassable. The No Man?s Land between the hostile lines presented a curious and gruesome spectacle, being covered with shell holes and littered with the unburied bodies of fallen Germans-in heaps and singly-many of which had probably lain there since the desperate and sanguinary fighting of the last days of October. During the afternoon of the 10^th the new arrivals were very badly shelled, and also much annoyed by the attention of the German snipers, a corporal of the K.R.R.?s named Cordingley, being shot dead by one of these gentry, while Lieutenant Dimmer had two narrow escapes, the bullet on each occasion passing through his cap. On the 11^th they were shelled all day, the bombardment being particularly severe in the afternoon. On the 12^th, on which day the enemy began a series of attacks on the Klein Zillebeke positions and along the whole of our line towards Messines, all was quiet until noon, when the German artillery started a violent bombardment of the ?Green Jackets? trenches. This continued for about half an hour, when it slackened, and the enemy?s machine guns began to pour a torrent of bullets through the gaps in the British parapet made by their artillery fire. Then 1 p.m., the Prussian Guard, in mass formation, advanced from the wood, the men marching shoulder to shoulder in perfect order, as though they were on parade. At once the British machine guns began to spit death amongst them, Lieutenant Dimmer firing one of the guns himself, and the storm of bullets tore through their serried ranks, mowing them down as corn falls before the sickle. But still they came on, and presently the lieutenant?s gun jammed, owing to the belt getting wet. In a moment he had climbed onto the emplacement a large adjustable spanner in his hand, and got the deadly weapon again in working order; but, as he did so, a rifle bullet struck him in the right jaw. Heedless of the pain, he began pouring a fresh stream of lead into the advancing masses, but he had not fired many rounds when the gun stuck when traversing. Reaching up to remedy the stoppage, he was hit again by a rifle bullet, this time in the right shoulder. But he got his gun going again for all that, and before that blast of death the Huns fell in swathes. Then a shrapnel shell burst above him, and he was hit for the third time, three bullets lodging in his injured shoulder. But, with the blood streaming from his wounds, the heroic officer went on firing his gun, until, when within fifty yards of our trenches, the Germans suddenly broke and ran for cover. Their artillery covered their retreat with a rain of shrapnel, and Lieutenant Dimmer?s gun was hit and destroyed, and his face spattered with splinters of broken metal. Exhausted with pan and loss of blood, he lost consciousness for a time, but oncoming to insist on proceeding to Brigade Headquarters to report in person to the Earl of Cavan, commanding the 4^th (Guards) Brigade. Scarcely, however, had he made his report when his strength gave out, and he collapsed and was taken to the dressing station. Happily, the most gallant officer, whose magnificent courage and tenacity were recognized by the award of the Victoria Cross, has since made a complete recovery, and after being attached for a time to the 6^th Battalion of the K.R.R.C. at Sheerness, he had been sent to Serbia, where doubtless fresh opportunities for distinction await him. Lieutenant-now Captain-John Henry Stephen Dimmer, who is thirty-two years of age, having been born in London on October 9^th 1884, was formerly in the ranks, from which he was promoted Second Lieutenant in the King?s Royal Rifle Corps in February 1908, becoming Lieutenant in July 1911. Previous to joining the Army, he was for four years in the office of a firm of civil engineers in Westminster. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire' How Second-Lieutenant William Edmund Gray, Of The 2^nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade, Won The Military Cross At Rouges Bancs The British advance in the Festubert area on May 9^th-10^th 1915, was primarily designed to detain the German 7^th Corps in position, and prevent reinforcements in men and guns being sent southwards to resist the French offensive in the Artois; but it had also a subsidiary purpose, namely, the winning of the Aubers ridge, for the sake of which we had fought the Battle of Neuve chapelle. The first object was achieved, and the success of our Allies was undoubtedly largely due to the fact that the British advance had rendered it impossible for the enemy to strengthen their line to the extent that they would otherwise have done. But the second was not attained, for the strength of the German position in the Festubert region, particularly towards Fromelles and the northern part of the Aibers ridge, against which the 8th Division, advancing from Rouges Bancs, directed our main attack, had been greatly underrated. Here and there ground was gained, notably by a Territorial Battalion, the 13^th (Kensington) of the London Regiment, who in most dashing manner carried three lines of the enemy?s trenches with the bayonet. But the tremendous bombardment which the German artillery directed upon the captured trenches, combined with the withering enfilading fire from machine guns mounted in fortified farm houses on the flanks of their position, rendered them untenable, and by the morning of the 10^th we were obliged to relinquish all the ground which the valour of our infantry had won. Our gallant fellows had, however, the consolation of knowing that they had accomplished and endured everything that could possibly be expected of flesh and blood; indeed, few actions in the Great War had been productive of more acts of heroism and devotion. Several have been described elsewhere in this work, but that performed by Second-Lieutenant William Edmund Gray, of the 2^nd Rifle Brigade, ought not to be omitted. Our artillery preparation began at about 5 a.m. on the morning of the 9^th, and half an hour later our infantry advanced to the attack. The moment they climbed the parapet and began to cross the two hundred and fifty yards of absolutely open ground, which lay, between them and the German first line trenches, they came under a terrific fire, shrapnel and rifle bullets raking them from the front while machine guns enfiladed them pitilessly from either flank. The troops on the left of the 2^nd Rifle Brigade, where our artillery preparation had failed to destroy the enemy?s entanglements, were obliged to retire, with terrible loss; but those of the ?Green Jackets? who survived the fiery ordeal succeeded in carrying the German trench, which they had been ordered to take. Second-Lieutenant Gray, who was in charge of the machine gun section of his battalion, recognizing the impossibility of getting his guns across, devoted himself to reorganising the men who had been left behind, and a little later, seeing that reinforcements were urgently needed if the captured trench were to be held, he got together all the men he could find-about eighty in number-and led them out into the death swept open. Across that fatal ground, thickly strewn with the dead and dying bodies of their comrades, they made their way, men falling at every step under the withering crossfire which raked it, and at last the brave lieutenant found himself standing beside his commanding officer in the comparative safety of the German trench. But when he looked round for the men who had followed him, he saw that scarcely a score had succeeded in winning their way through the inferno! In the captured trench Lieutenant Gray had the good fortune to discover a German machine gun, and with it a plentiful supply of ammunition. He lost no time in mounting it on what had originally been the parados of the trench, but which our men were now engaged in converting into the parapet; and when presently the Huns counter attacked, he hoisted them with their own petard most effectively, and assisted to drive the back with heavy loss. As soon as darkness fell, the lieutenant left the German trench, with some men of the machine gun section, and crossing over to the British trenches, returned with his own guns and mounted them, in readiness for another counter attack. Although not so dangerous an undertaking as that of the morning, this double journey was quite sufficiently dangerous to test the nerves of the boldest, as the ground between the opposing lines was being heavily shelled by the German artillery, with the object of preventing our sending up reinforcements. At dawn, after their lost trench had been subjected to a fierce bombardment, the enemy counter attacked in great force, and eventually obliged the Riflemen to evacuate it. Lieutenant Gray was the last officer to retire, and his machine guns continued to spit death among the advancing Huns until the latter were within a few yards of the position. Second-Lieutenant now Captain Gray, who for his great gallantry and ability on the occasion, was awarded the Military Cross, is thirty-one years of age, and his home is at Datchet, near Windsor. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'
	Sergeant - King's Royal Rifles