HORSLEY William Frederick Major

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Surname: HORSLEY;

Forename(s): William Frederick;

Initials: WF;

Rank: Major;

Resided in: Newcastle;

Previous Number: 6/2173;

Previous Battalion: 6 of;

Previous Regiment: Northumberland Fus;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 62 Bn;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 149 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 62 Bn;

Awarded: MC, bar to MC;

Gallantry Notes: MC: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He held the forward machine gun position in front of a village, with his company and by his energy and skilful disposition assisted in the repulse of repated enemy attacks, causing them heavy losses.

bar to MC: Whilst commanding a company during operations lasting for ten days he displayed throughout the greatest courage and enthusiasm and total disregard of danger enabled him to keep touch with his guns at all times. On one occasion when the situation was obscure he made a daring reconnaisance under heavy shell and machine gun fire and personally placed his guns in position on a threatened flank;

Other Data: Newcastle AV: Chirton, Clifton Road
offered for sale Smith & Wilde (Auctioneers) Oct '07
War Diary 149 Coy 15/4/1916 "No 2173 L/Cpl Horsley gazetted 2/Lt for service with this Company"
NB: wounded whilst att. To 149 Coy
with 208 Coy - March 1917 - war diary
2 I/c 62 Bn 9/3/1918
MC confirmed in War Diary 9/5/1918
medal group offered for sale Rennie Alcock, Dec '15:
MC & Bar , 1914/15 Star (Pte. North. Fus ), B.W.M. Victory (Major), 1935 Jubilee, 1937 Coronation, Defence, Special Constabulary (GV1)

Major W.F. Horsley

M.C. L.G. 26/7/1918 Lieut William Frederick Horsley, North. Fus attd MGC 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He held the forward machine gun position in front of a village with his company, and by his energy and skilful disposition assisted in the repulse of repeated enemy attacks, causing them heavy losses.' (A March Offensive award)

Bar L.G. 11/1/1919 Lt (A/Maj.) 6th North. Fus. attd 62nd Bn. MGC 'Whilst commanding a company during operations lasting for ten days he displayed throughout the greatest courage and enthusiasm, and his ceaseless energy and total disregard of danger enabled him to keep touch with his guns at all times. On one occasion, when the situation was obscure, he made a daring reconnaissance under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, and personally placed his guns on a threatened flank.'

Of, Chilton, Clifton Road, Newcastle, enlisted 8/8/1914 in 6/ North. Fus. Aged 19, and stated a draper. Commissioned same battn. 4/1916 and attd. to MGC.

Sustained a gun shot wound through body 15/9/1916 whilst serving 149 Company at the capture of Martinpuich on that day, battle of Fleurs-Courclette (Somme). A lucky lad, the bullet entering by his spine going straight through and out below the ribs without touching bone or organ.

NEF with copy papers and additional research £2,750.00;

Other Notes: MC: LG 26/7/1918
bar to MC: LG 11/1/1919 Lt (A/Major) MC 6NF att 62 Bn;

END OF RECORD.

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