General Discussion

VC

Remember those who die in foreign lands,
who give their lives that liberty may thrive
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands.

Those who’ve stayed behind all understand;
those shell-shocked souls who make it home alive
remember those who die in foreign lands.

James Ashworth had the guts to take command.
He died so that his men survived,
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands

Sitting lonely with the letter in their hands,
shedding tears, partners, lovers, wives
remember those who die in foreign lands.

The bronzed VC cannot replace the man
who paid the price when fate connived
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands

Salute the brave who’ve made the stand,
those who’ve fallen, those who have survived.
Remember those who die in foreign lands,
Shedding blood in arid Afghan sands

Very good Neil.

Do you know that there are 5 Victoria Cross winners from Dawlish or who lived in the town?

Can let you have detaills if you would like.

I'd like to know.  Thank you. 

Yes please.

The 5 VC's who have lived in Dawlish are:-

P/O Cyril (Joey) BARTON. VC. RAF. KIA March 30th 1944, age 22
Lt HC PENNELL. VC. 2nd Bn, The Derbyshire Regt. Died 1907 age 33.
Col Sir AG HAMMOND. VC. KCB. DSO. 72nd Highlanders. Died 1919 age 76.
Lt JH GRAYBURN. VC. Army Air Corps. KIA Sept 20th 1944, age 26
Mjr AJT FLEMMING-SANDES. VC. 2nd batallion East Surrey regt. Died 1961 age 66.

Thanks Carer.  Is there information posted somewhere (a citation) about what they did to be awarded the VC?

There are plenty of books that list citations and there are probably sources on-line too from regimental archives etc, but VC citations were also published in the London Gazette and you can do a search online for pages from that which should give all the information.

Thanks, will look.

@ Neil.

All the links are clickable, so you should (hopefully) find more info there.

Real genuine heroes, awesome!  

'Cy' Barton was definitley not known as 'Joey'! There is an account together with a replica VC at Barton Surgery (No, it wasn't named after him. Barton is an old name for a farm). He stayed with his Grand Parents in Dawlish as a kid (due to ill health) and went to Dawlish Boys School.

Pennell was born in Barton Villas. After winning the VC he was killed in an accident on The Cresta Run. I would really like to have met him! He is buried in St. Gregory's Churchyard. Most of the town turned out for his funeral after the coffin arrived by train.

Hammond was born in the High Street, in a house that still stands.

Grayburn won the VC at Arnhem. 

Flemming-Sandes won his in France (WW1) by taking a German position chucking bombs (I assume grenades) on his own and was wounded. He lived in the town after the event.

I did some research for these guys for the Legion but can't find it....will dig it all out at some point.

I think some Blue Plaques would be in order.

@HuwMatthews 2 Definately in agreement with that last statement.

The information on these men is great, really interesting. 

I agree with Huw, blue plaques is the least they deserve, Dawlish should be proud, there can't be many towns of our size with so many connections to VC's.

No, there really can't be.

And add to that Bill Millin's connection to the town.

We wanted to get some streets named for them but were told we needed to contact living NOKs to get permission - unfortunately we don't have the resources to research that so nothing has been done.