James Firth
Sergeant, 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment
- Register No.
- 407 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment all Duke of Wellington's Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 24 February 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 11th June 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- 15th January 1874 at Jarrow, County Durham
- Died
- 29th May 1921 at Sheffield, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- at Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield
Digest of citation
On 24th February, 1900 at Plewman's Farm, near Arundel, Cape Colony, South Africa, Sergeant Firth picked up and carried to cover a Lance-Corporal who was lying wounded and exposed to heavy fire. Later in the day, when the enemy had advanced to within a short distance of the firing line, Sergeant Firth rescued a second lieutenant who was dangerously wounded, and carried him over the crest of a ridge to safety. He himself was shot through the nose and eye while doing so
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
FIRTH, James, (Reg.No.407)
Sergeant 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment* London Gazetted on 11th June 1901.
Born on 15th January 1874 at Jarrow, County Durham.
Died on 29th May 1921 at Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Memorial on grave at Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
Digest of Citation reads: On 24th February, 1900 at Plewman's Farm, near Arundel, Cape Colony, South Africa, Sergeant Firth picked up and carried to cover a Lance-Corporal who was lying wounded and exposed to heavy fire. Later in the day, when the enemy had advanced to within a short distance of the firing line, Sergeant Firth rescued a second lieutenant who was dangerously wounded, and carried him over the crest of a ridge to safety. He himself was shot through the nose and eye while doing so.
*West Riding
*West Riding
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield
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