On this day 12th September
1777 – 52nd – Battalion Companies 52nd embarked to capture Newark (North America).
1914 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI –Battle of the AISNE commenced (2nd Bn present) .
1918 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI engaged Battle of Havrincourt.
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – VAUX-VRACOURT.
During the early morning and under cover of darkness a regiment of the 3rd Guards Brigade relieved our left company C in conjunction with our A and B companies, eventually secured ALBAN TRENCH as far as the flank of B Coy. D Coy who were on the east side of CANAL-DU-NORD were ordered to attack by organised bombing parties LONDON TRENCH and SUPPORT but this did not meet with any success owing to both trenches being strongly held and also the presence of a party of Germans (estimated 70 strong) being in FAGAN SUPPORT and firing on D Coy from the rear.
About 11.0AM “C” Coy were ordered to get in touch and extend the line SOUTHWARDS from the right of B Coy and to endeavour to fill in the existing gap.
A Coy 24th Royal Fusiliers were ordered to assist in this operation by working NORTHWARDS from FAGAN SUPPORT. It was not until early in the morning of the 13th that the position was definitely established and the objective cleared of the enemy.
Throughout the operation of 11th/12th communication was very difficult to maintain owing to telephone lines being broken and the whole area being under heavy shell and machine Gun fire.
About 9.0PM the leading company of the 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment arrived to carry out the relief of the regiment as ordered but owing to the situation between B and D Companies not being clear the relief was not completed until 7.5AM on the 13th.
Casualties during the day were:
ORs Killed = 5, Wounded = 5, Missing = 2, Gassed = 4. Total = 16.
1st Lieut E G Huckins USAMRC, Medical Officer gassed.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshire Battalion – S SISTO.
Battalion was relieved by 1/4 R BERKS during the Morning and moved into Support.
Dispositions as follows:-
BN HQrs - H.72.32
A Coy - H.745.345 Right Centre
B Coy - H.75.35 Right Centre
C Coy - H.81.41 Right
D Coy - H. 715.302 Left.
Ration Strength: 23 Officers 513 OR. Casualties: 3 OR to Hospital – Sick.
1918 - 2/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Cpl. W. Wilcox, near Laventie, gained the V.C.
[ London Gazette, 15 November 1918 ], near Laventie, France, 12 September 1918, Lance Corporal Alfred Wilcox, 2/4th Bn, Oxforshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack (near Laventie, France) when his company was held up by heavy and persistent machine-gun fire at close range. On his own initiative, with four men he rushed ahead to the nearest enemy gun, bombed it, killed the gunner, and put the gun out of action.
Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, Cpl. Wilcox picked up enemy bombs and led his party against the next gun, finally capturing and destroying it. Although left with only one man, he continued bombing and captured a third gun. He again bombed up the trench, captured a fourth gun, and then rejoined his platoon.
Cpl. Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgment, and initiative.
Alfred Wilcox was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 26th November 1918.
1777 – 52nd – Battalion Companies 52nd embarked to capture Newark (North America).
1914 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI –Battle of the AISNE commenced (2nd Bn present) .
1918 - 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks LI engaged Battle of Havrincourt.
1918 – 2nd Bn OXF & BUCKS LI – VAUX-VRACOURT.
During the early morning and under cover of darkness a regiment of the 3rd Guards Brigade relieved our left company C in conjunction with our A and B companies, eventually secured ALBAN TRENCH as far as the flank of B Coy. D Coy who were on the east side of CANAL-DU-NORD were ordered to attack by organised bombing parties LONDON TRENCH and SUPPORT but this did not meet with any success owing to both trenches being strongly held and also the presence of a party of Germans (estimated 70 strong) being in FAGAN SUPPORT and firing on D Coy from the rear.
About 11.0AM “C” Coy were ordered to get in touch and extend the line SOUTHWARDS from the right of B Coy and to endeavour to fill in the existing gap.
A Coy 24th Royal Fusiliers were ordered to assist in this operation by working NORTHWARDS from FAGAN SUPPORT. It was not until early in the morning of the 13th that the position was definitely established and the objective cleared of the enemy.
Throughout the operation of 11th/12th communication was very difficult to maintain owing to telephone lines being broken and the whole area being under heavy shell and machine Gun fire.
About 9.0PM the leading company of the 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment arrived to carry out the relief of the regiment as ordered but owing to the situation between B and D Companies not being clear the relief was not completed until 7.5AM on the 13th.
Casualties during the day were:
ORs Killed = 5, Wounded = 5, Missing = 2, Gassed = 4. Total = 16.
1st Lieut E G Huckins USAMRC, Medical Officer gassed.
1918 –1/1stBuckinghamshire Battalion – S SISTO.
Battalion was relieved by 1/4 R BERKS during the Morning and moved into Support.
Dispositions as follows:-
BN HQrs - H.72.32
A Coy - H.745.345 Right Centre
B Coy - H.75.35 Right Centre
C Coy - H.81.41 Right
D Coy - H. 715.302 Left.
Ration Strength: 23 Officers 513 OR. Casualties: 3 OR to Hospital – Sick.
1918 - 2/4th Bn Oxf & Bucks LI - Cpl. W. Wilcox, near Laventie, gained the V.C.
[ London Gazette, 15 November 1918 ], near Laventie, France, 12 September 1918, Lance Corporal Alfred Wilcox, 2/4th Bn, Oxforshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack (near Laventie, France) when his company was held up by heavy and persistent machine-gun fire at close range. On his own initiative, with four men he rushed ahead to the nearest enemy gun, bombed it, killed the gunner, and put the gun out of action.
Being then attacked by an enemy bombing party, Cpl. Wilcox picked up enemy bombs and led his party against the next gun, finally capturing and destroying it. Although left with only one man, he continued bombing and captured a third gun. He again bombed up the trench, captured a fourth gun, and then rejoined his platoon.
Cpl. Wilcox displayed in this series of successful individual enterprises exceptional valour, judgment, and initiative.
Alfred Wilcox was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 26th November 1918.
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