Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps attchd 1/10th Battalion The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
- Register No.
- 207 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Royal Army Medical Corps attchd 1/10th Battalion The King's (Liverpool) Regiment all Royal Army Medical Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 August 1916, 31 July 1917 to 2 August 1917 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th October 1916 and 14th September.1917 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 9th November 1884 at Oxford
- Died
- 4th August 1917 (Of wounds)Near Ypres, Belgium
- Bar
- Awarded the Victoria Cross twice the three VC & Bar holders →
- Memorial / grave
- at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium; Headquarters of Liverpool Scottish and at Liverpool Cathedral
Digest of citation
On 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, France, Captain Chavasse attended to the wounded all day under heavy fire, frequently in view of the enemy, and during the night he continued searching for wounded in front of the enemy lines. Next day under heavy shell fire he and a stretcher bearer carried an urgent case 500 yards to safety, being wounded himself during the journey. The same night with 20 volunteers, he rescued three wounded men from a shell hole 36 yards from enemy trenches, buried the bodies of two officers and collected many identity discs. Altogether he save the lives of some 20 wounded men
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CHAVASSE, Noel Godfrey (Reg. No. 207)
Captain Royal Army Medical Corps attchd 1/10th Battalion The King's (Liverpool) Regiment London Gazetted on 26th October 1916 and 14th September.1917 (Bar)
Born on 9th November 1884 at Oxford Died on 4th August 1917 (Of wounds)Near Ypres, Belgium Memorials on grave at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium; Headquarters of Liverpool Scottish and at Liverpool Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, France, Captain Chavasse attended to the wounded all day under heavy fire, frequently in view of the enemy, and during the night he continued searching for wounded in front of the enemy lines. Next day under heavy shell fire he and a stretcher bearer carried an urgent case 500 yards to safety, being wounded himself during the journey. The same night with 20 volunteers, he rescued three wounded men from a shell hole 36 yards from enemy trenches, buried the bodies of two officers and collected many identity discs. Altogether he save the lives of some 20 wounded men.
Bar Citation reads During the period 31 July to 2 August 1917 at Wieltje, Belgium, Captain Chavasse, although severely wounded early in the action while carrying a wounded officer to the dressing station, refused to leave his post and in addition to his normal duties, went out repeatedly under heavy fire to attend the wounded.During this time, although practically without food, worn with fatigue and faint from his wound, he helped to carry in badly wounded men, being instrumental in saving many who would otherwise have Died on under the bad weather conditions. Captain Chavasse subsequently died on of his wounds.
Alf's notes on his life
Bar Citation reads During the period 31 July to 2 August 1917 at Wieltje, Belgium, Captain Chavasse, although severely wounded early in the action while carrying a wounded officer to the dressing station, refused to leave his post and in addition to his normal duties, went out repeatedly under heavy fire to attend the wounded.During this time, although practically without food, worn with fatigue and faint from his wound, he helped to carry in badly wounded men, being instrumental in saving many who would otherwise have Died on under the bad weather conditions. Captain Chavasse subsequently died on of his wounds.
(Bar)
Register note: VC and Bar
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium; Headquarters of Liverpool Scottish and at Liverpool Cathedral
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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