On This Day ... in 1916 & Others
Private Hutchinson of the Lancashire Fusiliers was the first man into the German trenches during a raid on the Western Front, and he successfully led the way in the very dangerous work of trench clearance, killing several of the defenders at close quarters. When the raiders retired, Hutchinson acted as the rearguard, providing covering fire for the evacuation of the wounded, despite heavy enemy fire. He received the Victoria Cross.
1917: Lieutenant Wearne of the Essex Regiment led a trench raid which succeeded in capturing a German position. They then faced a heavy counter-attack, which threatened to take their left flank. Lieutenant Wearne left the safety of the trenches to attack the Germans with grenades. Despite being wounded, he inflicted heavy casualties and stabilised the defences until he suffered another two wounds which proved fatal. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
1918: A German machine-gun inflicted heavy losses during an attack in France by Australian infantry. Corporal Davey braved the enemy fire to get close enough to attack the machine-gun position with grenades. He killed half the crew, but then had to withdraw to get some more grenades. Replenished, he worked his way back into range, but the machine-gun crew had by then been reinforced. Nevertheless, his attack this time proved successful, wiping out all the defenders. He then moved to the position and turned the machine-gun on German reinforcements that were moving up, staying in action until he suffered a severe wound. He received the Victoria Cross.