VC Action: William Angus (28 February
1888 - 14 June 1959) was Scottish, 27 years old, and a lance-corporal
in the The Highland Light Infantry (though serving in the
8th Royal Scots), British Army during the First World War
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded
the VC.
On 12 June 1915 at Givenchy, France, 'D'
Company 8th Royal Scots were in a front line trench on the
outskirts of Givenchy La Bassé, in northern France. Just 70
yards lay between them and the German trenches. For many weeks
the German front line had held a strategic point on top of
a small embankment. The British had pushed back the German
front line on both sides of this point, but the embankment
afforded the enemy an elevated view over 'No Man's Land',
and had proved insurmountable.
During the night of 11 June, it was decided
to launch a covert bombing raid on the embankment, in the
hope of displacing the enemy and allowing the storming of
their trench. A party of bombers led by Lt James Martin was
chosen to carry out this task. The Germans had long anticipated
such a move, and as soon as the bombers began their work,
the enemy detonated a large mine secreted in the earth. This
blew a vast hole in the embankment, creating a gap 15 feet
wide, and reducing the embankment to ground level at it's
northern edge. It forced the bombing party to retreat to the
British trenches.
As they regrouped, they found that Lt Martin
was among those missing. As 12th June dawned, they could see
Lt Martin lying on the embankment, close to the parapet that
housed the enemy machine guns. As they watched, they saw him
stir, barely conscious, but obviously alive. So close was
he to the German parapet that the enemy could not bring their
guns to bear on him.
As the hot day wore on, Martin recovered
sufficiently to plead with the Germans for a drink of water.
They responded by throwing a bomb over the parapet. The British
troops were outraged and talk soon spread along the trench
about the officer's predicament. Lance-corporal Angus, on
hearing of the situation, immediately volunteered to attempt
a rescue. This was vetoed by senior officers, but Angus was
adamant that he be allowed to make the attempt. Explaining
that he and Martin belonged to the same small town in Scotland,
he felt that he could not return there having left him to
die. His pleas were rejected until the arrival of Brigadier
General Lawford, who eventually agreed to allow Angus to make
the attempt.
A rope was tied around Angus, so that he
could be dragged back if killed or seriously injured, and
he set off on his mission. He used ground cover so effectively
that he managed to reach Martin without being detected. His
first unselfish act was to remove his rope lifeline and tie
it instead around Lt Martin. He raised him up and fed him
some brandy, preparing for the dangerous return. At some point
the enemy became aware of his presence and began to throw
bombs over the parapet. Angus raised Martin to his feet and
began to carry him back across No Mans Land towards the safety
of the trench 70 yards away. A hail of bombs and bullets followed,
and on several occasions he fell to the ground wounded, only
to rise again and continue carrying the officer towards safety.
The throwing of bombs caused a great deal
of dust, which spoiled the aim of the snipers. Shrapnel from
the bombs was considerable, and Angus suffered several serious
injuries as he sheltered Lt Martin with his body. Eventually,
Martin recovered sufficiently for Angus to signal the troops
to pull the officer in unaided. At that point Angus set off
at right angles to the trench, drawing the enemy fire with
him, and allowing others to haul Lt Martin into the trench.
Mown down on several occasions, the injuries were to cost
William Angus his left eye and part of his right foot. He
eventually reached the safety of a British trench, where he
collapsed and was rushed to a medical station and evacuated.
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