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From the Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Victoria Cross Committee
www.nottinghamshire-victoria-cross-memorial.org.uk/vicker...

He and his brother, William Burnell Vickers, volunteered for service in the army. Charles joined The Sherwood Foresters (7th Robin Hood Battalion), and was in France before the end of 1914, first as a Second Lieutenant, and then as a temporary Captain in 1915. He was promoted to the rank of Major and Second in Command of The 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, in 1918.

Explaining his thoughts about going to war, he later wrote, "In August Germany invaded Belgium, we had a treaty with Belgium, so we all stopped what we were doing and went off to war. It was as simple as that.” He won the Victoria Cross for his actions on the 14th October, 1915, when he held a barrier across a trench in the Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, against heavy German bomb attacks (the 'bombs' of the citation were early grenades), ordering a second barrier to be built behind him in order to secure the safety of the trench, regardless of the fact that his own retreat would be cut off holding back the enemy for long enough for a second barrier to be completed.

His brother, Burnell, was killed in action in action in 1917.

In June, 1918, he commanded a Battalion in the Second Battle of the Marne, for which he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

DATE OF GAZETTE: 18th November, 1915.
V.C. CITATION:
On 14th October, 1915, at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, when nearly all his men had been killed or wounded, and there were only two men available to hand him grenades, Captain Vickers held a barrier for some hours against heavy German bomb attacks, regardless of the fact that his own retreat would be cut off, he ordered a second barrier to be built behind him in order to secure the safety of the trench. Finally, he was severely wounded, but not before his courage and determination had enabled the second barrier to be completed.

After the war he returned to Oxford, and took a pass degree in French, European History and Law in 1919. He qualified as a solicitor in 1923 and, by 1926, was a partner in the leading London law firm of Slaughter and May.

Vickers served in World War II; he was re-commissioned as a Colonel, and was seconded as Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Economic Warfare, in charge of economic intelligence. From 1941 to 1945 he was a member of the Joint Intelligence Committee of the Chiefs of Staff. Charles Geoffrey Vickers was knighted in 1946.

He was also a member of the London Passenger Transport Board (1941–46), and the Council of Law Society (1944–48).

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Innes, A. L. (Alexander Lee), 1868-1948, photographer. St Helena Studio, Jamestown No idea re subject

Captain Jens Friis from Denmark ?? "Mr Uggla had continued recruiting and on 20th January 1900 another 20 new volunteers arrived from Pretoria under command of Captain Jens Friis, who was a Dane. The decision to disband the Company was now altered and it should instead be reorganized. The new organization was: ... ..." From - www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/boer-units/1955-sca... (Use 'find on page' "Friis") He was taken Prisoner of War and must have ended up on St Helena. Not sure "V.C" refers to Victoria Cross.

Similar info here - samilitaryhistory.org/vol145sb.html

A censored letter to Jens Friis in Cape Town.
Via - stampauctionnetwork.com/ha/ha301285.cfm

This wiki page about Boer foreign volunteers mentions an Irish brigade, which might be a possible connection to Alice Stopford Green - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer_foreign_volunteers And - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_commandos

The pocket general.

He was a very small man but was genuinely respected by the men who served under him including the Irish men many of whom served with him in India!

Victoria Cross, VC - top left medal. Details at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Roberts,_1st_Earl_Roberts "He was awarded the Victoria Cross medal for actions on 2 January 1858 at Khudaganj. The citation reads: Lieutenant Roberts' gallantry has on every occasion been most marked. On following the retreating enemy on 2 January 1858, at Khodagunge, he saw in the distance two Sepoys going away with a standard. Lieutenant Roberts put spurs to his horse, and overtook them just as they were about to enter a village. They immediately turned round, and presented their muskets at him, and one of the men pulled the trigger, but fortunately the caps snapped, and the standard-bearer was cut down by this gallant young officer, and the standard taken possession of by him. He also, on the same day, cut down another Sepoy who was standing at bay, with musket and bayonet, keeping off a Sowar. Lieutenant Roberts rode to the assistance of the horseman, and, rushing at the Sepoy, with one blow of his sword cut him across the face, killing him on the spot.

Roberts actually lived in Waterford for a while which might explain why his portrait is among the Poole collection! There's a plaque on a wall out the Dunmore Road giving details!

Red Herring - Well I never! There is a pub in Sydney, Australia renamed (1901) after him. www.lordrobertshotel.com.au/