Sheffield Independent – Saturday 09 November 1929
How South Yorkshiremen Won The V.C.
Great War Deeds of Derring-Do.
The South Yorkshire district has the proud record of having winners of the Victoria Cross associated with it. In most cases the valorous men were natives, but a few of them came into the area and gained their distinction while serving with local military units.
Unfortunately not all of these heroes are able to take their part in to-night’s historic celebration in the House of Lords, for two—Sapper Hackett, of Mexborough, and Lance-Corporal Jackson, of Swinton—lost their lives at the time they earned their Cross ; Sergeant Loosemore, of Sheffield, died in 1925; while by reason of illness due to old wounds, Sergeant-Major Haynes is unable to travel to London. Major Allen, who now lives in London, and Sergeant-Major Haynes are the only surviving natives Sheffield with the distinction, while Lance-Corporal Welch is the only Sheffield resident who is numbered among the holders of the Victoria Cross. Below are given details of the deeds which these gallant men obtained the highest award which any country can give.
Sergeant Arnold Loosemore, V.C., D.C.M,
(No. 15805, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) (West Riding).
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack on a strongly held enemy position. His platoon having been checked heavy machine-gun fire, crawled through partially cut wire, dragging his Lewis-gun with him and. single-handed, dealt with a strong party of the enemy, killing about 20 of them, and thus covering the consolidation of the position taken up his platoon.
Immediately afterwards his Lewis-gun was blown up by a bomb and three of the enemy rushed for him, but he shot them all with his revolver. Later, he shot several enemy snipers exposing himself to heavy fire each time. On returning to the original post he also brought back a wounded comrade under heavy fire at the risk his life. He displayed throughout an utter disregard of danger—“ London Gazette,” September, 1917.
Private Arnold Loosemore was afterwards made sergeant. Sergeant Loosemore received his D.C.M. from the King, on the occasion of his Majesty’s visit to Sheffield, on 20 May, 1919. He died in 1925.
Sergeant Lawrence Calvert, V.C., M.M.
(No. 240194, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry).
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion duty in attack when the success of the operation was rendered doubtful owing to severe enfilade machine-gun fire.
Alone and singlehanded Sergeant Calvert, rushing forward against the machine-gun team, bayonetted three and shot four. His valour and determination in capturing single-handed two machineguns and killing the crews thereof enabled the ultimate objective to be won.
His personal gallantry inspired all ranks.— “ London Gazette,” 15 November, 1918.
Sergeant Lawrence Calvert is a native of Conisborough, and is now serving with the Royal Artillery in India.
Lance-Corporal T. Norman Jackson, V.C.
(Coldstream Guards).
For most conspicuous bravery and selfsacrifice in the attack across the Canal du Nord, near Graincourt. the morning of 27 September, 1918, Lance-Corporal Jackson was the first to volunteer to follow Captain C. H. Frisby, Coldstream Guards, across the Canal Nord in his rush against enemy machine-gun post.
With two comrades he followed his officer across the canal, rushed the post, captured the two machine guns and so enabled the companies advance. Later in the morning, Lance-Corporal Jackson was the first to jump into a German trench, which his platoon had to clear, and after doing further excellent work he was unfortunately killed.
Throughout the whole day until he was killed this young N.C.O. .showed the greatest valour and devotion to duty and set an inspiring example all.— “London Gazette, 27 November, 1918.
Lance-Corporal Jackson was a native of Swinton.
Corporal John Brunton Daykins, V.C.
(No. 205353 2/4 York and Lancaster Regiment).
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative at Solesmes on October, 1918, when, with 12 remaining men his platoon, he worked his way most skilfully, in face of heavy opposition, towards the church.
By prompt action he enabled his party rush a machine-gun, and during subsequent severe hand-to-hand fighting he himself disposed of many of the enemy and secured his objective, his party, in, addition to heavy casualties inflicted, taking 30 prisoners.
He then located another machine-gun which was holding up a portion of his company. Under heavy fire worked his way alone to the post, and shortly afterwards returned with prisoners and an enemy machine-gun, which he mounted his post. His magnificent fighting spirit and example inspired his men, saved many casualties and contributed very largely to the success of the attack. —London Gazette. January. 1919.
Sergeant-Major J. C. Raynes, V.C.
(No. 36830, “A” Battery, 71st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Royal Regiment of Artillery and Indian Artillery).
Dates of acts of bravery; 11 and 12 October, 1915. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. On October, 1915, at Fosse de Bethune, his battery was being heavily bombarded by armour-piercing and gas shells. On “Cease Fire” being ordered, Sergeant Raynes went out under an intense shell lire to assist Sergeant Ayres, who was ‘lying wounded 40 yards away. He bandaged him and returned to his gun when was again ordered into action. A few minutes later “Cease Fire’ was again ordered owing to the intensity the enemy’s fire and Sergeant Raynes, calling on two gunners to help him—both of whom were killed shortly afterwards went out and carried Sergeant Ayres into a dug-out. A gas-shell burst at the mouth the dug-out and Sergeant once more ran across the open, fetched his own smoke helmet, put it on Sergeant Ayres and then, himself badly gassed, staggered back to serve his gun. On. October, 1915 at Quality Street, a house was knocked down by heavy fire and shell, four being buried in the house and four in the cellar. The first man rescued was Sergeant Raynes, wounded in the head and leg, but he insisted on remaining under heavy shell fire to assist in the rescue of all the other men. Then, after having his wounds dressed, he reported himself immediately for duty with his battery, which was again being heavily shelled.—“ London Gazette/* 18 November, 1915.
