Uploads from IWM Collections, tagged lens

Corporal Filip Konowal

nobody@flickr.com (IWM Collections) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:57:06 -0700

47 (British Columbia) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Corporal Konowal was awarded the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Hill 70 in Lens, France for the following actions during 22- 24 August 1917:

"For most conspicuous bravery and leadership when in charge of a section in attack.

His section had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his able direction all resistance was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy.

In one cellar he himself bayonetted three enemy and attacked single-handed seven others in a crater, killing them all.

On reaching the objective, a machine-gun was holding up the right flank, causing many casualties.

Cpl. Konowal rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines.

The next day he again attacked single-handed another machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun and emplacement with explosives.

This non-commissioned officer alone killed at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two days' actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded."

Konowal, who was born in Kutkivtsi, Ukraine, is the only Ukrainian recipient of the VC.

He served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during 1915 - 1919 and spent the rest of his life in Canada. He died in Quebec in 1959.

Faces of the First World War
The full story is not always known to us. If you know more, please tell us in the comments below.

Find out more about this First World War Centenary project at www.1914.org/faces.

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2 Lieutenant Basil Green

nobody@flickr.com (IWM Collections) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:21:37 -0700

IWM Collections posted a photo:

5 Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment

Lt Green served four years in the Territorials before rejoining in September 1914. He was posted to the Western Front on 3 March 1915 and wounded on 1 July 1916 at the start of the Battle of the Somme.

Lt Green was killed at Lens, aged 24, on 1 July 1917. On 25 August 1917, Lt Green was posthumously awarded the Military Cross for his action on 14 June when he led a trench raid and then spent an hour in no man's land searching for wounded.

The medal was eventually presented to his mother by Sir John Maxwell during a special investiture held at Nottingham Castle in March 1918. Lt Green is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Faces of the First World War
The full story is not always known to us. If you know more, please tell us in the comments below.

Find out more about this First World War Centenary project at www.1914.org/faces.

This image is from IWM Collections.

Captain Charles John Beech Masefield

nobody@flickr.com (IWM Collections) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:07:46 -0700

IWM Collections posted a photo:

1/5 Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment

Acting Captain Masefield worked as a solicitor prior to the outbreak of war in 1914. He was also an author and poet, publishing two volumes of poetry, a volume of prose and a short guide to Staffordshire.

On 14 June 1917, Capt Masefield was awarded the Military Cross for his actions while leading his company during a raid on German trenches at Cité sur Laurent, near Lens. The citation noted that on entering the German trenches, Captain Masefield attacked the enemy and killed two at close quarters. After inflicting further heavy casualties, he successfully withdrew his company.

On 1 July 1917, Captain Masefield was wounded at Lens and died, aged 35, the following day. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez. Photograph presented by his mother, Mrs Masefield of Cheadle, Staffordshire.

Faces of the First World War
The full story is not always known to us. If you know more, please tell us in the comments below.

Find out more about this First World War Centenary project at www.1914.org/faces.

This image is from IWM Collections.

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