Victoria Crosses won by The London Regiment

 Lance-Sergeant (later Captain) Douglas Belcher

1/24th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)

Ypres Salient, Belgium, 13th May 1915

Award Citation

 “On the early morning of 13th May, 1915, when in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork south of the Wieltje-St. Julien Road during a very fierce and continuous bombardment by the enemy, which frequently blew in the breastwork, Lance-Serjeant Belcher with a mere handful of men elected to remain and endeavour to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn. By his skill and great gallantry he maintained his position during the day, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150 to 200 yards distant, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. There is little doubt that the bold front shown by Lance-Serjeant Belcher prevented the enemy breaking through on the Wieltje Road, and averted an attack on the flank of one of our Divisions.” 

Supplement to The London Gazette of 22 June 1915. 23 June 1915, Numb. 29202, p. 6115

 Leonard Keyworth, Lance Corporal (later Corporal)

1/24th Battalion, (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen’s)

Givenchy, France, 25th May 1915. At 6.30pm on 25 May 1915, just north of Givenchy and south of Festubert, between Béthune and La Bassée, the 24th Battalion London Regiment, after a supporting barrage, attacked and captured a section of the German line known as the ‘S Bend’. Further advance was prevented by German fire from higher ground to the south but the trench was held throughout the night and the whole of the following day when the 24th Battalion, which by this time had been reduced to 250 men, was relieved by the 20th London Battalion.

 Award Citation

 “For most conspicuous bravery at Givenchy on the night of 25th-26th May, 1915. After the successful assault on the German position by the 24th Battalion, London Regiment, efforts were made by that Unit to follow up their success by a bomb-attack, during the progress of which 58 men out of a total of 75 became casualties. During this very fierce encounter Lance-Corporal Keyworth stood fully exposed for two hours on the top of the enemy’s parapet, and threw about 150 bombs amongst the Germans, who were only a few yards away.“

Supplement to The London Gazette of 2 July 1915. 3 July 1915, Numb. 29215, p. 6533

 Alfred Knight, Sergeant (later Second Lieutenant)

2/8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)

Ypres, Belgium, 20th September 1917

 Award Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the operations against the enemy positions. Sjt. Knight did extraordinary good work, and showed exceptional bravery and initiative when his platoon was attacking an enemy strong point, and came under very heavy fire from an enemy machine gun. He rushed through our own barrage, bayonetted the enemy gunner, and captured the position single-handed. Later, twelve of the enemy with a machine gun, were encountered in a shell-hole. He again rushed forward by himself, bayonetted two and shot a third and caused the remainder to scatter. Subsequently, during the attack on a fortified farm, when entangled up to his waist in mud, and seeing a number of the enemy firing on our troops, he immediately opened fire on them without waiting to extricate himself from the mud, killing six of the enemy. Again, noticing the company on his right flank being held up in their attack on another farm, Sjt. Knight collected some men and took up a position on the flank of this farm, from where he brought a heavy fire to bear on the farm as a result of which the farm was captured. All the platoon officers of the company had become casualties before the first objective was reached, and this gallant N.C.O. took command of all the men of his own platoon and of the platoons without officers. His energy in consolidating and reorganising was untiring. His several single-handed actions showed exceptional bravery, and saved a great number of casualties in the company. They were performed under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and without regard to personal risk, and were the direct cause of the objectives being captured.” 

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 6 November 1917. 8 November 1917, Numb. 30372, pp. 11568-69

 Charles Train, Corporal (later Sergeant)

2/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish)

Near Jerusalem, Palestine, 8th December 1917. In early December 1917 British forces closed in on Jerusalem. The village of Ain Karim, the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, five miles south-west of Jerusalem, lay in front of the Turkish defences. As part of the British advance, at 5.15am on 8 December, men of 2/14th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment attacked the Turkish trench east and south-east of the village. They were confronted with two Turkish machine-guns. These were captured by Corporal C W Train assisted by Corporal F S Thornhill, who was awarded the DCM. During the night the Turks evacuated Jerusalem, which surrendered to the British the next day. 

Award Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery, dash and initiative displayed under heavy fire when his company was unexpectedly engaged at close range by a party of the enemy with two machine guns and brought to a standstill. Corporal Train, on his own initiative, rushed forward and engaged the enemy with rifle grenades, and succeeded in putting some of the team out of action with a direct hit. He then shot at and wounded an officer in command, and with bomb and rifle killed and wounded the remainder of the team. After this he went to the assistance of a comrade who was bombing the enemy from their front and shot at and killed one of the enemy who was carrying the second gun out of action. His courage and devotion to duty undoubtedly saved his battalion heavy casualties and enabled them to advance to their objective at a time when the situation seemed critical.” 

Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 26 February 1918. 27 February 1918, Numb. 30548, p. 2589

Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada 

 Robert Cruickshank, Private (later Major)

2nd/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish)

Egypt, 1st May 1918. During the Second Transjordan Raid, 2/14th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment was detailed to attack the Turkish positions at El Haud, east of the Jordan, in the hill country north-east of El Ghoraniye between the Wadi Abu Turra and the Wadi Nimrin.

Award Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. The platoon to which Private Cruickshank belonged came under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire at short range and was led down a steep bank into a wadi, most of the men being hit before they reached the bottom. Immediately after reaching the bottom of the wadi the officer in command was shot dead, and the serjeant who then took over command sent a runner back to Company Headquarters asking for support, but was mortally wounded almost immediately after; the corporal having in the meantime been killed, the only remaining N.C.O. (a lance-corporal), believing the first messenger to have been killed, called for a volunteer to take a second message back. Private Cruickshank immediately responded and rushed up the slope, but was hit and rolled back into the wadi bottom. He again rose and rushed up the slope, but, being again wounded, rolled back into the wadi. After his wounds had been dressed he rushed a third time up the slope and again fell badly wounded. Being now unable to stand he rolled himself back amid a hail of bullets. His wounds were now of such a nature as to preclude him making any further attempt and he lay all day in a dangerous position, being sniped at and again wounded were he lay. He displayed the utmost valour and endurance, and was cheerful and uncomplaining throughout.“

Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette of 18 June 1918. 21 June 1918, Numb. 30757, p. 7307

Ashes: Glen Parva Parish Church, Leicestershire

 Jack Harvey, Private (later Corporal)

1st/22nd (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen’s)

France, 2nd September 1918

On 2 September, the day that Allied forces had broken through the Drocourt-Quéant Line to the north, the Australians continued to harass the Germans while consolidating their grip on the town. 43rd Battalion, 11th Brigade, established itself at Allaines on the Canal du Nord, a mile to the north, and cleared the enemy out of the neighbouring trenches. Meanwhile, just to the north of that, British troops advanced through St Pierre Vaast and Moislains Woods between Sailly-Saillisel and Moislains on the Canal du Nord. 1/22nd (County of London) Battalion London Regiment took up position in a trench north-east of Moislains.

Award Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery and disregard of personal danger in attack. When the advance of his company was held up by intense machine-gun fire Pte. Harvey at once dashed forward through heavy enemy fire and rushed a machine-gun post, shooting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued to work his way along the enemy trench, and, single-handed, rushed an enemy dug-out which contained thirty-seven of the enemy and compelled them to surrender. By these two acts of great gallantry he saved his company heavy casualties and enabled the whole of the attacking line to advance. Throughout the entire operation he showed the most magnificent courage and determination, and, by the splendid example he set to all ranks, materially assisted in the success of the operation.”

Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 12 November 1918. 15 November 1918, Numb. 31012, p. 13473

Buried: Redstone Cemetery, Redhill, Surrey