Victoria Cross Heroes

31/10/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664296143/oliver-cyril-spencer-watson

OLIVER CYRIL SPENCER WATSON

Son of William Spencer Watson, F.R.C.S., and Georgine Mary Jane Mair Watson. Served in the Tirah Campaign with 19th Bn. Yorkshire Regt., also served in China during the Boxer rebellion.

An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 18th May, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, self-sacrificing devotion to duty, and exceptionally gallant leading during a critical period of operations. His command was at a point where continual attacks were made by the enemy in order to pierce the line, and an intricate system of old trenches in front, coupled with the fact that his position was under constant rifle and machine-gun fire, rendered the situation still more dangerous. A counter-attack had been made against the enemy position, which at first achieved its object, but as they were holding out in two improvised strong points, Lt. Col. Watson saw that immediate action was necessary, and he led his remaining small reserve to the attack, organising bombing parties and leading attacks under intense rifle and machine-gun fire. Outnumbered, he finally ordered his men to retire, remaining himself in a communication trench to cover the retirement, though he faced almost certain death by so doing. The assault he led was at a critical moment, and without doubt saved the line. Both in the assault and in covering his men's retirement, he held his life as nothing, and his splendid bravery inspired all troops in the vicinity to rise. to the occasion and save a breach being made in a hardly tried and attenuated line. Lt. Col. Watson was killed while covering the withdrawal."

Memorial for Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson at Fold3 - Victoria Cross

31/10/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664278204/george-nicholson-bradford

George Nicholson Bradford

World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award posthumously from British King George V (presented to his mother) on April 3, 1919 at Buckingham Palace in London, England for his actions as a lieutenant commander in the British Royal Navy aboard the Mersey ferry HMS Iris II on 22/23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium during World War I.

The son of a coal mine manager, e was born in Witton Park, Darlington, County Durham and educated at Darlington Grammar School, the Royal Navy School at Eltham, London, and Eastman's School in Southsea, England.

In 1902 he joined the HMS Britannia as a cadet and joined the battleship HMS Vanguard in March 1910. From 1912 to the beginning of World War I he served on destroyers and rose through the ranks of the British Royal Navy throughout the war. In April 1918 the British formulated a plan to block to German U-boats that were based at the heavily fortified inland port of Ostend, near Zeebrugge, Belgium by sinking old British ships in the canal's shallow waters, to prevent the U-boats from entering the sea and wreaking havoc on British shipping.

During the raid, he was killed in action at the age of 31. His body washed ashore three days later at Blankenberge, Belgium and he was given a military burial by the Germans.

His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For most conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge on the night of the 22nd-23rd April, 1918. This Officer was in command of the Naval Storming Parties embarked in Iris II. When Iris II proceeded alongside the Mole great difficulty was experienced in placing the parapet anchors owing to the motion of the ship. An attempt was made to land by the scaling ladders before the ship was secured. Lieutenant Claude E. K. Hawkings (late Erin) managed to, get one ladder in position and actually reached the parapet, the ladder being crushed to pieces just as he stepped off it.

This very gallant young officer was last seen defending himself with his revolver. He was killed on the parapet. Though securing the ship was not part of his duties, Lieut.-Commander Bradford climbed up the derrick, which carried a large parapet anchor and was rigged out over the port side; during this climb the ship was surging up and down and the derrick crashing on the Mole. Waiting his opportunity he jumped with the parapet anchor on to the Mole and placed it in position. Immediately after hooking on the parapet anchor Lieut.-Commander Bradford was riddled with bullets from machine guns and fell into the sea between the Mole and the ship.

Attempts to recover his body failed. Lieut.-Commander Bradfords action was one of absolute self-sacrifice; without a moments hesitation he went to certain death, recognising that in such action lay the only possible chance of securing Iris II and enabling her storming parties to land."

In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal (1914-20), and the Victory Medal (1914-19). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the British Imperial War Museum in London, England. His brother Brigadier General Roland Boys Bradford, was also a Victoria Cross recipient who was killed at the Battle of Cambrai, near Canal du Nord in France. They were the only two brothers to receive the Victoria Cross during the course of World War I.

George has a second brother Second Lieutenant James Barker Bradford, who also fell in World War 1 and was a recipient of the Military Cross. Between the three brothers the awards of two VC's, two MC's and one DSO is a family record that is unequalled in the Empire.

Bio by: William Bjornstad

Memorial for George Nicholson Bradford at Fold3 - DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI

31/10/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664297077/clifford-coffin

Clifford demonstrated extraordinary bravery on July 31, 1917, in Westhoek, Belgium. Despite his brigade being shattered by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, Coffin's fearless leadership and personal courage inspired his men to hold their position.

"His very gallant conduct had the greatest effect on all ranks, and it was largely owing to his personal courage and example that the shell-hole line was held in spite of the very heaviest fire. Throughout the day his calm courage and example exercised the greatest influence over all with whom he came into contact, and it is generally agreed that Brigadier-General Coffin's splendid example saved the situation, and had it not been for his action the line would certainly have been driven back", as cited in the London Gazette.

