Salvation Army Victoria Crosses in World War One
From Sawiki
The Salvation Army’s official policy to war is one of taking a neutral stance showing no favour to either side in any conflict. This stems from the Army’s three guiding principles in its approach to any war:
- Winning souls
- Compassionate good works
- Strict neutrality
The third principle arose from the fact that, as an organisation, the Army is international in outlook and does not favour one country over another. However, that principle applies to the organisation, not to individual Salvationists who have to make up their own minds about serving in any war. The result is that many have fought and died for their country in two world wars and other conflicts. How involved in the conflict is shown by the Army’s Medal Roll in World War I. Heading that roll are three Victoria Crosses.
The Victoria Cross is the nation's highest award for gallantry. It is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy”. It takes precedence above all other medals and orders, including the George Cross. Anyone who has won the Victoria Cross is a special person. The three Salvation Army VCs are no exception. They were won in an 18-month period from April 1916 to October 1917 with two of them in October 1917 during the 3rd Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele.
Contents |
James Henry Fynn VC
James Henry Fynn, born in Bodmin, Cornwall, joined up with the Salvation Army whilst in London where, it was reported “he came to a time when he felt the need of inward regeneration, and, in a Salvation Army meeting he was definitely converted to God.”
Moving to Abertillery, he joined the local Salvation Army and was a keen member of the “Life Saving Scouts”. In 1914 he volunteered and was sent to France where he was wounded. On discharge from hospital, he was sent to the Middle East, serving with the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers.
On 28th November 1915, on board ship, he wrote:
- I have no idea were we would land. Today (Sunday) we had three open-air meetings on deck. There are 8 Salvationists on board beside myself and we had a fine time with the men. Nine of them got converted.
Arriving in the Middle East, he’s pitched into the Mesopotamian campaign today known as Iraq. Between 7th and 9th April 1916 James Fynn is now facing the Turkish trenches at Sanna-I-Yat.
The official VC citation takes up the story:
- After a night attack he was one of a small party which dug-in in front of our advanced line and about 300 yards from the enemy’s trenches. Seeing several wounded men lying out in front, he went out and bandaged them all under heavy fire, making several journeys in order to do so. He then went back to our advanced trench for a stretcher, and, being unable to get one, he himself carried on his back a badly wounded man into safety. He then returned and, aided by another man who was wounded during the act, carried in another badly wounded man. He was under continuous fire whilst performing this gallant work.
James Fynn was killed on Friday, 30th March 1917, during the advance, capture and occupation of Baghdad. He was 23. In the summer of 1917, Fynn’s father, John, received his son’s VC from King George V at a Royal Investiture in Hyde Park.
William Clamp
William Clamp was born in Motherwell, on 28th October 1891; William attended the local Salvation Army. He enlisted in his local Territorial Army unit, the 6th Scottish Rifles. Called up at the outbreak of war, he saw much fighting in France, Twice seriously wounded; he was transferred to the 6th Green Howards, where he was described as a “very efficient lad”.
On the 9th October 1917 his unit had the job of crossing the Poelcappelle Spur, in the Passchendaele campaign. The advance of the Green Howards was being blocked by intense machine gun fire from concrete blockhouse and snipers hidden in ruined buildings.
The citation, in the London Gazette of 18th Dec 1917, picks up the story:
- Corporal Clamp dashed forward with two men and attempted to rush the largest blockhouse. His first attempt failed ……..but he at once collected some bombs, and calling upon two men to follow him, again dashed forward. He was first to reach the blockhouse and hurled in bombs, killing many of the occupants. He then entered and brought out a machine gun and about 20 prisoners, whom he brought back under heavy fire from neighbouring snipers. This non-commissioned officer then went forward again encouraging and cheering the men, and succeeded in rushing several snipers’ posts. He continued to display the greatest heroism until he was killed by a sniper. His magnificent courage and self-sacrifice was of the greatest value and relieved what was undoubtedly a very critical situation.
An impressive memorial service was held at Motherwell Citadel in November 1917. William Clamp’s VC was presented to his parents by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 2 March 1918. William Clamp has no known grave and his name is recorded on the memorial panels of the Tyne Cot military Cemetery.
