Book tells tales of incredible bravery
ARUNCORN author has released his latest book – this time turning his skills to documenting the tales of incredible bravery behind the awarding of one of Britain’s top Armed Services honours.
For Conspicuous Gallantry: Military Cross Holders Of The First World War is now on sale, and is the third work by Neil Thornton, previously of the Todger Jones Victoria Cross (VC) statue appeal.
Neil said that although the VC generally receives most attention, he felt this is to the detriment of other awards, which were ‘just as hardearned’.
In putting his passion to paper, Neil’s latest work follows the First World War chronologicaly, describing actions that resulted in men receiving the Military Cross (MC), which was a third-tier award and primarily granted to junior officers – the first men ‘over the top’.
Neil said all the stories are incredible, and that while some were tragic, some had a surprisingly ‘ humorous’ slant to them given the context.
Among them was Lieutenant Agustus Agelasto, who earned his MC at Hill 60 in 1915 with the Dorsets.
After returning from a patrol following a fall into a waterfilled shell-hole, Agelasto had just stripped off in his dugout when the Germans launched an attack. Lt Agelasto burst out wearing just his boots and trench coat, rallied his men and led them forward.
A diary entry written by one of his troops noted that the men found it hilarious, and ‘even at that critical time, had to laugh’.
Agelasto was later shot in the head and suffered severely from ‘shell shock’, but returned to the fighting, only to be killed while leading his men forward with grenades.
The book also describes the Cheshire Regiment’s last stand
● at Mons on August 24, 1914, where they were all-but wiped out holding back thousands of German troops in a gallant rear-guard action, where a captain’s actions would be recognised six years later with the awarding of the MC.
Neil said: “Perhaps the mosttragic story is that of Lt-Col Harry Moorhouse and his son
●
Ronnie who had been awarded the MC for leading a trench raid in which he was wounded.
Both men served in the same regiment, which Harry commanded.
“During a subsequent attack, Ronnie was carried into his father’s dugout very severely wounded.
“The ground was being
● swept by enemy fire, but Harry, despite being told he would never make it, left his dugout and attempted to run back to find medical help for his son.
“He was shot down as he ran, and died in the arms of a staff officer who had accompanied him. The officer succeeded in fetching a doctor, but by the time they had got to
Ronnie, he had died.
“The foreword is provided by Trevor Coult, ex-Royal Irish Regiment, who is himself a recipient of the Military Cross and the book is also endorsed by the Sunday Times best-selling special forces author Damien Lewis, whose comments can be seen on the front cover.”
Neil’s biography of Run
● corn’s VC recipient Thomas ‘Todger’ Jones VC, DCM, will also be released next year featuring some previously unearthed information and commissioned artwork by Steve Noon.
Bob Stewart DSO MP, who commanded the Cheshire Regiment, has provided the foreword.