Memorial for Clifford Coffin at Fold3 - Army

31/10/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664290672/douglas-reynolds

Memorial for Douglas Reynolds at Fold3 - Army

24/03/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664293700/edmund-de-wind

24/02/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664290774/edwin-essery-swales
Death- Feb 23, 1945-Age: 30 years

Burial
LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY VIII. C. 5. Belgium

Edwin Essery Swales
Son of The Late Harry E. and Olive M. Swales, of Durban Natal, South Africa.

Operation

Pforzheim- as Master Bomber. 380 aircraft and one film unit aircraft, 12 losses. Bombing took place from 8000' and was especially accurate. 1825 tons of bombs were dropped in just 22 minutes. More than 17000 people were killed in the resultant fire storm- probably the third highest death toll of the war. A post-war survey estimated that 83% of the built up area was destroyed. Capt E Swales of South Africa won the last Bomber Command VC of the war on this raid, awarded posthumously

Reason for Loss

Very badly damaged by night-fighters over the target but the pilot skilfully flew the aircraft to the Allied lines and ordered his crew to bale out. The aircraft hit high tension cables before the pilot himself was able to make good his escape and crashed near Valenciennes. The other crew members all fell inside the Allied lines and were unharmed

Memorial for Edwin Essery Swales at Fold3 - IN PROUD MEMORY OF THE NATAL MOUNTED RIFLES FROM COMRADES AND S. A. AIR FORC

24/02/2025

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664290672/douglas-reynolds

Death- Feb 23, 1916-Age: 34 years
Duchess of Westminster’s Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet

Burial
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY I. A. 20. France

Major Reynolds was seriously wounded on the Aisne in September of 1914 by a shrapnel bullet which could not be removed from his chest, and in November was awarded the French Croix de Chevalier de Legion d’Honneur. He married in March of 1915, and his son, Peter, was born at the end of January in 1916. Major Reynolds had been knocked out by a gas shell a month earlier and so never saw his son - during his recovery he contracted septicaemia, dying at the Duchess of Westminster’s Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet. His son went on to serve with the Irish Guards and was killed during the evacuation of Dunkirk. Major Reynolds is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery at Pas-de-Calais in France.

Douglas, from Bristol, was 33 years old.

Memorial for Douglas Reynolds at Fold3 - Army

07/02/2025

Death of Bretby VC hero BRETBY war hero Major General Frank Crowther Roberts, the last of the old Worcestershire Regiment's Victoria Cross holders has died at his home. He was 90. General Roberts had lived in Swadlincote, then at Bretby since retiring from the Army in December 1939. He was sent to France with the 1st Battalion of the regiment in 1914, as a Second Lieutenant, and, after three months, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order when he led a raid on an enemy trench. In 1917 he won the Military Cross during the Battle of Ypres, shortly after being promoted to Major in the 23rd Infantry Brigade.
https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664288746/frank-crowther-roberts/

In the winter of 1917 General Roberts was given temporary command of the 1st Battalion, becoming its youngest-ever commander. His Victoria Cross was won at the Somme in 1918 when he recaptured a position occupied by the Germans with a bloody counter-attack at Pargny. Later he served in Egypt, the Far East, and India with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and after his final promotion to the rank of Major-General in 1939 he assumed command of the 48th (South Midland) Division of the Territorial Army. Among his many decorations were on OBE and seven mentions in dispatches.

23/01/2025

20/01/2025

John Vincent Holland
Feb 27, 1975-Age: 86 years
St John's Park Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664286767/john-vincent-holland/

17/11/2024

02/11/2024

Roland Boys Bradford
https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664278206/roland-boys-bradford

British Army Brigadier General, World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British King George V in June 1917 at Hyde Park in London, England for his actions as a temporary lieutenant colonel commanding the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, British Army on October 1, 1916 at Eaucourt l'Abbaye, France during World War I.

The 4th and youngest son of a coal mine manager, he joined the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI), British Army, in 1910 and two years later was commissioned as a regular officer in the 2nd Battalion DLI. In September 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, he was sent to the Western Front in France and saw action in the First Battle of the Marne. He was promoted through the ranks quickly, becoming a temporary lieutenant colonel in August 1916. In September 1916 he led his unit in the Battle of the Somme, followed by an attack on the German trenches at Eaucourt l'Abbaye, for which he won the Victoria Cross for gallantry.

In November 1917 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and given command of the 186th Infantry Brigade. Less than 30 days later, he was killed at the Battle of Cambrai, near Canal du Nord in France at the age of 25. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For most conspicuous bravery and good leadership in attack, whereby he saved the situation on the right flank of his Brigade and of the Division. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford's Battalion was in support. A leading Battalion having suffered very severe casualties, and the Commander wounded, its flank became dangerously exposed at close quarters to the enemy. Raked by machine-gun fire, the situation of the Battalion was critical.

At the request of the wounded Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford asked permission to command the exposed Battalion in addition to his own. Permission granted, he at once proceeded to the foremost lines. By his fearless energy under fire of all description, and his skilful leadership of the two Battalions, regardless of all danger, he succeeded in rallying the attack, captured and defended the objective, and so secured the flank
" In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the Military Cross, the 1914 Star and Bar, the British War Medal (1914-20), and the Victory Medal (1914-19). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Durham Light Infantry Museum, located in the Durham Art Gallery in the City of Durham, Durham, England

Bio by: William Bjornstad

Memorial for Roland Boys Bradford at Fold3 - DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI