The Border Regiment VICTORIA CROSS Memorial
Private 3493 Thomas BEACH, VC, 55th Foot, Inkerman 1854.
Born January 1824 at Dundee, Scotland and died 24th August 1864 at Dundee and is at rest in Eastern Necropolis Dundee in an unmarked grave. On the 5th November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman, whilst on picket duty he attacked several Russians who were plundering Lieutenant Colonel Carpenter as he lay wounded on the ground. He killed two and protected the colonel until some men of the 41st Regiment arrived
http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbbeagra.htm
http://www.bydand.net/Private-Thomas-Beach
Private William COFFEY, VC, DCM, 34th Foot, Sevastopol 1855
He was born 5th August 1829 at Knocklong, County Limerick and died on the 13th July 1875 aged 45. He is at rest in Spital Cemetery, Chesterfield. Originally he was in an unmarked grave on a common plot. In 1970 a stone was provided by the Border Regiment was put on his grave following a service
On 29 March 1855 at Sebastopol the Crimea he threw a live shell, which had fallen into a trench, over the parapet and thus saved many lives.
http://www.williamcoffeyvc.org/twenty-one.html
Private John Joseph SIMS, VC, 34th Foot, Sevastopol 1855.
Born 1835 at Bloomsbury, London and died of tuberculosis in a workhouse, Thavies Inn London on the 6th December 1881. He is at rest in the City of London Cemetery. A stone was dedicated in 2003.
18th June 1855 after the column had retired from the assault on Redan at Sebastopol, he went out repeatedly in front of the advanced trenches to bring in wounded comrades under heavy fire
http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbsims.htm
http://www.newhamstory.com/node/915
Brevet Major Frederick Cockayne ELTON, VC, 55th Foot, Sevastopol 1855. Born 23rd April 1832 The Manor House, Whitestaunton, Chard, Somerset and died 24th March 1888 in London. He is at rest in St Andrew's Churchyard, Whitestaunton, Chard, Somerset. His rank was Lieutenant Colonel late Duke of Lancaster Regiment
Citation, extract from the London Gazette dated 24th February 1857
For distinguished conduct on the night of the 4th August 1855, when in command of a working party in the advanced trenches in front of the Quarries, in encouraging and inciting his men by his example to work under a dreadful fire and when there was some hesitation shown, in consequence of the severity of the fire, going into the open, and working with pick and shovel thus showing the best possible example to the men. In the words of one of them, "There was not another Officer in the British Army who would have done what Major Elton died that night" In the month of March 1855, Major Elton volunteered with a small party of men to drive off a body of Russians who were destroying one of our new detached works, and succeeded in doing so, taking prisoner one of the enemy with his own hands. On the night of the 7th June 1855, Major Elton was the first of his party to leave our trenches leading his men, when in the Quarries, he several times rallied his men around him.
Private George RICHARDSON VC , 34th Foot, Sinhara Ghat 1859
He was born on the 1st August 1831 at derrylane, Killeshandra, County Cavan and he died 28th January 1923 aged 91 at London, Ontario, Canada.
He was 27 years old private, during theIndian Mutiny the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:. At Kewanie, Trans Gogra, on the 27th of April. 1859, for determined courage in having, although severely wounded,one arm being disabled,closed with and secured a Rebel Sepoy armed with a loaded revolver. He final rank was a sergeant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Richardson_(VC)
http://www.thiepvalmemoriallol1916.co.uk/George_Richardson_VC.htm
Private Abraham ACTON, VC, 2nd Border, Rouge Bancs 1914 (Private 10694, B Coy died 16th May 1915 aged 21. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth of 4, Regent Square, Senhouse Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Citation - An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 18th Feb., 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery on the 21st December, at Rouges-Bancs, in voluntarily going from his trench along with Private James Alexander Smith and rescuing a wounded man who had been lying exposed against the enemy's trenches for 75 hours; and on the same day again leaving his trench voluntarily, under heavy fire to bring into cover another wounded man. He was under fire for 60 minutes whilst conveying the wounded men into safety"
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Private James Alexander Glenn SMITH, VC, 2nd Border, Rouge Bancs 1914. He was born on the 5th January 1881 at Workington, Cumbria as Glenn James Alexander, and died 21st May 1968 at 73 Thorntree Avenue, Brambles Farm, Middlesborough, Teesside. He was cremated at Acklam Crematorium, Middlesborough.
The London Gazette," dated 18th Feb., 1915, records the following:-"For conspicuous bravery on the 21st December, at Rouges-Bancs, in voluntarily going from his trench along with Private Abraham Acton and rescuing a wounded man who had been lying exposed against the enemy's trenches for 75 hours; and on the same day again leaving his trench voluntarily, under heavy fire to bring into cover another wounded man. He was under fire for 60 minutes whilst conveying the wounded men into safety"
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Sergeant Edward John MOTT VC, DCM, 1st Border, Le Transloy 1917. He was born on the 4th July 1893 at Drayton, Berkshire and died 20 October 1967 at 38 New Yatt Road, Witney, Oxfordshire. He was cremated at Oxford Crematorium. He enlisted in the Border Regiment, and in 1915, he took part in the ill-fated Dardanelles Expedition, after which he served in Egypt and then on the Western Front. He was 23 years old and aSergeant On 27 January 1917 south of Le Transloy France an attack by Sergeant Mott's company was held up at a strong-point by machine-gun fire. Although severely wounded in the eye, Sergeant Mott made a rush for the gun and after a fierce struggle seized the gunner and took him prisoner, capturing the gun. It was due to the dash and initiative of this NCO that the left flank attack succeeded. Throughout this action, he was suffering from a serious eye wound.
Sergeant Charles Edward SPACKMAN, VC, 1st Border, Marcoing 1917
He was born 11th January 1891 at Fulham, London and died 6th May 1969 at Southampton General Hospital, Hampshire. He was cremated at Swaythling Crematorium, Southampton. At Marcoing, France the leading company was checked by heavy fire from a machine gun commanding ground devoid of any cover. He went alone through the fire to attack the gun killing all the crew but one and capturing the gun.
Lieutenant Colonel James FORBES-ROBINSON, VC, DSO and Bar, MC, Vieux Berquin 1918 He was born 7th July 1884 at Strathpeffer, Ross and Cromarty and died at Bourton on the Water Gloucestershire on the 5th August 1955 aged 71. He served with the Border Regiment, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Gordon Highlanders and the 16th Middlesex Regiment.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 11/12 April 1918 near Vieux-Berquin, France. Four times Lieutenant Colonel Forbes-Robertson saved the line from breaking and averted a most serious situation. On one occasion, having made a reconnaissance on horseback in full view of the enemy under heavy fire, he led a counter-attack which was completely successful in establishing our line. When his horse was shot under him he continued on foot, steadying the men and inspiring confidence by his disregard for personal danger. On the second day he lost another horse and again continued on foot until he had established a line to which his own troops could withdraw.
This memorial is in Carlisle Cathedral
