VALLENTIN John Franks (Reg No. 1248)
Captain 1st Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment
London Gazetted on 18th February 1915
VC Medal's Custodian is Wellington College, Crowthorne,Berkshire. (His old School)
Born on 14th May 1882 at Lambeth, London.
Killed in action on 7th November 1914 at Zillebeke, Belgium.
Memorials at Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium, also at St Leonard's Parish Church, Hythe and in the Garrison Church at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Digest of Citation reads:
Captain Vallentin, whilst leading an attack against the enemy under extremely heavy fire on 7th November 1914 at Zillibeke, Belgium , was suddenly struck down. He was immediately killed when he rose to continue the attack. The enemy trenches were captured and the success in this venture was due mainly to the confidence the men had in Captain Vallentin. He had on many previous occasions given evidence of his ability and his courage.
Additional information:. Captain Vallentin was the son of Mr and Mrs Grimble Vallentin. His grandfather was Colonel Finnis, said to be the first victim of the Indian mutiny. His uncle, Major Vallentin was also killed in action during the Boer War. Educated at Wellington College he joined the Army in August 1899, being promoted to lieutenant in 1900. He served at Curragh, County Kildare with the 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade then on its embodiment he was attached to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment serving in the South African war (1899 to 1902). He saw service in the Orange River Colony and in the Transvaal until mid 1902. For this he received Queen's Medal and five Clasps. He joined the South Staffordshire Regiment in June 1905. He fought in the European War (WWI) taking part in the landing at Zeebrugge on 7th October and in the first battle of Ypres. The day before he was killed his Regiment's 2nd battalion had been formed into one small one under Captain Vallentin's command.

VANN, Bernard William. (reg No. 1249).
Lieutenant Colonel * 1st/ 8th Battalion. Sherwood Foresters. *
London Gazetted on 14th December 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born the 9th July 1887 at Rushden, Northamptonshire.
Killed in action, by a sniper, at Rammicourt, France on 3rd October 1918.
Memorial on grave at Bellicourt British Cemetery, France; also on memorial at Rushden, Northamptonshire.
Digest of Citation reads:
On the 29th September, 1918 Lieutenant Colonel Vann gave an example of most conspicuous bravery, leadership and devotion to duty during the attack at a Bellenglise and Lehaucourt, France. Under the cover of a thick fog, but also under a very heavy fire from machine and field guns, he displayed great skill in leading his men across the Canal du Nord. The attack was delayed by every description of enemy fire, coming from the front and right flank, as they reached the high ground above Bellinglise. Lieutenant Colonel Vann, realising that it was imperative that they advanced with the barrage, rushed forward to the firing line and with great gallantry led the advance. Because of his expedient action and his disregard for danger, his men, encouraged, continued forward reversing the whole situation. At a later time, single-handedly, he rushed a field gun, knocking out three of its crew. The fine leadership and gallantry of Lieutenant Colonel Vann was instrumental in making the day a success. It was during another attack, near Ramicourt on 3rd October 1918, that he was killed by a sniper's bullet through the heart.
* Acting Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding the 1st/6th Battalion.
* Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. (Territorial Force).
Additional information:. Lieutenant Colonel Bernard W. Vann also held the Military Cross (MC) and Bar and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. His widow, Doris Victoria Vann (née Beck) received her husband's posthumous award of the Victoria Cross from King George V.
Lieutenant Colonel Vann married Doris Victoria Beck on 27th December 1917. They had a son born on 2nd June 1919, Bernard Geoffrey, whom he never saw.
He was educated at Chichele College and Jesus College, Cambridge, obtaining his degree in 1910. He was ordained deacon in 1912, and at the beginning of the European War (WW I) he was at Wellingborough School, employed as chaplain and Assistant Master. After applying to become an army chaplain he became impatient by the delay and joined the Sherwood Foresters in August 1914. In September he became a Second Lieutenant and on the 1st June 1916 was promoted to Captain, 19 days later he was promoted to Acting Major, and then Acting Lieutenant Colonel on 6th October 1917.

VEALE, Theodore William Henry. (reg No. 1250).
Private. 8th Battalion. Devonshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 9th September 1916.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Devonshire Regiment Museum, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset.
Born on 11th November 1892 at Dartmouth, Devon.
Died on 6th November 1980 at Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
Cremated at Enfield Crematorium, Middlesex. A Memorial plaque was unveiled, by his daughter Theodora, on 10th November 2002 at Dartmouth. *
Digest of Citation reads:
Private Veale saw a wounded officer waving his hand for assistance on 20th July 1916, East of High Wood, France. He ran to the spot, which was within 50 yards of the enemy, where Lieutenant Savill lay, dragging him into a shell-hole then fetched him some water. Although the enemy fired at him, Private Veale remained unscathed. He called for volunteers to help as he could not manage to carry the man alone. One of the volunteers, Corporal Allen, was killed immediately and the heavy enemy fire meant that they had to leave the officer where he was until dusk. Private Veale and other volunteers, Lieutenant Duff and Sergeant Smith, went out again and came into close contact with a German patrol. He returned to the lines, 150 yards away, and brought back a Lewis gun: covering the party whilst they carried the wounded officer to safety .
* Go to www. stewart.prestel.co.uk/bbveale.htm

