John Henry Carless
Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 183 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Ordinary Seaman all Ordinary Seamans →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Caledon) all HMS Caledon VCs →
- Date of action
- 17 November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th May 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 11th November 1896 at Walsall, Staffordshire
- Died
- 17th November 1917. At Sea off Heligoland
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Portsmouth Naval Memorial and a Bronze Bust outside Library, Walsall..(Picture in file)
Digest of citation
On 17th September 1917 at the battle of Heligoland, Ordinary Seaman Carless of HMS Caledon, although mortally wounded in the abdomen, still went on serving his gun and helping to clear away the casualties. He collapsed once, but got up again and cheered on the new gun's crew. He then fell and Died on. He not only set a very inspiring example, but while mortally wounded continued to do effective work against the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CARLESS John Henry.(Reg.No.183)
Ordinary Seaman. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 17th May 1918 Born on 11th November 1896 at Walsall, Staffordshire.
Died on 17th November 1917. At Sea off Heligoland Memorials at: Portsmouth Naval Memorial and a Bronze Bust outside Library, Walsall..(Picture in file)
Digest of Citation reads: On 17th September 1917 at the battle of Heligoland, Ordinary Seaman Carless of HMS Caledon, although mortally wounded in the abdomen, still went on serving his gun and helping to clear away the casualties. He collapsed once, but got up again and cheered on the new gun's crew. He then fell and Died on. He not only set a very inspiring example, but while mortally wounded continued to do effective work against the enemy.
Additional Information: In the European War, the last real engagement of battleships took place on the 17th November 1917 at Heligoland Bight. Under the Command of Admiral Sir Charles Napier, on board his flagship HMS Repulse, the light cruisers Calypso and Caledon were following the battleships Kaiser and Kaiserine of the German Navy. As they were in virtually uncharted minefields they had to proceed with some caution. In the confrontation, with the enemy ships, the British light cruisers were hit by salvoes from the Kaiser and the accompanying Kaiserine. Meanwhile, the German flagship of Admiral von Reuter, the Konigsberg, was engaged by the Repulse. It was not a great battle. The enemy lost only a torpedo boat.The great courage shown by the Captain and crew of HMS Caledon gave the battle credibility. Ordinary Seaman John Carless was the Rammer on a gun that was hit, causing many casualties. He was hit in the stomach, mortally wounding him. With this injury he continued to serve his gun also clearing away casualties. He collapsed but managed to get up, once more, and cheer the crew that took over the gun before falling again, dead. In honour of his courage the townspeople of Walsall. in Staffordshire, erected a bronze bust outside the Public Library. It is an excellent likeness of the young man, who gave his life for his country, only six days after his twenty-first birthday.* He was the son of Mr John Thomas and Elizabeth, (née Smith) Carless. He was educated at the local catholic school St Mary on the Mount, Walsall. On the 1st September 1915 he joined the Royal Navy at the age of eighteen. It is apt that they hold the Remembrance Day service before his monument in Walsall on the 11th November. It was also John's Birthday.
* (Up to that date he hadn't been eligible to vote. But he could die for his country.)
From Alf's photographs
Carless VC - Memorial, Walsall Libary. (gallery)
Additional information
In the European War, the last real engagement of battleships took place on the 17th November 1917 at Heligoland Bight. Under the Command of Admiral Sir Charles Napier, on board his flagship HMS Repulse, the light cruisers Calypso and Caledon were following the battleships Kaiser and Kaiserine of the German Navy. As they were in virtually uncharted minefields they had to proceed with some caution. In the confrontation, with the enemy ships, the British light cruisers were hit by salvoes from the Kaiser and the accompanying Kaiserine. Meanwhile, the German flagship of Admiral von Reuter, the Konigsberg, was engaged by the Repulse. It was not a great battle. The enemy lost only a torpedo boat.The great courage shown by the Captain and crew of HMS Caledon gave the battle credibility. Ordinary Seaman John Carless was the Rammer on a gun that was hit, causing many casualties. He was hit in the stomach, mortally wounding him. With this injury he continued to serve his gun also clearing away casualties. He collapsed but managed to get up, once more, and cheer the crew that took over the gun before falling again, dead. In honour of his courage the townspeople of Walsall. in Staffordshire, erected a bronze bust outside the Public Library. It is an excellent likeness of the young man, who gave his life for his country, only six days after his twenty-first birthday.* He was the son of Mr John Thomas and Elizabeth, (née Smith) Carless. He was educated at the local catholic school St Mary on the Mount, Walsall. On the 1st September 1915 he joined the Royal Navy at the age of eighteen. It is apt that they hold the Remembrance Day service before his monument in Walsall on the 11th November. It was also John's Birthday. die for his country.)
* (Up to that date he hadn't been eligible to vote. But he could
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Portsmouth Naval Memorial and a Bronze Bust outside Library, Walsall..(Picture in file)
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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