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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/

That is a super image!! I have just been listening again to the Forsythe saga and the chapter on the funeral of old Aunt Anne. People were invited to the funeral and there was strict precedence in who went in which carriage. This is really wonderful with the hearse and detail in the coffin!

OS 25" link

Vab2009 This is the one of the hearse that I really wanted, but unfortunately have no higher res yet! Wonder what happened if someone got out of place? Was outrage expressed with the raise of an eyebrow? Was there a system of whip semaphore between drivers?

Niall McAuley Go raibh maith agat!

Odd that there's no engine sheds visible. I wonder when they were built - they should be blocking the view to Elmhurst.

what an amazing story, if you can call it a story. i hope he lived a happy life

a true hero....what a man.

excellent shot

From UK Victoria Cross Medals database Name:Frederick William Holmes Birth Date:27 Sep 1889 Birth Place:Abbey Street, Bermondsey, London Death Date:22 Oct 1969 Death Place:Port Augusta, South Australia There is a baptism record for Frederick William Holmes born at 23 Abbey Street, Bermondsey. The baptism took place at St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey on 27th Sep 1891, the son of Thomas George and Ann Mary Holmes. TG Holmes was described as a Carman. A family tree is listed on www.ancestry.co.uk and shows that TG Holmes died before the 1901 census. Ann Mary's maiden name was Hymns. Frederick's address on 20th Dec 1920 according to his Medal Roll Index Card was 18 Wiverton Road, Sydenham.

Lance Corporal Holmes Takes The Place Of A Wounded Driver And Assists In Driving A Gun Out Of Action Under Heavy Fire. In the afternoon of August 26th 1914, Von Kluck began to use the superior numbers of his army in a great enveloping on both British at Le Cateau. Some of the German batteries took up positions from which they were able to enfilade the British line, and so at about 3.30p.m. the order was given to commence a retirement. This movement was covered with great courage by the artillery, who at this stage of the battle suffered their heaviest losses. Under very heavy fire Lance Corporal Frederick William Holmes, of the 2nd Battalion The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, carried a wounded man from the hastily dug trenches, and later mounted one of the leading horses of a gun team, when the driver had been wounded, to assist in driving a gun out of action, Lance Corporal Holmes showed the highest gallantry and was awarded the V.C. www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=9444