Lieutenant Hurrell and Captain Wynne [X550/1/81]
Wednesday 29th
March 1916: the acting adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Second Lieutenant F A
Sloan, at la Houssoye told us that yesterday there was a demonstration showing
how effective the new smoke helmets are against gas. Captain R O Wynne and the
adjutant Lieutenant J W Hurrell were admitted to hospital, sick, it is not
believed that this was from the effects of the gas demonstration or the bug which seems to be running through the battalion.
The adjutant
told us that a former commander of the Battalion who is now a general – R L
Curteis, forwarded to his successor as commanding officer the sum of £5. This
was to be awarded to the soldier of the rank of Sergeant or below who, in the
opinion of all ranks, had performed the most gallant act of offense during the
war without receiving official recognition. This excellent idea was taken up
with alacrity and his comrades decided that the reward should fall to Corporal
Freshwater, who comes from Willesden in London.
Accordingly
at 2.30 pm yesterday Brigadier Stanley DSO, commanding 89th Infantry Brigade
presented the money to Corporal G.Freshwater. It was a reward for the following
act of gallantry: "At Neuve-Chapelle on the 12th March 1915, Captain C C
Foss VC, DSO called for volunteers to capture a trench which the enemy had
taken. Corporal Freshwater (then a Private) at once volunteered and called on
others to follow his example and accompany Captain Foss. The party consisting
of one officer and six bombers recaptured the lost trench and took 54 German
prisoners. Corporal Freshwater showed exceptional courage and was the second
man to enter the German trench". All the other men received gallantry
awards, including the Victoria Cross for Captain Foss. By some oversight
Corporal Freshwater had received nothing.
On the
arrival of the Brigadier the Battalion presented arms and formed three sides of
a square. Brigadier Stanley addressed the Battalion as follows: “Officers, NCOs
and Men of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt. Colonel Poyntz has done me the
honour of asking me to present the sum of £5 to Corporal Freshwater” and
addressed him as follows: “Corporal Freshwater it affords me the greatest
pleasure to present to you the sum of £5, you have been chosen by your comrades
as having performed the most gallant act during the war, without receiving any
award or recognition and I am assured you thoroughly deserve it. It must afford
you the greatest pleasure to know that you have been unanimously chosen by your
comrades to receive this award as a brave man”.
After this
ceremony the Brigadier made the following address to the Battalion.
“Some 3½ months
ago I had the pleasure of welcoming you into my Brigade and I felt that I
should be proud of you. I find that I have had just cause to be so, and
anything I required doing in the Trenches I received immediate response from
the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt. Officers and Men carried out all duties
with vigour and exactitude and I feel that I can rely on you under every
circumstance. You have always shown a willingness which affords me the greatest
pleasure - Colonel Poyntz I congratulate you on your fine battalion”(1).
Source: X550/3/wd
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