VICKERS, Arthur. (reg No. 1251).
Private. 2nd Battalion. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on the 18th November 1915.
VC Medal's Custodian is Royal Warwickshire Regimental Museum, St John's House, Warwick.
Born on 2nd February, 1882 at Aston, Birmingham.
Died on 27th July 1944 at Birmingham.
Memorial on grave at Witton Cemetery, Birmingham. (Headstone erected 13th November, 2000).
Digest of Citation reads:
During an attack by the 2nd Battalion on 25th September 1915, at Hulluch, Private Vickers proceeded, under heavy shell, rifle and machine-gun fire, entirely on his own initiative, to make his way forward in front of the company to cut a way through the barbed wire entanglements that were holding up the greater part of his battalion. The gallant work carried out by Private Vickers was completed in broad daylight, all the time in a standing position, and it contributed a great deal to the satisfactory outcome of the attack.
Additional information: Sergeant Vicker's service number, 3719. He was turned down for enlistment in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment several times before being accepted in 1902 because of his height. He was known affectionately as 'Titch'. His grave now has a headstone which was erected at a ceremony, attended by a Birmingham's Lord Mayor, on 13th November 2000.

VICKERS, Charles Geoffrey. (reg No. 1252).
Captain. 1st/7th Battalion. Sherwood Foresters.
London Gazetted on 18th November 1915.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Sherwood Foresters Museum, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham .
Born on 13th October 1894 at Nottingham.
Died on 16th March 1982 at Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
He was cremated at Oxford Crematorium.
Digest of Citation reads:
When most of his men had been killed or wounded, leaving only two men available to hand him bombs at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, on the 14th October 1915, Captain Vickers held a barrier for several hours against an enemy attack with bombs from front and flank. He ordered a barrier to be built behind him as a means of ensuring the trenches safety, regardless of the fact that he, himself, would be cut off. He was eventually severely wounded but not before the second barrier had been completed. Throughout he displayed an example for courage and determination.
Additional information:.Colonel Sir Geoffrey Vickers was the son of Charles Henry and Jessica Anna (née Lomas) of Nottingham. Educated at Oundle School and Merton College, Oxford. He was commissioned in Sherwood Forester on the 2nd September 1914.

VICKERY, Samuel. (reg No. 1253).
Private. 1st Battalion. Dorsetshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on the 20th May 1898.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Dorset Regiment Museum, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset.
Born on 6th February 1873 at Warnbrook, Chard, Somerset.
Died on 20th June 1952 at Cardiff.
Cremated at Glyntaff Crematorium, Pontypridd, Glamorganshire.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 20th October 1897 at Tirah, India during an attack on the Dargai Heights, Private Vickery rescued a wounded man, after running down a slope on the Heights, taking him back to the safety of cover. Whilst serving with Brigadier-General Kempster's Column in the Waran Valley, he distinguished himself again after he had been attacked by the enemy at a time that he was separated from his company. He killed three of his attackers.

VOUSDEN, William John. (reg No. 1254).
Captain. 5th Punjab Cavalry. *
London Gazetted on 18th October 1881.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 20th September 1845 at Perth, Scotland.
Died of dysentery on 12th November 1919 at Lahore, India.*
Memorial on grave at Lahore, India* Also on the family grave at Rye Cemetery, Sussex.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 14th December 1879, during the Afghan war, on the Asmai Heights, Captain Vousden led a charge with a small body of men into the heart of the retreating Kohistanis who were far superior in number. The Kohistanis did their best to close in on the small band,but were prevented from this as Captain Vousden led the men in several charges. Backwards and forwards, they charged, through the centre of the enemy, before finally making their way around the opposite side of the village where they rejoined their own forces.
* Later admitted to Bengal Staff Corps.
* Lahore now part of Pakistan.
Additional information:. Major General Vousden was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. (CB). He was the son of Captain Thomas Vousden of the 51st Fusiliers. He was educated at Woolwich (Dr Hill's) and King's School Canterbury.
He began his military career in 1864. Being commissioned in October 1867 and then joining the 5th Punjab Cavalry. He was admitted to the Bengal Staff Corps and promoted to Captain in 1876. He served in the Afridi campaigns and also the Afghan wars. He was with the Khort Valley expedition seeing action on 7th January 1879 at Matun. taking part in the advance under Sir Frederick Roberts seeing action at Karatigi (27th September, 1879), Charasiah (6th October 1879) and Kabul (8th October 1879). It was during the enemy's retreat from here that he won his Victoria Cross on 14th December, 1879.
The inscription on his grave at Lahore states:
To the glory of God and in memory of General William John Vousden VC., CB., late Commandant, 5th Punjab Cavalry, whose brave and honest life in the service of his sovereign and country closed at Lahore on 12th November 1902.
There is also a plaque in St Augustine's Church at Kohat erected by his fellow officers which reads:
Sacred to the memory of Brigadier General William John Vousden VC., CB. Late Commandant 5th Punjab Cavalry. He served 30 years in the Regiment. Commanded the Kohat Kurram Force, in command of the Punjab Frontier Force and as Inspector General of Cavalry in India. Died at Lahore November 12th, 1902 deeply regretted by all who knew him. This tablet is erected by his brother officers of the 5th Punjab Cavalry as a token of their affection and esteem.