Alexander Malins Lafone
Major, 1st/1st County of London Yeomanry
- Register No.
- 710 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Major all Majors →
- Unit
- 1st/1st County of London Yeomanry all 1st County of London Yeomanry VCs →
- Date of action
- 27 October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 18th December, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 19th August 1870 at Cressfield, Waterloo, Liverpool, Lancashire
- Died
- in action on 27th October, 1917 at Beersheba, Palestine
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- in Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine
Digest of citation
On 27th October 1917 at Beersheba, Palestine, for most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrifice, Major Lafone, for more than seven hours, held a position against vastly superior forces. Visibility was poor, owing to the shelling from the enemy. He beat off Cavalry charges, by the enemy, causing them many casualties. One enemy charge left 15 casualties within 20 yards of his trench. One man who had managed to reach the trench was bayonetted by Major Lafone. All of his men became casualties except three. The trench was so full of wounded that it became difficult to move about and use weapons. Major Lafone ordered those who could walk to move to a trench, slightly to the rear. They continued to maintain an heroic resistance. When eventually they became surrounded, he he stepped into the open and continued to fight until he was mortally wounded, finally he collapsed. His courage and cheerfulness set a splendid example to the men which enabled them to hold the position as ordered
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LAFONE, Alexander Malins. (reg No. 710).
Major. 1st/1st County of London Yeomanry.
London Gazetted on 18th December, 1917.
Born on 19th August 1870 at Cressfield, Waterloo, Liverpool, Lancashire.
Killed in action on 27th October, 1917 at Beersheba, Palestine.
Memorial on grave in Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine.
Digest of Citation reads: On 27th October 1917 at Beersheba, Palestine, for most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrifice, Major Lafone, for more than seven hours, held a position against vastly superior forces. Visibility was poor, owing to the shelling from the enemy. He beat off Cavalry charges, by the enemy, causing them many casualties. One enemy charge left 15 casualties within 20 yards of his trench. One man who had managed to reach the trench was bayonetted by Major Lafone. All of his men became casualties except three. The trench was so full of wounded that it became difficult to move about and use weapons. Major Lafone ordered those who could walk to move to a trench, slightly to the rear. They continued to maintain an heroic resistance. When eventually they became surrounded, he he stepped into the open and continued to fight until he was mortally wounded, finally he collapsed. His courage and cheerfulness set a splendid example to the men which enabled them to hold the position as ordered.
Additional information:. Major Lafone was the younger son of Henry and Lucy (née Malins) Lafone. Educated at Dulwich College, passing for Cooper's Hill. He also studied for two years at the Engineering Electrical Institute at South Kensington. He worked for 18 months at Marshall and Sons, Gainsborough. He became assistant manager at the Jokai Tea Co., Assam (1894). In 1897 he joined his father's business at Butler's Wharf. He became a director of several companies, finally becoming a partner in FA Roberts and Company, of Leadenhall Street On 28th December 1899 he enlisted in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, seeing action in the Transvaal, South Africa. He was wounded in the right eye and returned to England on 12th December 1900. (the Queen's Medal and three clasps). On the 14th July, 1902, he was commissioned in the 1st County of Middlesex Yeomanry, being promoted to Captain 14th July, 1902, then Major 22nd August 1911. (He had previously resigned his commission of Second Lieutenant in the Hertfordshire Imperial Yeomanry, which he held from 25th April 1901 until 19th June, 1901). In the European War (WW I) he saw service with his regiment in Egypt, the Dardanelles, the Balkans and Palestine, where he was killed in action.
Additional information
Major Lafone was the younger son of Henry and Lucy (née Malins) Lafone. Educated at Dulwich College, passing for Cooper's Hill. He also studied for two years at the Engineering Electrical Institute at South Kensington. He worked for 18 months at Marshall and Sons, Gainsborough. He became assistant manager at the Jokai Tea Co., Assam (1894). In 1897 he joined his father's business at Butler's Wharf. He became a director of several companies, finally becoming a partner in FA Roberts and Company, of Leadenhall Street On 28th December 1899 he enlisted in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, seeing action in the Transvaal, South Africa. He was wounded in the right eye and returned to England on 12th December 1900. (the Queen's Medal and three clasps). On the 14th July, 1902, he was commissioned in the 1st County of Middlesex Yeomanry, being promoted to Captain 14th July, 1902, then Major 22nd August 1911. (He had previously resigned his commission of Second Lieutenant in the Hertfordshire Imperial Yeomanry, which he held from 25th April 1901 until 19th June, 1901). In the European War (WW I) he saw service with his regiment in Egypt, the Dardanelles, the Balkans and Palestine, where he was killed in action.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: in Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine
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