Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 3. p. 633

THE VICTORIA CROSS

Lc.-Cpl. J. WELCH.
Swallowiield Man Gains Coveted Honour.
The greatest award for gallantry was on June 28th made to another man of Berkshire in the person of Lce.-Corpl. James Welch, 1st Royal Berks Regt., son of Mrs. Welch, of Beech Wood Cottage, Swallowfield.
This brought Berkshire'€™s total of V.C. 's up to four, the three former recipients of Britain'€™s greatest honour being Captain A. Turner, 1st Royal Berks Regiment, Thatcham (posthumous), Trooper Potts, Berkshire Yeomanry, of Reading, and Sergt. Mott, Border Regiment, of Abingdon.

Lce.-Corpl. Welch, who is 27 years of age comes from a fighting stock , for he has two brothers and two brothers-in-law in the services, while many of his uncles have also been soldiers. His award was made

For most conspicuous bravery
On entering the enemy trench he killed one
man after a severe hand-to-hand struggle.
Armed only with an empty revolver, Lce.-
Corpl. Welch then chased four of the enemy
across the open and captured them single-handed.

He handled his machine-gun with the utmost
fearlessness, and more than once went
into the open fully exposed to heavy fire at
short range to search for and collect ammunition
and spare parts in order to keep his
guns in action, which he succeeded in doing
for over five hours till wounded by a shell.

He showed throughout the utmost valour
and initiative.

A native of Stratfieldsaye [sic] Mr Welch, who displayed a most adventurous spirit as a boy, left school at an early age and for a short time was engaged in agricultural work. He was soon, however, fired with the martial traditions of his family, and joined the old Militia at the age of 17. He was then transferred to the Royal Berks Regiment and spent the greater part of seven years in India. Returning home soon after the outbreak of war, he went out to France in November, 1914, after a short preliminary training in England.

Wounded five times.
He has had a most exciting career overseas, having been wounded no less than five times. He fought at Neuve Chapelle, where he was wounded, at Fromelles, Loos, Deville Wood. Ovillers, La Boiselle, Hulloch, Beaumont Hamel and Oppy. The action in which he gained the V.C. was at Vimy Ridge. The objective of B company, a Lewis Gun section oj which Lce.-Corpl. Welch was in charge, was the position in front of Oppy Wood.

In describing the action Pte. [sic] Welch said the attack commence at four o'clock in the morning. they went over the top under their own barrage. The distance to be covered was about 300 yards, over open country. When the Huns commenced their first counter-attack he had to go to a high point and fire in order to keep them back. They were being strongly reinforced from their second line of trenches. He was firing on his own for upwards of an hour. There were six in the team, but four were killed or wounded in the taking of the first trench, leaving only Pte. Walker and himself. He left his position and fetched in four snipers by the threat of am empty revolver and handed them over. Pte. Walker meanwhile manning the

[photo: LCE.CORPL.JAMES WELCH, V.C.]

gun. The Germans then launched a second counter-attack and entered the captured trench. Receiving orders to go out and search for ammunition and spare parts for his gun he did so several times under heavy fire. Walker was either killed or wounded, and he was then left to carry on alone. Finally, being hit by a piece of shell, he was compelled to give in and hand his gun over to a chum. When he left, the enemy fire had quietened down. The Germans had failed for the third time in their attack and their casualties had been heavy.

The Berks captured three guns, bombs, mortars and other stores. The whole of the battalion did remarkably well, which is proved by the fact that 13 decorations were awarded. Hainge got a bar to his D.C.M., and Hilden, Plank and Rumble received the D.C.M. Capt. E. L. Jerwood, M.C., was wounded in one of the counter-attacks and his place was taken by Capt. Pocock. Sec. Lueut. F. C. James was Welch's platoon officer.

A fine all-round athlete, Lce.-Cpl. Welch took part in almost every kind of sport while out in India and carried off a number of trophies for running, cricketing, etc. He is also an expert marksman.

Corpl. Welch received his coveted award at the hands of the K ing at an open-air investiture in the front courtyard of Buckingham Palace on Saturday, July 21st, in full view of thousands of people. There were 24 V.C.'€™s to receive the decoration in person and eight were handed to near relatives of the winners. Co.-Sergt.-Major Edward Brooks, Oxford and Bucks L.I. ( T.) , of Highfield, Oxford, was amongst those honoured on this occasion. In presenting the decoration, His Majesty congratulated Lce.-Corpl. Welch and said he was proud to see that a member of the old brigade had won it.

To The Royal Berkshires.
They wear the halo of warfare'€™s glory,
Erect of figure, and proud of face,
The Berkshires! heroes of Reading' s story,
The noble type of a noble race.
A glint of steel in the golden morning,
The gleam of sunlight on burnished brass,
The Royal Berkshires, the street adorning -€”
The rank and file in their khaki pass.

The senses thrill with a keen emotion,
A sigh - a catch in the passing breath;
Must men like these, for a life'€™s devotion,
Too often pay with a hero'€™s death?
How many have known the days of slaughter,
The endless counting of comrades slain?
When red blood poured o'€™er the field like water,
When brave bones bleached on a distant plain

In the foremost rank of the seething battle,
'€Mid brave men dying, old comrades dead;
'™Mid the cannon'€™s crash, and the bay'€net' rattle,
The Royal Berkshires have fought and bled.
While women weep for their men who perish -
For battle'€™s pain, and its awful loss - €”
In Berkshire, now, there are those who cherish
As legacy - €” the VICTORIA CROSS!

Thistle Anderson.
Reading, June 28th, 1917.



Sergt. E. J. MOTT.
Drayton Man Captures a Machine Gun.
THE honour of being the first recipient in the Abingdon district of the V.C. fell to the lot of Sergt. Edward John Mott, of the Border Regt., born at Drayton near Abingdon, and formerly a scholar at the Abingdon
Council School. Before enlisting, he worked with his father John Mott, at the Manor Farm , Shippon, Abingdon, and is now 24 years of age. He enlisted in the Border Regiment on the last day of 1910, and
was in India when the war broke out. His regiment was sent to the Dardanelles, where he gained distinction two days after his arrival by gallant conduct. For rescuing his commanding officer, who was

[PHOTO: SERGT. EDWARD JOHN MOTT]

mortally wounded, he was awarded the D.C.M. He late returned to Gallipoli and was again wounded. Later he was in action on the Somme, where in a raid on the German trenches he was severely wounded in the eye and then performed the gallant deed which obtained his V.C. the official record says:-
When his company was held up at a strong point by machine gun fire, Sergt. Mott, although severely wounded in the eye, made a rush for the gun and after a severe struggle captured the gunner and the gun. It was due to his dash and initiative that the left flank attack succeeded.


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EB 16/09/2015