Page 37 - All About History - Issue 12-14
P. 37
Victoria Cross
MICHAEL JOHN O’LEARY
04 Out of ammo
Instead of re-joining the charge, O’Leary
made a beeline for the second German
machine gun. The ground in front of it Cuinchy
was too marshy and boggy for a direct
approach, so he climbed the railway
embankment before, for the second time
in as many minutes, charging directly
at a lethal killing machine discharging Paris
hundreds of rounds a minute. Displaying
remarkable luck and calm, he fired three
shots that put down three Germans. The Western Front
other two enemy soldiers had no stomach
left to fight and raised their hands in
surrender, not knowing the Irishman had
run out of bullets. His gun held ten bullets
and all of them had been expended, eight FRANCE
directly into German flesh.
100 Miles What O’Leary
did next
After returning to England to help
encourage others to sign up, O’Leary
returned to action and served the rest
of the war, much of it in the Balkans
Campaign. Following Germany’s
surrender, he returned to Canada
where he worked in the police force for
several years. He returned to Britain
and, remarkably for a man aged over
50, served in WWII as a captain in
the Middlesex regiment. Poor health
forced him to return from the front
line but he still assisted the war effort,
taking command of a prisoner of war
camp in England. He died in 1961
and his funeral was attended by an
honour guard from the Irish Guards.
His VC is displayed at the Regimental
Headquarters of the Irish Guards.
Victoria Cross
What is it?
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the
highest military honour that can
be awarded to citizens in the
Commonwealth and previously in
the British Empire.
What is it awarded for?
It is given for valour in the face of
the enemy and can be awarded to
anyone under military command.
Why was it introduced?
To honour acts of bravery
during the Crimean War (1853-
1856). Previously there was
no standardised system for
recognising gallantry regardless of
length of service or rank.
What does it say on the VC?
The inscription is ‘for valour’ after
Queen Victoria turned down the
initial suggestion of ‘For the brave’,
saying that all of her soldiers were
brave.
How often has it been awarded? © Ian Moores Graphics; Mary Evans
The VC has been awarded 1,355
times, but only 14 times since the
end of WWII.
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