Personal info
- Name: Fred McNESS
- D.O.B: 22nd Jan, 1892
- D.O.A: 15th Sep, 1916
- D.O.D: 5th May, 1956
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Lance Sergeant, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, 2nd Guards Brigade
Near Ginchy, France 15 September 1916
15 September 1916
The First World War 1916
On 15 September 1916 the Guards Division advanced from Ginchy to try to penetrate the German defensive line running north-west from Morval towards Le Sars. The attack pressed forward in the direction of Lesboeufs, to the north of Morval, on the Ginchy-Le Transloy road. Morval itself was captured on 25 September.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery. During a severe engagement he led his men on with the greatest dash in face of heavy shell and machine gun fire. When the first line of enemy trenches was reached, it was found that the left flank was exposed and that the enemy was bombing down the trench. Serjeant McNess thereupon organised a counter-attack and led it in person. He was very severely wounded in the neck and jaw, but went on passing through the barrage of hostile bombs in order to bring up fresh supplies of bombs to his own men. Finally he established a “block,” and continued encouraging his men and throwing bombs till utterly exhausted by loss of blood.
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