William Frederick Faulds
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William Frederick Faulds VCMC (19 February 1895-16 February 1950) was a South African 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.
[edit] Details
He was 21 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, South African Infantry, South African Forces during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 July 1916 at Delville Wood, France, a bombing party came under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and the majority were killed or wounded, including the lieutenant in charge, who lay unable to move midway between the two lines of trench. In full daylight Private Faulds, accompanied by two other men, climbed over the parapet, ran out, picked up the officer and carried him back. Two days later Private Faulds went out alone, under intense artillery fire, and brought in a wounded man and then rejoined his platoon.
First South African-born man serving with South African Forces to win the VC. He later achieved the rank of captain.
His Victoria Cross was displayed at the National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg. This Victoria Cross was stolen from the South African Museum of Military History in Johannesburg South Africa and is still missing. For more details, contact the curator - see this link for more details:
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
