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Battle of Neuve Chapelle
Cranston Military Prints  By Subject Military Art World War One  Battle of Neuve Chapelle |
| Battle of Neuve Chapelle. First World War military prints and paintings depicting the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. |
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| Text for the above items : |
The Suffolks at Neuve Chapel by Frank Dadd. Soldiers of the Suffolk Regiments are seen in their trenches during the attacks at Neuve Chappell during the first world war. |
The Great Act Of Heroism Of Privates H. G. F. Mead, J. W. Otton And A. S. S. Spencer, Of The 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. On November 5th 1914, near Neuve Chapelle, about six oclock in the evening, Private Mead heard a man crying for help and fort water. The cry came from the direction of a German trench, which earlier in the day had been taken by the 1st Connaught Rangers, who, however, had subsequently been compelled to abandon it. Private Mead immediately left his trench and ran across the open to the spot whence the cry had come, and found Lance-Corporal Ely lying badly wounded in the German trench. He raised the wounded men's head ad poured some water down his throat, and then finding that he could not lift him over the parapet alone, he went back, fetched two of his comrades, Privates Otton and Spencer. They succeeded in carrying Ely to within a few yards of the British trench when the Germans saw them. Both Mead and Otton were killed instantly, but Spencer succeeded in dragging the wounded man into safety, though not before his clothes and equipment had been almost riddled with bullets. This gallant deed was recognised by the award of the D.C.M. to each of the three men. |
A Shell Struck The Ambulance Wagon, Killing One Man And Rendering Lieutenant Hincks Unconscious. It was during in the heavy fighting at Neuve Chapelle, from the 11th to the 14th March 1915, that Lieut. A. C. Hincks, of the 26th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F., 2nd Wessex), won the Military Cross. There were many wounded men to be attended to, and Lieut. Hincks showed conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in bandaging up their wounds and seeing that they were sent back safely to the dressing stations behind the firing line. On one occasion while he was performing one of these acts of kindness a shell struck the ambulance wagon, killed the wounded man and knocked Lieutenant Hincks down, rendering him unconscious. On recovering he disregarded his own ills and at once set about to collect the wounded under fire, and continued doing so throughout the night until everyone was attended. |
Lieutenant Martin, D.S.O., R.E., And A Small Bombing Party Holding Back The Germans At Spanbroek Molen. Lieutenant Martin (56th Field Company Royal Engineers) gained his first distinction, the D.S.O., in the retreat from Mons, when he was wounded. Though wounded again during the battle of Neuve Chapelle he refused to retire, but heading a party of six volunteer bombers, he led them with such resolute bravery that they drove the enemy from a section of their trenches at Spanbroek Molen. Then after securing themselves by transposing the parapet and piling up sandbags, they awaited a counter attack. When the attack cam they held overwhelming numbers of the enemy at bay for two and a half hours. They were ultimately forced to retire, but their gallant defence was of great value in preventing German reinforcements passing through this section of the trenches. Lieutenant Martins splendid courage and energy had gained for him the V.C. |
Air Mechanic Prance Assisting To Repair An Aeroplane Under Heavy Shellfire. During the battle of Neuve Chapelle, March 10th-12th 1915, great activity was shown by the British airmen, whose plans were brilliantly conceived and executed. The weather, however, was extremely bad for flying, and it compelled the airmen to fly no higher than one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet, and thus run great risks. On the night of March 10th, one of the British aeroplanes was forced to descend near the firing line, and 2nd class Air Mechanic J. E. Prance, of the Royal Flying Corps, set to work to help in repairing it. Shells burst all round Prance and his comrade, but the two men worked with such enthusiasm that the machine was ready for flying the next morning. For his valuable services Prance was rewarded with the D.C.M. |
Corporal Windell Breaking-Up The Enemys Attack By The Fire Of His Machine-Gun From The Roof Of A house Near Neuve Chapelle. With hastening with an officer and a private to the roof of a house near Neuve Chapelle to recover a Maxim gun, Corporal John William Windell of the 2md Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, saw from the attic some of the enemy digging themselves in, while a considerable number were advancing to occupy an abandoned British trench. He at once trained the gun on the advancing Germans, but very soon bullets began to splash against the roof, which sheltered him. The firing came from a machine gun in a house five hundred yards away, and on turning his gun on it, Corporal Windell actually silenced his opponent. He again trained his gun on the advancing infantry, who fell back in disorder, but he had soon to retreat before heavy shellfire. He eventually recovered the gun, and was rewarded with the D.C.M. for his gallantry and ability. |
Private Johnson Carrying off the sights and breechblock of a British gun. During the fierce fighting at Neuve Chapelle on October 27th 1914, the men of the West Kent Regiment were forced to fall back, and in the retirement they abandoned a field gun. Recognising that it might be turned to deadly effect against themselves, Private George Henry Johnson, of the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, and some of his comrades pluckily ran out to drag it in. They were, however obliged to abandon the attempt and amidst a hail of bullets, they returned to their lines. The enemy were now very near, and there was no cover except from small shrubs just in front of the gun. An idea, however, flashed across Johnsons mind. Rushing back to the gun he removed the sights and breechblock, and hurriedly returned with them across the open ground. For his courageous conduct Johnson was rewarded with the D.C.M. |
Lance-Corporal W. D. Fuller Kills With A Bomb The Leader Of A Party Of Germans Who Were Endeavouring To Escape. Seeing a party of the enemy endeavouring to escape along a communication trench at Neuve Chapelle in March 12th 1915. Lance-Corporal Wilfred Dolby Fuller, of the1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, ran towards them and killed the leading man with a bomb; the remainder, who numbered nearly fifty, on finding no means of evading his bombs, surrendered to him. Lance-Corporal Fuller was quite alone at the time, and for the most conspicuous bravery displayed by him he was awarded the V.C. |
Captain C. C. Foss, D.S.O, And A Bombing Party of Eight Recapturing A British Position And Fifty-Two Germans. At Neuve Chapelle on March 12th 1915, the enemy captured a part of one of the British trenches. A counter attack, made with one officer and twenty men, failed, and all but two of the party were killed or wounded in the attempt. Thereupon Captain Charles Cavbeley Foss, D.S.O, of the 2nd Battalion. The Bedfordshire Regiment, on his own initiative, dashed forward with eight men under heavy fire, attacked the enemy with bombs, and recaptured the position, including the fifty-two Germans occupying it. The recapture of this position was of the greatest importance, and the utmost bravery was displayed in undertaking the task with so few men. For his most conspicuous bravery Captain Foss was awarded the V.C. |
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