His mother said of him Aye, he was a good lad. He never at any time caused the least worry or bother. His letters were always cheery and bright. In the last letter I received from him, he said: 'Don’t worry about me Mother, for whatever happens, my soul is right with God' A fitting tribute and remembrance for a Salvationist.
Thomas William Holmes
Thomas William Holmes was a Salvation Army Adherent. He was born in 1898 in Montreal, Canada and moved to a place called Owen Sound in 1903. When he joined up on 12th December 1915, He was only 17 and looked younger. He told the authorities he was 18 and was accepted. Two months after his arrival in France he was wounded in the action at Vimy Ridge. He rejoined his unit in October 1917 just before the Canadian Corps was introduced into the Passchendaele campaign. Almost half the area in front of Passchendaele was either under water or reduced to a swamp.
On 26th October an attack was launched at 5.40 a.m. in driving rain. Men could be clearly seen moving slowly over the skyline and round a formidable-looking pillbox on the crest of the ridge overlooking Battalion HQ. Suddenly, Tommy Holmes, described as a “frail, delicate youth with a contagious smile”, leapt from a shell hole and headed for the pillbox.
The citation reads:
- On 26th October, 1917, near Passchendaele, Belgium, when the right flank of our attack was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from a pill-box strong point and heavy casualties were producing a critical situation, Private Holmes, on his own initiative and single handed, ran forward and threw two bombs, killing and wounding the crews of two machine–guns. He then fetched another bomb and threw this into the entrance of the pill-box, causing the 19 occupants to surrender.
Tommy Holmes was awarded the Victoria Cross. Although he survived the war, his time in the trenches affected his health and he contracted TB. In 1940 he contracted cancer and he fought a losing battle against this for the next 10 years. He died on 4th January 1950 aged 51. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound.
Another
Are there more than three Salvation Army Victoria Crosses? In the Young Soldier of 27th March 1926 Commandant Carter, The Young People’s crusader is reporting on his visit to Northern Ireland, during which he visited Ballymoney. He says:
- It was a real pleasure to meet Captain Jones again, as he was the first officer to meet me last year when I spent a very happy spiritual weekend with him at Carrickfergus. Of course the visit was a huge success, as 300 tickets had already been sold for the senior Meeting previous to my arrival. Perhaps I may tell you a secret, Captain Jones won the Victoria Cross during the Great War for saving a company officer’s life, but now he is out to help his soldiers to win their VCs (Victors crown).
Of the nine Jones who have won Victoria Crosses in the history of the award, only Thomas Alfred Jones' VC, a member of the Cheshire Regiment who won his VC at Morval in September 1916 action, could possibly fit the above description. Clearly from the report, in 1926, Captain Jones was a Salvation Army officer. However, Thomas Alfred Jones' VC award citation does not fit with the description of the "secret" referred to in the Young Soldier! Positive proof is needed whether or not Thomas Alfred Jones, who lived and died in Runcorn, was a Salvationist.
Conclusion
The story of the Victoria Cross is one of unparalleled courage and devotion to duty, qualities that every Salvation Army soldier aspires to. The movement’s Victoria Cross winners undoubtedly carried their belief with them into extreme circumstances. Their actions are reflected in the words from the Salvation Army songbook penned by Walter Henry Windybank:
- Be strong in the grace of the Lord
- Be armed with the power of his might
- Be daring when dangers abound
- Courageous and brave in the fight.
- Be Strong! Be strong!
- And victory will be your delight.
- (Salvation Army Song Book 679 verse 3)
Notes
- One further Victoria Cross was won by a Salvationist: Henry John Andrews (VC, MBE), but not in WWI.
- On 22 October 1919 at Waziristan, North-west India, Captain Andrews, the senior medical officer in charge of the Khajeri Post, heard that a convoy had been attacked in the vicinity and that men had been wounded. He at once went out under heavy fire and established an Aid Post under conditions which afforded some protection to the wounded, but none to himself. He was subsequently compelled to move the Aid Post, but continued to attend the wounded. Finally when a van was available, he collected the wounded, under fire, and put them into it. He was killed whilst stepping into the van on the completion of his task.
