Stephen Reford, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion
to duty. He was in command of the right flank company in an attack,
and maintained the direction of the Battalion under very difficult
conditions. Though encountering many ‘pill-boxes’ and strong points,
he reached his final objective.”
_23rd April 1918._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant Edward Murray Harvey,
Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty when in charge of the platoon guides and the marking
out of the assembly areas, which he successfully carried out under
shell-fire and the most trying weather conditions. He led his platoon
with skill and judgment in the attack, until wounded at the final
objective.”
_5th July 1918._ M.C. to Lieutenant Stewart Sandbach Harrison, Irish
Guards, Special Reserve, attached M.G. Corps: “For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. Whilst he was in charge
of a section of forward machine-guns the right flank of the line was
held up by a party of enemy with several machine-guns. He rushed
forward with one of his guns in front of the leading infantry under
very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and enfiladed the enemy, thus
enabling the line to go forward again.”
_5th July 1918._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant Donald Arthur Birbeck
Moodie, Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty. On the company commander becoming a casualty, he
took command and successfully checked several enemy attempts to get
round the flank of his company, which was for some hours critically
situated. Later, when the trenches held by his company were attacked
and entered by the enemy, he directed his men with great skill and
judgment, and himself fought with splendid courage and determination.”
_5th July 1918._ Second Bar to M.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Captain)
Edward Budd, M.C., Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company with great skill
and judgment, and during the subsequent consolidation displayed
marked ability and disregard of danger, reorganising his own company
and rendering great assistance to neighbouring company commanders.
Later, when, during an enemy attack, all communications were cut, he
volunteered to go up to the front line and clear up the situation. He
successfully accomplished this task, in spite of continuous sniping
and machine-gun fire. Throughout the operations his coolness was
most marked, and his sound judgment was of the greatest help to his
battalion commander.”
_5th July 1918._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant Cyril Elmore Hammond,
Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty. During an attack, at a time when the position was
most obscure, he was sent forward on patrol. Though under fire for
the whole time, and in spite of suffering several casualties, he
kept his battalion commander in touch with the situation, furnishing
accurate and valuable information.”
_18th July 1918._ M.C. to Captain the Hon. Harold Alfred Vyvyan St.
George Harmsworth, Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. He led his company
forward under heavy fire, and himself put out of action two enemy
machine-guns. It was entirely due to his splendid example that his
company reached their objective.”
_26th July 1918._ M.C. to Captain the Hon. Henry Barnaby O’Brien,
2nd Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion
to duty. When the enemy broke the line on the right, this officer,
collecting all the available men, formed a defensive bank under heavy
machine-gun and rifle-fire, saving the situation.”
_26th July 1918._ M.C. to Lieutenant Frederick Sydney Leslie Smith,
2nd Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion
to duty. Whilst in process of relief the enemy broke through on
his right. Promptly realising the situation, this officer formed
a defensive flank, supervising the placing of his men under heavy
machine-gun fire.”
_26th July 1918._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant John Augustin Stephano
Gatti, 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty. After an attack by his platoon, this officer walked
along the line within 200 yards of the enemy, encouraging his men
in their work of consolidation, under very heavy fire, until he was
wounded.”
_26th July 1918._ M.C. to Lieutenant Robert Henry Warren Heard, 2nd
Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. Whilst he was relieving another unit in the front line, the
enemy attacked and broke through on the right, leaving the flank
of this officer’s company exposed. He immediately placed the men
himself, under heavy machine-gun fire, to form a defensive flank, and
rectified the situation.”
_26th July 1918._ M.C. to Captain Joseph Illingworth Lawson, R.A.M.C.
(Scottish Rifles), attached 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards: “For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in bringing in wounded
under heavy shell-fire, with no one between him and the enemy,
thereby saving them from being made prisoners.”
_16th September 1918._ M.C. to 2nd Lieutenant Theobald Mathew, Irish
Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer
led a raid with dash and ability, its success being largely due to
his leadership and example. When one of his sections was held up by a
machine-gun he rushed it from a flank, putting the gun out of action
and killing the gunner.”
