Victoria Crosses
During the 1916 Battle of the Somme fighting for Longueval and Delville Wood five Victoria Cross’s were awarded for gallantry. The first to Private Faulds of South African Brigade during the initial fighting for Delville Wood between the 16th – 18th July, the last on the 27th July to Sgt Gill Kings Royal Rifle Corps. During the 1918 August allied advance over the old Somme battlefield a sixth VC was won close to Longueval by L/Cpl Weale 14th Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Already mentioned above, the first local VC was awarded to Pte William Faulds. On the 15th July 3143 men of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade entered the wood and fought there for almost a week in appalling conditions. They were pinned down by continuous bombardment and were attacked from three sides. On the 16th Pte Faulds a company runner, carried out the first of two outstanding acts of gallantry. Two Companies of South African Infantry who had been manning the south-west corner of the wood were ordered to push out from Princess Street in order to link up with the 11th Royal Scots. The plan was to capture an orchard but the attack failed. Lt Craig led a bombing party against the enemy trenches but came under heavy machine gun fire. Most of the party were killed or wounded. In full view of both sides Pte Faulds with two other soldiers climbed over the parapet in order to rescue the wounded Craig. One of the party was injured but they still managed to carry Craig back to their trench. Later that day the northern part of the wood was vacated in order to allow it to be bombarded by friendly artillery. On the 18th Faulds again risked his life by going out in order to rescue a wounded man, again under intense enemy fire. The VC was gazetted 9th September 1916 and he received the medal from the King in January 1917.
On the 20th July three VC’s were awarded in the local vicinity, the first to Brevet-Major William La. T. Congreve DSO, MC. William known as Billy was to be awarded a posthumous VC, he was killed in the area between Longueval and the north-west of Delville Wood lees than 200 yards from Snowden House. At the age of 25, he was Brigade Major of the 76 Bde, 3rd Division. His citation reads: ‘For most conspicuous bravery during a period of fourteen days preceding his death in action. This officer constantly performed acts of gallantry and showed the greatest devotion to duty and his personal example inspired all around him with confidence at critical periods of operations. During preliminary preparations for the attack he carried out personal reconnaissance’s of the enemy lines, taking out parties of officers for over a 1,000 yards in front of our line, in order to acquaint them with the ground. All these preparations were made under fire. Later, by night Major Congreve conducted a battalion to its positions of employment, afterwards returning to it to ascertain the situation after assault. He established himself in an exposed forward position from whence he successfully observed the enemy and gave orders necessary to drive them from their position. Two days later, when Brigade Headquarters was heavily shelled and many casualties resulted, he went out and assisted the medical officer to remove the wounded to places of safety, although he was himself suffering severely from gas and other shell effects. He again on a subsequent occasion showed supreme courage in tending wounded under heavy shell fire. He finally returned to the front line to ascertain the situation after an unsuccessful attack, and whilst in the act of writing his report, was shot and killed.
The two other soldiers to be awarded the VC on the 20th July during fighting in Delville Wood, both from the same battalion the 10th Royal Welch Fusiliers. Cpl Joseph Davies and Pte Albert Hill. The 10th RWF were part of the 3rd Division, the Division was ordered to capture Longueval and Delville Wood, 10th RWF responsibility was to take Delville Wood. By 2:45 am they had pushed into the wood and were in the area of Princess Street and Buchanan Street junction. It was in this area in the middle of the wood where Cpl Davies was to gain the VC. He became separated from his company along with another eight men, soon finding himself surrounded. They took cover in shell holes and by bombing the enemy and by use of rapid fire they managed to repulse each attack against them and other friendly forces. Davies then followed up one counter attack and bayoneted several Germans. When things became quiet he organised a attack with the troops around him all the officers being casualties. He led this attack forward until they came under heavy fire within 50 yards of the enemy, at this point he returned under heavy fire to gather more troops, but the enemy were to strong and he was later forced to retire to a range of 150 yards. Davies VC was gazetted on the 26th September 1916.
At the same time that Cpl Davies was winning the VC with D Coy, Pte Albert Hill was in action with C Coy, he was to win the third VC for the fighting within Delville Wood. His citation reads; ‘For most conspicuous bravery. When the battalion was deployed under very heavy fire for an attack within Delville Wood he dashed forward, when the order to charge was given and meeting two of the enemy suddenly, bayoneted them both. He was sent later by his platoon sergeant to get in touch with the company and finding himself cut off and almost surrounded by some twenty enemy, he attacked them with bombs, killing and wounding many and scattering the remainder. He then joined a sergeant of his company and helped him find the way back to the lines. When he got back, hearing his Company Officer and a scout were lying out wounded, he went out and assisted in bringing in the wounded officer, two other men bringing in the scout. Finally, he himself captured and brought in as prisoners two of the enemy.
On the 28th July the British finally captured Longueval and Delville Wood, this wasn’t achieved without heavy fighting and the winning of another posthumous VC by Sgt Albert Gill, 1st K.R.R.C. At 7 a.m. on the 27th Gills Brigade the 99th made the final assault to clear the enemy from Delville Wood. The three battalions including the K.R.R.C. led the attack driving the Germans from to the edge of the wood. However there was a strong German counter-attack on the right flank of Gill’s battalion, it was during this fighting that Gill was to win the VC. The citation was published on October 26th and reads as follows:
‘For most conspicuous bravery. The enemy made a very strong counter-attack and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers. Sgt Gill at once rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers and reorganised his defences a most difficult and dangerous task, the trench being very shallow and much damaged. Soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men by creeping up through the thick undergrowth and commenced sniping at about twenty yards. Although it was almost certain death, Sgt Gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men. He was killed almost at once but not before he had shown his men where the enemy were and thus enabled them to hold up their advance. Sgt Gill is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery.
By mid September the fighting around Longueval and Delville Wood had moved north and it would be until 1918 that the fighting would return to the village. On the evening of the 25th August 1918 the 113th Brigade, 38th Welsh Division was given orders to advance at 4 a.m. the next day on the village of Longueval, during the advance L/Cpl Henry Weale 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers was to gain the VC, his citation reads. ‘For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. The adjacent battalion having been held up by enemy machine-guns, L/Cpl Weale was ordered to deal with hostile posts. When his Lewis gun failed him, on his own initiative he rushed the nearest post and killed the crew, then went for the others, the crews fled on his approach, this gallant NCO pursuing them. His very dashing deed cleared the way for the advance, inspired his comrades and resulted in the capture of all the machine-guns’.