John Harold Rhodes

From Alf Askin's research notes

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

RHODES John Harold (Reg. No.1044)

Lance-Sergeant 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

London Gazetted on 6th September 1918.?(1917)

VC Medal's Custodian is the Grenadier Guards Regimental HQ.

Born on 17th May 1891 at Mellor St., Packmore, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.

Died on 27th November at Fontaine Notre Dame, France Memorial at Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery, France.

Digest of Citation reads: On 9 October 1917 near Houthulst Forest, east of Ypres, Belgium, Lance-Sergeant Rhodes was in charge of a Lewis Gun covering the consolidation of the right front company. He accounted fro several of the enemy with his rifle as well as by Lewis gun fire and on seeing three of the enemy leave a pill-box he went alone through our barrage and hostile machine-gun fire and got into the pill-box. There he captured nine of the enemy including a forward observation officer connected by telephone to his battery. Lance-Sergeany Rhodes brought back these prisoners together with valuable information.

Additional information: 15122 L-Sgt J.H.Rhodes was the son of Ernest and Sarah Rhodes of Mellor St., Packmore, Staffs.. He attended Church Schools Newchapel. He married Lizzie Mier, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Mier on 11th Dec 1915 and had a son called John. He enlisted in the Grenadier Guards for three years on the 17th February 1911. He rejoined the Regiment from the Reservists at the beginning of hostilities in Europe in 1914. Whilst serving in France he was wounded in July 1915. On two occasions he showed great gallantry and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar He was pothumously awarded the Victoria Cross..

RHODES-MOOREHOUSE William Bernard (reg,No. 888) Second Lieutenant.* 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

London Gazetted on22 May 1915 Born on 26th September 1887 in London Died on 27th April 1915 Merville, France.

Buried at his family home, Parnham House, Dorset; also a tribute at theTangmere Air Museum,. Other Decorations Additional Information: The first airman to perform an action subsequently rewarded with the VC; the ashes of his his son (Flying Officer W. Rhodes-Moorehouse), killed in action during the Battle of Britain, are interred by the side of his father at Parnham.

Digest of Citation reads: On 26 April 1915 at Cortrai, Belgium, Second Lieutenant Rhodes-Moorehouse swept low over the rail junction which he had been ordered to attack. He released his 100lb. bomb, but was immediately plunged into a heavy barrage of small arms fire from rifles and machine-gun in the belfry of Cortrai Church, he was severely wounded by a bullet in his thigh and his plane was also badly hit. Returning to the Allied lines, he again ran into heavy fire from the ground and was wounded twice more. He managed to get his aircraft back, and insisted on making his report before being taken to Casualty Clearing Station where he Died on the next day.

*(Promoted Lieutenant w.e.f. 24 April 1915. He is listed amongst the RFC and RAF VCs at Tangmere Air Museum.