William Herbert Waring

William Herbert Waring
Born13 October 1885
Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales
Died8 October 1918 (aged 32)
Ronssoy, France
Buried
Ste Marie Communal Cemetery, Le Havre, France
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
RankSergeant
UnitRoyal Welsh Fusiliers
Battles / warsFirst World War †
AwardsVictoria Cross
Military Medal

William Herbert Waring VC MM (13 October 1885 – 8 October 1918) was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born and lived in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire.

He was 32 years old, and before World War I had been a member of the part-time Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. In 1918 he was serving as a lance-sergeant in the 25th (Montgomery and Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, British Army, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.[1][2]

Details

On 18 September 1918 at Ronssoy, France, Lance-Sergeant Waring led an attack against enemy machine-guns and in the face of devastating fire, single-handed rushed a strong-point, bayoneting four of the garrison and capturing twenty, with their guns. The lance-sergeant then reorganized his men, leading and inspiring them for another 400 yards when he fell mortally wounded.[3]

Waring died 20 days later and is buried at Ste Marie Communal Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine Maritime, France.[4]

A stone to commemorate his life was installed in the wall of the Welshpool Town Hall and unveiled in January 2015.[5]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, Wales.

Notes

  1. ^ Edmonds, p. 484.
  2. ^ Owen, p. 109.
  3. ^ "No. 31155". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 January 1919. p. 1504.
  4. ^ CWGC entry
  5. ^ "Waring memorial to be unveiled at Town Hall". My Welshpool. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

References

  • Brig-Gen Sir James E. Edmonds, History of the Great War: Military Operations, France and Belgium 1918, Vol IV, 8th August–26th September: The Franco-British Offensive, London: Macmillan, 1939/Uckfield: Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military, 2009, ISBN 978-1-845747-28-2.
  • Bryn Owen, History of the Welsh Militia and Volunteer Corps 1757–1908: Montgomeryshire Regiments of Militia, Volunteers and Yeomanry Cavalry, Wrexham: Bridge Books, 2000, ISBN 1-872424-85-6.
  • Gliddon, Gerald (2014) [2002]. Road to Victory 1918. VCs of the First World War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0750953610.