Sergeant-Major Haynes is now suffering from spinal injuries and so cannot make the journey to London. He is a native of Sheffield and when 16 joined the West Hiding Engineer Volunteers. He now resides in Leeds. He was an. acting- Sergeant when he won the Cross.
Private George William Chafer, V.O.
(No. 19384, East Yorkshire Regiment)
For most conspicuous bravery on the Somme, June, 1916. During heavy bombardment and attack on our trenches, a man carrying an important written message to his company commander was half buried and rendered unconscious by shell. Private Chafer, at once grasping the situation, on his own initiative took the message from the man’s pocket, and, although severely wounded in three places, ran along the ruined parapet under heavy shell and machine gun fire and just succeeded in delivering it before he collapsed from the effect of his wounds. He displayed great initiative and a splendid devotion to duty at a critical moment—London Gazette, 5 August, 1916.
Private Chafer, who also possesses the Russian Order of St. George, lives at Bramley, Rotherham.
Lance-Corporal James Welch, V.C.
(No. 8763, Royal Berkshire Regiment) (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s).
For most conspicuous bravery Vimy Kidge on 29 April, 1917. On entering the enemy trench he killed one man after severe hand-to-hand struggle. Armed only with enemy revolver, Lance-Corporal Welch then chased four of the enemy across the open and captured them single handed. He handled his machine-gun with the utmost fearlessness, and more than once went into the open fully exposed to heavy fire at short range, to search for and collect ammunition and spare parts in order to keep his guns in action, which succeeded in doing for over five hours till wounded shell. He showed throughout the utmost valour and initiative.—“ London Gazette,” June, 1917.
Mr. Welch, who hails from Strathfieldsaye, now lives in Sheffield and is the only V.C. winner now resident the city.
Lance-Corporal G. H. Wyatt, V.C
(No. 5854, Coldstream Guards).
Date of acts of bravery: 23, 26 August, and 1 September, 1914. at Landrecies and Villa Cottria. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. At Landrecies on the night of 25, 26 August, 1914, when a part of his battalion was hotly engaged at the end of a street close to some farm buildings, the enemy, means of incendiary bombs, set light to some straw stacks in the farmyard. Lance-Corporal Wyatt twice dashed out of the line under very heavy fire from the enemy, who were only yards distant, and extinguished the burning straw. If the fire had spread it would have been quite impossible to have held our position. Also at Villa Coteret, after been wounded in the head, Lance-Corporal Wyatt continued bring until he could longer see owing to the blood which was pouring down his face. The Medical Officer bound up his wound, and told him to the rear, but he at once returned to the firing line and continued to fight.— “London Gazette,” 18 November, 1914.
Lance-Corporal Wyatt is now a constable the Doncaster County Borough
Major William Barnsley Allen, V.C., D.S.0., M.C., M.B.
(Royal Army Medical Corps)
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion duty, near Meonie, France, September, 1916. When gun detachments were unloading high explosive ammunition from wagons which had just come up, the enemy began to shell the battery position. The first shell fell on one the limbers, exploded the ammunition and caused several casualties. Captain Allen saw the occurrence and at once, with utter disregard of danger, ran straight across the open, under heavy shell fire, commenced dressing the wounded, and undoubtedly by his promptness saved many of them from bleeding to death. He was himself hit four times during the first hour pieces of shells, one of which fractured two of his ribs, but he never even mentioned this at the time and coolly went on with his work till the last man was dressed and safely removed. He then went over another battery and tended a wounded officer. It was only when this was done that returned to his dug-out and reported his own injury.—“London Gazette” 26 October, 1916.
At that time Major Allen was a captain in the R.A.M.C. attached to the West Riding Field Ambulance. Major Allen won the D.S.O. 1918 while he also has M.C. and Bar. At present he resides at Hounslow. He is a Sheffield born man, being the son Mr. Percy E. Allen. He was educated at St. Cuthbert’s College, Worksop, and at the Sheffield University and was for a short time the staff of the Royal Hospital.
Rifleman Albert Edward Shepherd, V.C.
(No. R 15089, The Middlesex Regiment) (Duke of Cambridge’s Own).
For most conspicuous bravery as a company runner, Cambrai, November, 1917. When his company was held machine-gun at point-blank range e volunteered to rush the gun and, though ordered not to, rushed forward and threw a Mills bomb, killing two gunners and capturing the gun. The company, continuing its advance, came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire. When the last officer and the last non-commissioned officer had become casualties. he took command of the company, ordered the men to lie down and himself went back some 70 years under severe fire to obtain the help of a tank. He then returned to his company and finally led them to their last objective. He showed throughout conspicuous determination and resource. London Gazette, February. 1915.
Rifleman Shepherd lives at Royston and is the only holder of the honour in the Barnsley district.
Sapper William Hackett, V.C.
(No. 136414, Corps of Royal Engineers and Indian Engineers).
For most conspicuous bravery when entombed with four others in a gallery owing to the explosion of an enemy mine. After working for 20 hours a hole was made through fallen earth and broken timber, and the outside party was met. Sapper Hackett helped three of the men through the hole and could easily have followed, but refused to leave the fourth, who had been seriously injured, saying: “I am tunneller; I must look after the others first.”
Meanwhile the hole was getting smaller, yet he still refused to leave his injured comrade. Finally the gallery collapsed, and though the rescue party worked desperately for four days the attempt to reach the two men failed.
Sapper Hackett, well knowing the nature of sliding earth and the chances against him, deliberately gave his life for his comrade.—‘-London Gazette, August. 1916.
Sapper Hackett belonged to Mexborough