Article by:
Express and Star
Paving stones will be laid to honour two men who received the country’s highest award for gallantry as part of the commemorations of the centenary of the First World War.
John Henry Carless and Charles George Bonner, both from Walsall, were awarded the Victoria Cross in recognition of their bravery.
A paving stone for Carless will be laid in November 2017 and one for Bonner will be laid in May 2018.
The locations for the stones have not yet been confirmed. It comes as Walsall Council has launched a new website commemorating the First World War centenary and looking at its impact on the country both nationally and locally.
Carless was 21-years-old and an Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Navy during the First World War. On November 17, 1917, at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight, off the German coast, Carless was serving on HMS Caledon.
The citation issued when he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross read: “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although mortally wounded in the abdomen, he still went on serving the gun at which he was acting as rammer, lifting a projectile and helping to clear away the other casualties.
“He collapsed once, but got up, tried again, and cheered on the new gun’s crew. “He then fell and died. He not only set a very inspiring and memorable example, but he also, whilst mortally wounded, continued to do effective work against the King’s enemies.”
Bonner was born in 1884 and as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve was serving in the Bay of Biscay during the night of August 8, 1917, on board HMS Dunraven.
His citation said: “Awarded in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry and consummate coolness and skill, in action with an enemy submarine.
“This officer, after being blown out of his control station by the explosion of a depth charge due to shell fire, crawled back into the 4-inch gun hatch with the gun’s crew.
“They then remained at their posts with a fire raging in the poop below and the deck getting red hot, knowing all the time that they would be blown up as the secondary supply and magazine were immediately below. When the explosion took place, the gun was shifted bodily, and the gun’s crew was blown up in the air, one man being blown overboard, but fortunately, none of them was killed, and only four were wounded.
“Lieut. Bonner, although wounded himself, did what he could for two who were with him in the wardroom.”
Each paving stone will incorporate an electronic reader which people will be able to scan on their smartphones to discover more information.
Log in with Google