_16th September 1918._ M.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Captain) George
Louis St. Clair Bambridge, Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the enemy, attacking
in great strength, succeeded in driving a wedge into our line,
this officer immediately led a counter-attack which was entirely
successful, the enemy being driven back with loss and the line
re-established. It was entirely due to his initiative and dash that
the line was maintained.”
_16th September 1918._ M.C. to Captain Charles Joseph Henry O’Hara
Moore, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
In a situation of extreme gravity, when the troops on the right had
been forced out of their trenches by the intensity of the fire, this
officer collected them, leading them back through a heavy barrage
to the original line, when he stayed with them, walking down the
line under sniping and machine-gun fire, until their confidence had
returned. His courage and coolness were an example to all.”
_16th September 1918._ M.C. to Captain Terence Edmund Gascoigne
Nugent, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty, in going forward into the open through an extremely heavy
barrage to rally some men who were falling back. He led them back
into the line, and by his fearless example encouraged the troops to
stiffen their resistance. His conduct throughout the operations was
of a high order.”
_16th September 1918._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant Charles Stuart
O’Brien, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty in charge of a raiding-party. When the party was formed up
he found that the barrage that came down at Zero hour was for the
greater part just beyond the enemy post. He therefore ordered his
party to crawl forward until they were quite close to the post and
then to charge exactly as the barrage lifted, with the result that
every man of the garrison was captured without much resistance. Had
he not noticed that the barrage was a little too far, and remained
where he was, his party would not have arrived at exactly the right
moment, and the success of the raid entirely depended upon this.”
_7th November 1918._ Bar to M.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Major)
John Neville Marshall, M.C., Irish Guards, Special Reserve: “For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an advance. He was
ordered to take a company and two platoons and fill a gap and capture
a position in the hands of the enemy. He succeeded splendidly, and,
advancing further than the unit on his left, he formed a defensive
flank and beat off a hostile attack. Though wounded early in the
attack, his courage and fine leadership were chiefly responsible for
the success of the operation.” (M.C. gazetted 1st January 1917.)
_2nd December 1918._ Bar to M.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Major) Thomas
Francis Tallents, M.C., Irish Guards, Special Reserve, attached 4th
Guards M.G.C.: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
When part of the line was held up and troops were finally obliged
to retire to avoid being cut off, this officer carried out, at
great risk, a reconnaissance, which enabled the machine-gunners to
move forward with their guns and equipment. The result was that
the hostile fire against the infantry was much neutralised, and a
movement to cut them off stopped, with heavy loss to the enemy.”
(M.C. gazetted 3rd June 1916.)
_11th January 1919._ M.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Daniel
Joseph Hegarty, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous
gallantry in an attack. He led his company with great determination
through intense artillery barrage and machine-gun fire, and finding
the leading battalion held up he established and consolidated posts,
thus protecting their flanks. Throughout the operations he showed
marked courage and devotion to duty.”
_11th January 1919._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant Alan Edward
Hutchinson, Irish Guards (Special Reserve), attached 1st Battalion:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He reconnoitred
and occupied with his platoon an enemy trench, which was to be
the Battalion’s objective the next morning, thus assisting a tank
which had to cross the railway at Zero hour. Later, in an attack,
he led his platoon skilfully in face of intense machine-gun fire,
and although wounded gained his objective and remained during
consolidation. He set a fine example of courage and cheerfulness to
all under him.”
_11th January 1919._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant John Alexander Mulloy
Faraday, Irish Guards (Special Reserve), attached 1st Battalion: “For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a patrol forward
some 800 yards, gained touch with the enemy, and, after pushing on
a little further, consolidated his position. Two platoons were sent
to support him, but were later ordered to withdraw. Under heavy
artillery and machine-gun fire he maintained his position for some
hours, and covered the withdrawal of the platoons before withdrawing
his own party in perfect order. Though the enemy tried to cut him
off, and he was badly wounded, he got his party safely back to his
lines, together with four prisoners. Throughout he showed fine
courage and leadership under most difficult circumstances.”
