World War I centenary: Paving stones to honour heroes

Lance-Sergeant William Herbert WARING, 25th Battalion of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.



A long-serving member of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, he had earned his living as a Labourer, Featherer and Poultry Butcher before being sent on active service overseas in 1916. He was serving in Gaza when awarded the Military Medal in November the following year. In May 1918, he was transferred to the Western Front and was serving there when this seemingly ordinary man performed extraordinary feats that saw him recommended for the VC. His citation states:

"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Ronssoy, on 18 September 1918. He led an attack against enemy machine guns which were holding up the advance of neighbouring troops, and, in the face of devastating fire from flank and front, single-handed, rushed a strong point, bayonetting four of the garrison and capturing 20 with their guns. L/Serjt. Waring then, under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, reorganised his men and led and inspired them for another 400 yards, when he fell mortally wounded. His valour, determination and leadership were conspicuous throughout."

Evacuated to the General Hospital at Le Havre, Waring succumbed to his wounds on 8 October 1918; just days before his 33rd birthday and a month before the Armistice.

Waring's "paving stone" plaque is set into the wall of the Town Hall in Welshpool and while he is the only VC awardee born in the town, Captain Stephen Halden Beattie VC (for actions in Saint-Nazaire, 1942) was born a mile outside and Private John Doogan VC (for actions during the battle of Laing’s Nek, 1881) lived in or near the town for about 20 years.

 

Frederick Palmer :
Victoria Cross,Shepherds Bush Green London.
On 16/17 February 1917 north of Courcelette, France, Lance-Sergeant Palmer assumed command of his company when all his officers had become casualties. Having cut his way under point-blank fire, through wire entanglements, he dislodged an enemy machine-gun and established a "block". He then collected some other men and held the barricade for nearly three hours against seven determined counter-attacks. While he was fetching more bombs an eighth counter-attack was delivered, threatening the advance of the whole flank. At this critical moment, although suffering from extreme exhaustion, he rallied his men, drove back the enemy and maintained his position
Frederick William Palmer - Wikipedia

 

Located Bermondsey London


ABLE SEAMAN ALBERT EDWARD McKENZIE
Service Number: J/31736
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Royal Navy

H.M.S. "Vindictive."

Date of Death
Died 03 November 1918

Age 20 years old

Buried or commemorated at
CAMBERWELL OLD CEMETERY

85. 25538.

United Kingdom

• Country of Service

Albert Edward McKenzie - Wikipedia

 

High Wycombe Buckinghamshire


SECOND LIEUTENANT FREDERICK YOUENS
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Durham Light Infantry

13th Bn.

Date of Death
Died 07 July 1917

Age 24 years old

Buried or commemorated at
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
I. O. 3.

Belgium

• Country of Service United Kingdom
• Awards Victoria Cross
• Additional Info Son of Vincent and Lizzie Youens, of "Belgrave,"64, Desborough Park Rd., High Wycombe.
• Personal Inscription LOYAL,TRUE AND KIND A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY LEFT BEHIND
• Additional Citation note
  An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 31st July, 1917, records the following- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. While out on patrol this officer was wounded and had to return to his trenches to have his wounds dressed. Shortly afterwards a report came in that the enemy were preparing to raid our trenches. 2nd Lt. Youens, regardless of his wound, immediately set out to rally the team of a Lewis gun, which had become disorganised owing to heavy shell fire. During this process an enemy's bomb fell on the Lewis gun position without exploding. 2nd Lt. Youens immediately picked it up and hurled it over the parapet. Shortly afterwards another bomb fell near the same place; again 2nd Lt. Youens picked it up with the intention of throwing it away, when it exploded in his hand, severely wounding him and also some of his men. There is little doubt that the prompt and gallant action of 2nd Lt. Youens saved several of his men's lives and that by his energy and resource the enemy's raid was completely repulsed. This gallant officer has since succumbed to his wounds."

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/491026/frederick-youens/

 

Grave marker of British officer, 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Youens VC, of the 13th Battalion, The ...

A lovely picture of his original grave marker.

 

Hill 60.

Hell on earth. As were so many battlefields of the Great War, and wars since.

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

War diary from Ancestry.

 

Thanks for posting up Deacs, it is very much appreciated.

I've walked the ground at Hill 60, on more than one occasion in my younger days. Last visit to there was around seven or eight years ago, when my fitness still allowed.

There is a World War Two memorial to a couple of young resistance guys who were shot near/on the railway line cutting there. I may have posted about them on the forum previously, maybe (memory is as bad as my walking now).

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.