Henry Tandey

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

TANDEY, Henry. (reg No. 1203).

Private. 5th Battalion. Duke of Wellington's Regiment *.

London Gazetted on 14th December, 1918.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, Green Howards Museum, Richmond, Yorkshire.

Born on 30th August 1891 in Livery Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Died on 20th December, 1977 at 7, Loudon Avenue, Coventry, Warwickshire at the age of 86. After the service at the Church of Christ the King, he was cremated at Canley Crematorium, Coventry. His ashes were buried at Masnieres British Cemetery, Marcoing, France.

Digest of Citation reads: Private Tandey's platoon was held up by machine-gun fire during the advance to capture the village and crossings at Marcoing, France, on 28th September 1918. He immediately crawled forward and located the gun. With a Lewis gun team he silenced the gun, knocking it out. On arrival at the crossings, Private Tandey, under a hail bullets, managed to restore a plank bridge which allowed the first crossing to be made at this vital spot. Later during an attack in the evening, Private Tandey and eight of his comrades were surrounded by an overwhelming force of Germans. The position, although it appeared hopeless, was changed when Private Tandey led a bayonet charge through them. They fought so fiercely that 37 Germans were driven into the hands of, and taken prisoner by, Tandey's own company. He refused to leave the scene until the fight was over, even though he was twice wounded.

* West Riding.

Additional information:. Army No. 9545 Sergeant Henry 'Napper' Tandey was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for bravery at Vaulx Vraucourt on the 28th August 1918 and the Military Medal (MM), for heroism at Havrincourt on 12th September 1918. He was educated at St Peter's School, Leamington. In August 1910 he joined the Green Howards Regiment, serving with them in South Africa and on the island of Guernsey. He fought in the European War starting in the first Battle of Ypres in October 1914. He was wounded in 1916 on the Somme, being transferred to the 3rd Battalion on his recovery and then to the 9th Battalion serving in Flanders. He was wounded in the Third Battleof Ypres (Passchendaele) in 1917. Again, on his recovery, he was sent to the 3rd Battalion, prior to joining the 12 Battalion in France in March 1918. His own unit was disbanded in July 1918 and he was attached to the 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment. After being discharged from the Green Howards he rejoined the army in the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, finally being discharged on 5th January 1926. At an Investiture on the 17th December, 1919, at Buckingham Palace, Sergeant Tandey was presented with the Victoria Cross by His Majesty King George V. He married Edie Warwick, and on her death he then married a second time to Annie Kietzmann. On the 26th November, 1980, she sold his medals to a private collector for, what was then, a record price of £27,000. On Armistice Day 1997, his medals were presented, at a special ceremony in the Tower of London, to the Regiment. During the Second World War he served as a Recruiting Sergeant.