The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 51 No.4 | March 2025

Local Group Programmes

claims to descent from royalty, and a Keeper of the Hunt, This was a very interesting talk with lots of eminent links and information to help our research. (October) Hampshire Regiment Victoria Crosses – Nick Saunders The Victoria Cross, first made in 1856, was awarded for bravery and conspicuous valour. The first recipient was retrospective for actions during the Crimea War, Jun 1854. The medal that could be awarded to anyone, had been designed with Victoria & Albert involved. Made from the cannons of Sebastopol it had a Royal crest over a crown, a laurel bar and ring. The date awarded is placed on the back and a crimson ribbon attached. The medal could be awarded posthumously to a recipient’s family. It would have to be forfeited if recipient got a criminal record. Nick told us about the Hampshire recipients of the medal, those who had received it twice, and then the histories of those from the Hampshire Regiment Nick has gathered material and information from the Royal Hampshire Regiment Records. Private Lane was the first to receive two VCs, Charles Lucas, Lieutenant Commander Leaky, Joshua Leaky, Martin Leake, Private Upham, John Aiden Liddle (Special Reserve), and Williams. The three from the Hampshire Regiment during WW1 were: • George Reginald Grey Moor, a tall, wild man, awoke to dawn firing on three sides of the trenches. He managed to stem the onslaught and led the troops out of danger. This saved the military from a rout. He continued in command but died from dysentery in Gallipoli. • Second Lieutenant Denis Hewitt joined up in 1916. During the Battle of Ypres they found themselves attacked from three sides and under fire on 31 July 1917. He took charge of the Company and saved lives. He was shot and killed by a sniper whilst defending his comrades by distracting enemy fire. There is a plaque to him in Hershey Church with his battlefield cross. • Second Lieutenant Monty Moore won his VC for actions at Ypres. While under fire and snipers, in wet mud, he had been wounded. Following a five day barrage, and assaults, four of the commanders had been injured. He managed to get across the brook and capture a German Bunker. Despite the army not knowing this they held the post and a German Counter Attack. These three men went above and beyond in the war and were justified in receiving their Victoria Crosses. (December) Members Evening – Celebrating the medals from our family tree. Alan – Mother-in-Law’’s father, Gunner Waghorn, earned the Meceinia Earthquake medal. Alan himself awarded the Nuclear Test Medal. (One of the first from King Charles) Bob – when clearing his mother’s flat after her death found an envelope with a medal ribbon but no medal. So he researched his mother’s service records and found out that she had joined the ATS in Glasgow and had become a clerk. In Shropshire, she worked at the German PoW camp until 1948. She had never spoken about it. Katherine – told of her father, in an RAF Squadron, on board a Troop ship leaving Bombay. It was a Christmas Card from 1944 sent to his sisters. Penny – Her Grandfather, Army, WW1. Reg Sgt Major took charges on the battlefield when all officers were killed or injured. He received a Mention in Despatches but was

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