| Regiment | 2/4th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, Laventie |
| Entry | Company Training. During Bombing Practice a premature explosion occurred. Casualties 2 Officers wounded (Lieut O J DOWSON and 2nd/Lieut F D GREENWOOD) A man of 2/5 GLOSTERS standing near by was killed. (2nd/Lieut H J GALE struck of strength). From:- O.C. 2/4th Royal Berks Regt To:- HdQrs 184th Infantry Brigade. I beg to bring to your notice the names of the following Officers, N.C.Os and Men who were conspicuous for gallantry in the Action of July 19th. Capt. R. Whittaker. Went out with his Company under heavy machine gun fire. When, owing to heavy causalities, the Company had become somewhat scattered, Capt. Whittaker moved about under fire and collected his men and led them forward. He remained in NO MAN'S LAND for four hours, and finding that his Company was weak and unsupported, he collected them and brought them back, together with all the wounded. 2nd Lieut D.R. Gibson. Led his platoon with great gallantry under heavy fire. Made repeated attempts to get through the wire gap and saved 2nd Lt. Abbott from being badly burnt through the explosion of the flares in his haversack. He afterwards led the remnants of his platoon forward by another gap, and himself patrolled some 50 yards of the German wire. (Wounded). 2nd Lieut. G.S. Abott. Led his platoon with splendid gallantry. Made strenuous efforts to get through the wire gap under very heavy machine gun fire. He then led the remnants towards the next gap, but was killed on the way. This officer had on many previous occasions done remarkably good work on patrols, and was a most fearless leader. No 3070 Corpl. Powell J. When under heavy machine gun fire, bandaged up a wounded man, and, though wounded himself whilst doing so, finished the man's dressing after he has staunched his own wound. He afterwards got his reduced section away from the zone of fire in the gap and brought them back safely some hours afterwards. Has previously done very good work in patrols. No 3409 Corpl. Puddle. Dressed a wounded man under heavy machine gun fire, though wounded himself, and afterwards brought the remnants of his section into safety with great coolness, Has previously done excellent work on patrols. No 986 Sergt. Barrett F.J. No 2940 Sergt. Blay S.C. Both these N.C.O's got small parties forward under fire to within easy distance of German parapet, and brought them back four hours afterwards, when they found themselves unsupported. No 3366 Pte. Powell E.P. Went forward under heavy fire to look for remainder of attacking wave from Sergt. Barrett's party. He afterwards did very good work in recovering wounded, though wounded himself. No. 3360 Pte. Hayter W.A. Carried out his duties as stretcher bearer during the whole day with conspicuous devotion and regardless of his own personal safety. His behaviour helped greatly to steady and encourage the men. No. 3405 Dmr Maynard G. Carried messages all day in spite of great difficulties, and carried on with the duties of the pigeon signaller when that man was wounded just before the Company went into action, taking the pigeons out with the assaulting party into NO MAN'S LAND. No 3089 Sergt. Dore A.J. During the heavy bombardment, two men of No 7 Platoon were blown over the parapet. Sergt. Dore unhesitatingly jumped over the parapet and brought both men in under heavy shell fire. Their legs had been broken and they were quit helpless. No 3016 Sergt. Lambourne J.W. On hearing of the death of 2nd Lieut. Williams, Sergt. Lambourne crawled across, under heavy machine gun fire, to his body, and searched it for documents which might prove useful to the enemy, 2nd Lieut Williams having been previously heard to express some doubt as to whether he had sufficiently emptied his pockets. During the latter part of the operations, Sergt, Lambourne was of the utmost value in preserving the morale of the Company, which had lost heavily; indeed, since our first day in the trenches, Sergt. Lambourne has been fearless and indefatigable in innumerable patrols and any tasks of especial danger. No. 5294 Lce.Cpl. Lovegrove S.C. This N.C.O. was one of the leading wave of "B" Company, and with a few companions managed to reach NO MAN'S LAND. Finding the assault checked, Lce.Cpl. Lovegrove returned for further instructions no less than three times, running the greatest risks on each occasion. No. 3639 Pte. Allen A.E. (Stretcher Bearer). Carried out wounded constantly all day under heavy shell fire. He is always to the fore and quite regardless of personal danger and sets a splendid example to the other bearers. Worked continuously from the morning of July 19th till 1a.m. on t he 20th, when he was completely exhausted. He also showed marked coolness when evacuating gas casualties from the BUCKS line on July 18th. No. 3942 Pte. Stanwell K.W. NO 3406 Pte. Norton W. Were continuously employed from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m. acting as messengers backwards and forwards to the front line through heavy shell fire. Throughout they showed the greatest coolness and devotion to duty under most difficult circumstances, all telephonic communication having been cut. The following names are brought to your notice for meritorious service during the Action of July 19th:- 2nd Lieut E.C. Aylett. Mentioned for good work done throughout the attack and afterwards in recovering wounded. No. 2895 Company Sergt. Major Mathews A.G. Did excellent work by helping to collect the remnants of the Company under heavy fire. No 3363 Corpl. Pocock Jas. Took charge of No.12 Platoon when his senior officer and N.C.O's were killed or wounded. He collected the remainder under heavy fire and brought them in safely. No 2856 Pte Borrett L. No 2254 Pte. Martin L.L. No 3284 Pte. Townsend A.W. These three men did noticeably good work in recovering and attending to wounded. All three have, in addition, done regular and reliable patrol work ever since the Battalion entered the trenches. If selection is necessary, the claims of Pte. Martin are, perhaps, slightly greater than those of the other, but all have earned recognition. No 3593 Pte. Tee H. (Stretcher Bearer). No 3531 Pte. Gibbs R. (Runner). Did particularly meritorious work on July 19th, as well as on many previous occasions. No 3465 Pte. Portsmouth T.H. For great coolness and disregard of personal danger while carrying messages backwards and forwards from Battalion HdQrs. to the Front Line. No 5263 Pte. Coxhead W. This man attended to the wounded in an exposed portion of the trench until himself wounded. No 2463 Corpl. Robey A.F. Company Bombing N.C.O. - Led bombers forward with great coolness, and, after they had been badly cut up in the gap, kept them together for four hours under heavy fire, ready for use if required. (Sd) J.H. Simonds. Major Battn. HdQrs. Commanding 24th July, 1916. 2/4th Royal Berks Regt. |
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