_11th January 1919._ M.C. to Rev. Francis Stanislaus du Moulin
Browne, Army Chaplain Department, attached 1st Battalion, Irish
Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an
attack. He went forward with the battalion under very heavy fire and
spent the whole day tending wounded and helping stretcher-bearers
to find them under machine-gun fire. He showed splendid zeal and
disregard of danger.”
_11th January 1919._ M.C. to Captain Arthur Wyndham Louis Paget,
Irish Guards (Special Reserve), attached 1st Battalion: “For
conspicuous gallantry during an attack. He led his company to their
objective through intense artillery barrage, showing great courage
and coolness under heavy machine-gun fire while organising his
company and consolidating his position. He also went out and helped
in a wounded officer. He set a very fine example to his men.”
_11th January 1919._ M.C. to Captain Cuthbert Avenal John Vernon,
Irish Guards (Special Reserve), attached 1st Battalion: “For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 26th to 27th September
1918, during the attack on Flesquières. In the evening he laid the
tapes to mark out the assembly positions for the battalion, only 250
yards from the front line, and directed the companies in the dark to
their places. The next morning, when some confusion was caused by the
intense hostile barrage, he collected stragglers and reorganised the
battalion on its objective.”
_1st February 1919._ M.C. to Second Lieutenant Patrick Redmond Joseph
Barry, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty on 27th September 1918, near St. Léger. Throughout
the fighting he was calm and collected, acting as Adjutant, making
all arrangements and assisting in the reorganisation. The next day,
when there was some confusion owing to the hostile barrage at the
crossing of the Hindenburg Line, he did fine work in reorganizing the
men and giving them the right direction.”
_1st February 1919._ M.C. to Lieutenant Henry Archibald Arthur
Collett, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty on 27th September 1918, at the attack on Flesquières
he commanded his company with skill and dash. The start was over
difficult ground, the Hindenburg Line having to be crossed under
heavy barrage. Although it was barely light he steadied his men and
gave them the right direction, capturing the objective in spite of
strong opposition.”
_1st February 1919._ M.C. to Lieutenant Lawrence Derek Murphy, 1st
Battalion, Irish Guards: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty on 27th September 1918, during the attack on Flesquières. Very
soon after the start he was the only officer left with his company,
but grasping the situation he led the men on to their objective,
where he reorganised at once under deadly shell-fire, and established
touch with the enemy on his right. He then collected stragglers and
reorganised them, showing great coolness and disregard of danger.”
_1st February 1919._ M.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Captain) the Hon.
Bruce Arthur Ashley Ogilvy, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards: “For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, on 27th September 1918,
during the capture of Flesquières and the ridge beyond. He was in
command of the company that had to take the furthest objective, and
got across both the Hindenburg lines and the canal without losing
direction or getting behind time. He was in front the whole time,
personally reconnoitring a machine-gun position and organising its
capture. He was wounded while working forward with a few men against
a machine-gun nest in the Sugar Factory.”
_13th February 1919._ V.C. to Lieutenant (Acting Lieut.-Colonel) John
Neville Marshall, M.C., late Irish Guards (Special Reserve), attached
16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers: “For most conspicuous bravery,
determination and leadership in the attack on the Sambre-Oise Canal,
near Catillon, on the 4th November 1918, when a partly constructed
bridge came under concentrated fire and was broken before the
advanced troops of his battalion could cross. Lieut.-Colonel Marshall
at once went forward and organised parties to repair the bridge.
“The first party were soon killed or wounded, but by personal example
he inspired his command and volunteers were instantly forthcoming.
Under intense fire and with complete disregard of his own safety, he
stood on the bank encouraging his men and assisting in the work, and
when the bridge was repaired, attempted to rush across at the head
of his battalion and was killed while so doing.
“The passage of the canal was of vital importance, and the gallantry
displayed by all ranks was largely due to the inspiring example set
by Lieut.-Colonel Marshall.”
APPENDIX B
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF W.O.’S, N.C.O.’S, AND MEN KILLED IN ACTION OR
DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE, 1914-1918.
1ST BATTALION IRISH GUARDS