John Schofield
Second Lieutenant, 2nd/5th Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 1115 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant (register: Temp. Second Lieutenant) all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 2nd/5th Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers all Lancashire Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 28th June 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 4th March 1892 at Blackburn, Lancashire
- Died
- in action on 9th April 1918 at Givenchy, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Vielle-Chapelle Military Cemetery, France
- Medal held by
- the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum, Bury,
Digest of citation
Lieutenant Schofield led a party of nine men on 9th April 1918 at Givenchy, France, against a German strong point which was being rigidly held by the enemy.During this time they were attacked with about 100 enemy bombs. He distributed his men with great skill, and made such good use of his rifle and Lewis gun fire, that the enemy were forced to take cover in the dug-outs. Lieutenant Schofield then held up, and captured, a party of 20 of the enemy. With assistance from other parties, they cleared the position of the enemy, who had been either killed or captured. Collecting the remainder of his men and making the strength of his party up to ten, he made his way towards the front line, after informing his superior officer of the position. In a communication trench, they met with a large number of the enemy, both ahead of them and in a drain to his left and right. The party immediately opened rapid-fire, Lieutenant Schofield climbed out onto the Parapet, under point blank machine-gun fire, and fearlessly demanded the enemy surrender. 123 Germans, including many officers were taken prisoner by his party. Unfortunately, this gallant officer was killed only a few minutes later
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SCHOFIELD, John. (reg No. 1115).
Second Lieutenant. 2nd/5th Battalion. Lancashire Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 28th June 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum, Bury, Lancashire.
Born on 4th March 1892 at Blackburn, Lancashire.
Killed in action on 9th April 1918 at Givenchy, France.
Memorial on grave at Vielle-Chapelle Military Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: Lieutenant Schofield led a party of nine men on 9th April 1918 at Givenchy, France, against a German strong point which was being rigidly held by the enemy.During this time they were attacked with about 100 enemy bombs. He distributed his men with great skill, and made such good use of his rifle and Lewis gun fire, that the enemy were forced to take cover in the dug-outs. Lieutenant Schofield then held up, and captured, a party of 20 of the enemy. With assistance from other parties, they cleared the position of the enemy, who had been either killed or captured. Collecting the remainder of his men and making the strength of his party up to ten, he made his way towards the front line, after informing his superior officer of the position. In a communication trench, they met with a large number of the enemy, both ahead of them and in a drain to his left and right. The party immediately opened rapid-fire, Lieutenant Schofield climbed out onto the Parapet, under point blank machine-gun fire, and fearlessly demanded the enemy surrender. 123 Germans, including many officers were taken prisoner by his party. Unfortunately, this gallant officer was killed only a few minutes later.
SCHOLEFIELD, Mark. (reg number 1116) Seaman. Royal Navy. * London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 16th April 1828 at London. Dead at sea on 15th February 1858 whilst aboard the sloop HMS Acorn. No memorial known. Buried at sea, latitude and longitude not known.
Digest of Citation reads: At the Battle of Inkerman, on the 5th November 1854, when the Right Lancaster Battery was attacked; five men of the Royal Navy, under heavy enemy fire, mounted the Banquet and using muskets belonging to disabled soldiers kept up a steady firing. Other troops, below the parapet, kept the muskets loaded for them. Two of these men were killed in the action.
Additional information:.The surviving three, Thomas Reeves, James Gorman and Mark SCHOLEFIELD, all seamen, were awarded the Victoria Cross for the bravery displayed on that occasion. Unfortunately the two others, whose names are not known. It is a pity because they got no official recognition as the Victoria Cross, at that time, was not awarded posthumously. These two heroes must remain forever unknown. Information by Letter from Sir S. Lushington dated 7th June 1856
Alf's notes on his life
SCHOLEFIELD, Mark. (reg number 1116) Seaman. Royal Navy. * London Gazetted on 24th February 1857. VC Medal's Custodian is unknown. Born on 16th April 1828 at London. Dead at sea on 15th February 1858 whilst aboard the sloop HMS Acorn. No memorial known. Buried at sea, latitude and longitude not known. Digest of Citation reads: At the Battle of Inkerman, on the 5th November 1854, when the Right Lancaster Battery was attacked; five men of the Royal Navy, under heavy enemy fire, mounted the Banquet and using muskets belonging to disabled soldiers kept up a steady firing. Other troops, below the parapet, kept the muskets loaded for them. Two of these men were killed in the action.
Additional information
The surviving three, Thomas Reeves, James Gorman and Mark SCHOLEFIELD, all seamen, were awarded the Victoria Cross for the bravery displayed on that occasion. Unfortunately the two others, whose names are not known. It is a pity because they got no official recognition as the Victoria Cross, at that time, was not awarded posthumously. These two heroes must remain forever unknown. Information by Letter from Sir S. Lushington dated 7th June 1856
Lancashire.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Vielle-Chapelle Military Cemetery, France
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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour John Schofield by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.