On This Day ... in 1642 & Others
At Edgehill near Kineton, the main Parliamentarian and Royalist armies, commanded by the Earl of Essex and King Charles I respectively, finally met in battle for the first time.
Charles I held a council of war at Edgecote, about ten miles east of Edgehill on the day before the battle. The council was inconclusive because neither side knew where the other was. Indeed, they did not find out until that night when Royalist and Parliamentarian detachments both tried to find sleeping quarters in the same house at Wormleighton.
The Royalist cavalry opened the attack, and Prince Rupert's horsemen on the right wing swept away their opponents, whilst Lord Wilmot's troopers did equally well on the left wing.
However, most of the Royalist cavalry disappeared in pursuit of the broken Parliamentarian horse regiments, and those that rallied were unable to have much influence on the infantry battle in the centre, where the two sides proved better matched. The day ended as a Royalist victory, but Essex's army remained in being, and retreated towards London.
1914: In France, Drummer William Kenny, Gordon Highlanders, went out under fire five times to rescue wounded men. He received the Victoria Cross.
His citation reads
William Kenny, No 6535, Drummer, 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders. Date of Act of Bravery: 23rd October, 1914. For conspicuous bravery on 23rd October, 1914, near Ypres, in rescuing wounded men on five occasions under very heavy fire in the most fearless manner, and for twice previously saving machine guns by carrying them out of action. On numerous occasions Drummer kenny conveyed urgent messages under very dangerous circumstances over fire-swept ground
He later achieved the rank of Drum-Major.
In addition to the Victoria Cross Drum-Major Kenny was also awarded the following medals: Queen's South Africa medal with bars, King's South Africa medal with bars, 1914 Star with bar, British War medal, Allied Victory medal with oak-leaf, Delhi Durbar medal, and the Cross of St George (Russia).
1915: HMS E-8 sank the German armoured cruiser Prinz Adalbert in the Baltic. The sinking led the Germans to temporarily withdraw all their capital ships from operations in the Baltic.
1916: Sergeant Robert Downie, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, took charge when his unit's officers fell casualty during an attack in France.
He himself was soon wounded, but continued to lead from the front, capturing an enemy machine-gun position. At the critical moment he rushed forward alone, shouting "Come on the Dubs!" and afterwards, he remained with his company, giving valuable assistance while the position was being consolidated. He received the Victoria Cross.
1918: On the Western Front, Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Greenwood led a battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in a series of assaults against formidable German defences, at one point attacking single-handed a machine-gun position which had pinned down his men.
His citation reads
For most conspicuous and devotion to duty and fine leadership. When the advance of his battalion on the 23rd October was checked, and many casualties caused by an enemy machine-gun post, Lieutenant Colonel Greenwood single-handed rushed the post and killed the crew.
At the entrance to the village of Ovillers, accompanied by two battalion runners, he again rushed a machine-gun post and killed the occupants. On reaching the objective west of Duke's Wood his command was almost surrounded by hostile machine-gun posts, and the enemy at once attacked his isolated force. The attack was repulsed and, led by Lieutenant Colonel Greenwood, his troops swept forward and captured the last objective, with 150 prisoners, eight machine-guns and one field gun.
During the attack on the Green Line south of Poix Du Nord, on 24th October, he again displayed the greatest gallantry in rushing a machine-gun post, and he showed conspicuously good leadership in the handling of his command in the face of heavy fire. He inspired his men in the highest degree, with the result that the objective was captured, and, in spite of heavy casualties, the line was held.
During the further advance on Grand Gay Farm Road, on the afternoon of 24th October, the skilful and bold handling of his battalion was productive of most important results, not only on securing the flank of his brigade, but also in safeguarding the flank of the division. His valour and leading during two days of fighting were beyond all praise.
Harry Greenwood was personally invested with the Victoria Cross, and the Bar to his DSO, by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 8th May 1919. Greenwood died at his home in Wimbledon Park, South West London, on 5th May 1948, aged 66, and is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery.
Elsewhere, Private Miles, Gloucestershire Regiment, attacked two machine-guns in turn, opening up an advance by his battalion that captured 16 machine-guns and their crews. Greenwood and Miles each received the Victoria Cross.
After leaving school at his village of Clearwell, Francis Miles worked in the local colliery but enlisted, on the 28th December 1914, into the 9th Gloucesters. After training, the battalion was sent to France where Miles was wounded and hospitalized back to England. Meanwhile his battalion was sent to Salonika without him. Following his recovery, and because of his experience as a miner, he was attached to the Royal Engineers as a tunneller, but was again wounded being the only survivor of fifty men after an explosion in a mine.
On recovering from his injuries he returned to the Gloucesters and joined the 5th Battalion in time to be sent to the Italian Front. In September the regiment was recalled to France for the final weeks of the War. It was during the Battle of the Selle, to the east of Le Cateau, in October 1918, that the Gloucesters were given the task of clearing part of the Bois l'Eveque close to a mill. They met with stubborn resistance from several machine gun posts, which stalled the advance. It was here that Private Francis Miles performed his act of outstanding heroism.
His citation reads
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack on the 23rd October 1918, during the advance against the Bois l'Eveque, when his company was held up by a line of enemy machine guns in the sunken road near the Moulin J. Jaques.
Private Miles alone, and on his own initiative, went forward under exceptionally heavy fire, located a machine gun, shot the gunner, and put the gun out of action. Observing another gun nearby, he again advanced alone, shot the gunner, rushed the gun, and captured the team of eight. Finally he stood up and beckoned to his company, who, working on his signals, were enabled to work around the rear of the line and to capture sixteen machine guns, one officer, and fifty other ranks.
It was due to the courage, initiative, and entire disregard of personal safety shown by this very gallant soldier that the company was enabled to advance at a time when any delay would have jeopardised seriously the whole operation.
Francis Miles was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 30th May 1919.
After Francis Miles had been invested with his Victoria Cross he returned to his home village of Clearwell. Francis Miles returned to work in the colliery but suffered from poor health for the rest of his life. He died on the 8th November 1961 and is buried in St Peter's Churchyard.
In 2003 members of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regimental Association gathered to pay tribute to Private Francis Miles VC, buried in his home village of Clearwell, Gloucestershire. The Association was disturbed to discover the deteriorating condition of his grave and headstone, so decided, with the family's permission, to commission a new stone. On the 23rd May 2004, the new headstone was dedicated in St Peter's Churchyard.
1940: Daylight Luftwaffe activity was very limited indeed. Night attacks continued, but also on a much reduced scale.
1942: A massive artillery barrage marked the start of the Second Battle of El Alamein, as Montgomery unleashed 8th Army against the German and Italian defensive positions commanded by General Stumme.
The initial infantry assault was led by 51st Highland, 1st South African, and the New Zealand Divisions. The Desert Air Force, reinforced by a small USAAF contingent of fighters and medium bombers, provided continuous close-air support.
In Burma, the first actions in the Arakan region were fought between British and Japanese troops.
Comments
Sir, if you will, at the next October 23rd please mention the 1983 Marine barrack bombing in Beirut that killed 241 US servicemen. Thank you, and Semper Fi. I won't forget.
Posted by: Dave Clark | October 26, 2009 10:46 PM