Charles Calveley Foss

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Charles Calveley Foss VC, CB, DSO (9 March 1885-9 April 1953) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 30 years old, and a captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, after the enemy had captured a part of one of the British trenches and a counter-attack made with one officer and 20 men had failed (all but two of the party having been killed or wounded in the attempt) Captain Foss on his own initiative dashed forward with only eight men under heavy fire and attacked the enemy with bombs and captured the position and the 52 Germans occupying it.

He later achieved the rank of brigadier.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regimental Museum (Luton, Bedfordshire, England).

One of the eight men who accompanied Captain Foss at Neuve Chapelle was William George Peggs, 9822 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment who was awarded the Order of St George 4th Class (Russia) for his part in the attack. Peggs died from wounds received during a later battle on 9th August 1916. Peggs is buried at La Neuville British Cemetery, Albert, France.