Personal info
- Name: Charles William TRAIN
- D.O.B: 21st September, 1890
- D.O.A: 8th December, 1917
- D.O.D: 28th March, 1965
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Corporal, 2/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, (London Scottish)
Ain Karim, near Jerusalem, Palestine 8 December 1917
8 December 1917
The First World War 1917
In early December 1917 British forces closed in on Jerusalem. The village of Ain Karim, the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, five miles south-west of Jerusalem, lay in front of the Turkish defences. As part of the British advance, at 5.15am on 8 December, men of 2/14th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment attacked the Turkish trench east and south-east of the village. They were confronted with two Turkish machine-guns. These were captured by Corporal C W Train assisted by Corporal F S Thornhill, who was awarded the DCM. During the night the Turks evacuated Jerusalem, which surrendered to the British the next day.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery, dash and initiative displayed under heavy fire when his company was unexpectedly engaged at close range by a party of the enemy with two machine guns and brought to a standstill. Corporal Train, on his own initiative, rushed forward and engaged the enemy with rifle grenades, and succeeded in putting some of the team out of action with a direct hit. He then shot at and wounded an officer in command, and with bomb and rifle killed and wounded the remainder of the team. After this he went to the assistance of a comrade who was bombing the enemy from their front and shot at and killed one of the enemy who was carrying the second gun out of action. His courage and devotion to duty undoubtedly saved his battalion heavy casualties and enabled them to advance to their objective at a time when the situation seemed critical.