Great Britain
WWI
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CHARLES E. SPACKMAN
Command Sergeant Major Charles Edward Spackman was born on January 11, 1891 and was from Fulham, London.
He enlisted in the Army in 1908/1909 and made his way into the No. 3 Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment. He would see action with his unit at Gallipoli in 1915. While in France in 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, he would extinguish himself in combat, earning him England’s highest honor for bravery, the Victoria Cross.
On 20 November 1917 at Marcoing, France, the leading company was checked by heavy fire from a gun mounted on a position which covered the approaches. Sergeant Spackman, realising that it would be impossible for the troops to advance, first moved towards the gun position and from 200 yards took out the first gunner. He then proceeded to take out the second gunner on his way to the position and from there he rushed through heavy fire to the gun, where he succeeded in bayoneting the 3rd gunner at the gun position. He survived by a mere miracle and singlehandedly captured the gun, allowing his unit to advance.
On February 23, 1918, he was awarded the Victoria Cross by the King at Buckingham Palace.
After the war he joined the Territorial Force, serving for a number of years, achieving the rank of Command Sergeant Major. During the inter-war period he served in the Border Regiment and Queen Victoria Rifles.
During WWII he volunteered to serve in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
On May 7, 1969, Spackman would pass away in Southampton.
He enlisted in the Army in 1908/1909 and made his way into the No. 3 Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment. He would see action with his unit at Gallipoli in 1915. While in France in 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, he would extinguish himself in combat, earning him England’s highest honor for bravery, the Victoria Cross.
On 20 November 1917 at Marcoing, France, the leading company was checked by heavy fire from a gun mounted on a position which covered the approaches. Sergeant Spackman, realising that it would be impossible for the troops to advance, first moved towards the gun position and from 200 yards took out the first gunner. He then proceeded to take out the second gunner on his way to the position and from there he rushed through heavy fire to the gun, where he succeeded in bayoneting the 3rd gunner at the gun position. He survived by a mere miracle and singlehandedly captured the gun, allowing his unit to advance.
On February 23, 1918, he was awarded the Victoria Cross by the King at Buckingham Palace.
After the war he joined the Territorial Force, serving for a number of years, achieving the rank of Command Sergeant Major. During the inter-war period he served in the Border Regiment and Queen Victoria Rifles.
During WWII he volunteered to serve in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
On May 7, 1969, Spackman would pass away in Southampton.
Charles Spackman with the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII).
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Spackman (left) with other Border Regiment VC recipient.
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Pvt. Markwick, circa 1916-1917
JOSEPH W. MARKWICK
Royal West Kent Regiment
Private Joseph William Markwick was born June 30, 1898 and was from Cuckfield, Sussex. Educated at Cuckfield Church School, Cuckfield, Sussex.
He enlisted on August 14, 1914 at Haywards Heath, Sussex. He was 16 years old at the time. He assigned to the Royal Sussex Regiment.
In May 1916, he transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment; served with the Expeditionary Force in France & Flanders from May 1916, taking part in operations on the Somme.
He was sent back to England in October 1916, as being under age for foreign service.
On July 1, 1917, he returned to France and transferred the 4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.
Markwick was slightly wounded at Le Treport and sent to hospital. After recovery, he was transferred to the 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. On December 8, 1917, he was wounded in action at Cambrai, where he subsequently died of wounds.
His Commanding Officer wrote: "He was one of the best soldiers in the Company, and had been already marked out for promotion. I saw him in the dressing station: he was cheerful and bearing the pain like the splendid soldier he was, and a comrade. He was a great favourite amongst the boys and we have missed him very much."
Commemorated at Tincourt New British Cemetery, IV. B. 3., France.
He enlisted on August 14, 1914 at Haywards Heath, Sussex. He was 16 years old at the time. He assigned to the Royal Sussex Regiment.
In May 1916, he transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment; served with the Expeditionary Force in France & Flanders from May 1916, taking part in operations on the Somme.
He was sent back to England in October 1916, as being under age for foreign service.
On July 1, 1917, he returned to France and transferred the 4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.
Markwick was slightly wounded at Le Treport and sent to hospital. After recovery, he was transferred to the 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. On December 8, 1917, he was wounded in action at Cambrai, where he subsequently died of wounds.
His Commanding Officer wrote: "He was one of the best soldiers in the Company, and had been already marked out for promotion. I saw him in the dressing station: he was cheerful and bearing the pain like the splendid soldier he was, and a comrade. He was a great favourite amongst the boys and we have missed him very much."
Commemorated at Tincourt New British Cemetery, IV. B. 3., France.
British soldiers at Cambrai, 1917
GEORGE T. DEELEY
L/Cpl. George Thomas Deeley was born in 1879 and was from Yorkshire, England. He married Beatrice Alice Ashford in 1910.
After enlisting in the army, Deeley was assigned to 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment.
He was killed in action in Belgium at the Battle of Messines on June 7, 1917.
After enlisting in the army, Deeley was assigned to 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment.
He was killed in action in Belgium at the Battle of Messines on June 7, 1917.
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WILLIAM S. MONTGOMERY
Captain William Sproat Montgomery was born in 1882 and was from Lancashire, England. He was educated at Liverpool College and played Rugby for the Liverpool Club.
In the years 1908 and 1909, he served as a commissioned officer in the army. In the fall of 1914, he was promoted to Captain.
On February 22, 1915, Montgomery departed overseas to France. On March 13, 1915, while on the front line in Ypres, Montgomery was killed in action. Montgomery had been helping rebuild a blown out parapet with sandbags until he was shot in the head and killed instantly by a German sniper.
In the years 1908 and 1909, he served as a commissioned officer in the army. In the fall of 1914, he was promoted to Captain.
On February 22, 1915, Montgomery departed overseas to France. On March 13, 1915, while on the front line in Ypres, Montgomery was killed in action. Montgomery had been helping rebuild a blown out parapet with sandbags until he was shot in the head and killed instantly by a German sniper.
