Victoria Cross
Major Michael John O'Leary VC
Born in Inchegeela, County Cork, in 1890. On 1 February 1915, near the French village of Cuinchy, Lance-Corporal O'Leary of the Irish Guards single-handedly charged two German barricades. He killed five men at the first, then pressed on to the second sixty yards further on, killing three more and taking two prisoners. He returned to his unit, in the words of one account, "as cool as if he had been for a walk in the park."
When the news reached Ireland, journalists sought out his father, Daniel O'Leary, a small farmer and man of sharp tongue. Daniel was characteristically underwhelmed:
"I am surprised he didn't do more. I often laid out twenty men myself with a stick coming from Macroom Fair, and it is a bad trial of Mick that he could kill only eight, and he having a rifle and bayonet."
Michael was awarded the Victoria Cross and later rose to the rank of Major.
Victoria Cross
Sergeant William James Gordon VC
The only Jamaican-born recipient of the Victoria Cross.
On 13 March 1892, during the Gambia Campaign in West Africa, Lance-Corporal Gordon of the West India Regiment was part of a party trying to break down the south gate of the town of Toniataba with a heavy beam. Suddenly a number of musket muzzles appeared through masked loopholes, some within two or three yards of Major G. C. Madden's back.
Before the Major realised the danger, Gordon threw himself between him and the muskets, pushed him aside and shouted "Look out, Sir!" At the same moment Gordon was shot through the lungs.
By his bravery and self-devotion he probably saved the life of his commanding officer. He survived the wound, later reached the rank of Sergeant, and his Victoria Cross is held by the Jamaica Defence Force Museum.
Victoria Cross · AJEX
Petty Officer Thomas William Gould VC
One of only three Jewish recipients of the Victoria Cross in the Second World War. Born in Dover in 1914, the son of a soldier killed on the Somme.
On 16 February 1942, north of Crete, HM Submarine Thrasher sank a heavily escorted Axis supply ship and was immediately depth-charged. After dark two unexploded bombs were found lodged in the gun casing.
Gould and Lieutenant Peter Roberts volunteered to remove them. In complete darkness, lying full length, they pushed and dragged a live bomb some twenty feet until it could be lowered over the side. If the boat had been forced to crash-dive they would have drowned.
They got the bombs clear. The crew was saved. Gould received the VC from King George VI. His Cross is held by AJEX.
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