Noel chavasse biography

English medical doctor, Athletics athlete and British Army officer

CaptainNoel Godfrey Chavasse, VC & Bar, MC (9 November – 4 Honourable ) was an English analeptic doctor, Olympic athlete, and Brits Army officer from the Chavasse family. He is one declining three people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice,^[1] loftiness others being Arthur Martin-Leake other Charles Upham.

The Battle round Guillemont saw acts of valiancy by Chavasse, the only squire to be awarded the Town Cross twice during the Be foremost World War. In , subside was hit by shell matchwood while rescuing men in no-man's land. It is said purify got as close as 25 yards to the German limit, where he found three joe public and continued throughout the falsified under a constant rain preceding sniper bullets and bombing. Bankruptcy performed similar heroics in honourableness early stages of the objectionable at Passchendaele in August puzzle out gain a second VC become calm become the most highly elegant British officer of the Be in first place World War. He died endorsement wounds suffered at Passchendaele imprisoned ^[2]

Childhood

Noel Godfrey Chavasse was grandeur younger of identical twin boys born to the Rev. Francis Chavasse (later Bishop of Metropolis and founder of St Peter's College, Oxford) and Edith Jane Chavasse (née Maude) on 9 November at 36 New Hostelry Hall Street, Oxford.^[3]Christopher Maude was born 20 minutes before sovereignty brother. In all, there were seven children born to interpretation Chavasse family, in age order: Dorothea, Christopher, Noel, Edith, Traditional, Francis and Aidan. The brace were so small and bring into the light at birth that their institution was delayed until 29 Dec , and both were exceedingly ill with typhoid in their first year of life.

Chavasse was educated at Magdalen Faculty School in Cowley Place, Town, where a blue plaque was dedicated to him in , Liverpool College and Trinity Institution, Oxford.^[3][4] The family grew break up in Oxford until, on 3 March , Francis Chavasse was offered the AnglicanBishopric of Port. The move was not let alone regrets as Liverpool during that time was one of rendering busiest seaports in the Control and had a great link of religious turmoil. The kith and kin moved to the Bishop's Residence at 19 Abercromby Square, City. Noel and Christopher went enhance school at Liverpool College, wheel they excelled at sports exaggerate the start. Their academic advancement was initially rather slower, however as they grew older, both did well until, in , both were admitted to Leash College, Oxford.^[3]

University and early outdated career

In , Noel graduated succeed First-class honours^[3] but Christopher aborted, leading to a nervous destitution. Both of them stayed hold Oxford, Noel to study reprimand and Christopher to retake sovereignty exams. During their time bundle up Trinity, both men had call for neglected their sports, rugby combining being a favourite of theirs. In , both twins delineate Great Britain in the Athletics Games in the metres.^[5] Noel finished third in his torridity while Christopher finished second, on the other hand only the heat winners progressed to the semi-finals.^[6]

In January , Noel joined the Oxford Institute Officers' Training Corps Medical Private residence. By the following May, smartness was promoted to lance-sergeant. Noel finished his studies at University in July and returned amount Liverpool to continue his studies under such eminent teachers monkey Sir Robert Jones, who went on to become a outdo authority in orthopaedic surgery.

On returning to Liverpool, Chavasse resumed his connection with the Grafton Street Industrial School, an founding for homeless boys in Port. In the autumn, he went to London to sit sovereign examination for Fellowship of ethics Royal College of Surgeons. Bankruptcy failed, apparently because of below par health. When he sat authority examination again in May , he passed it with relate to. In the meantime, Christopher was well into his studies sort the ministry under his father's guidance. Noel progressed through crown studies, having studied pathology pivotal bacteriology. He was obliged familiar with undertake a hospital "placement" thanks to part of his course. Closure found a position at influence Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Whilst Chavasse liked Dublin, his cardinal experience of coming into come into contact with with Roman Catholic clergy discomfited him.^[7]

In January , Chavasse passed his final medical examination humbling was awarded the university's first medical prize, the Derby Event, in March of that harvest. On 22 July , without fear registered as a doctor accord with the General Medical Council. Sovereign first placement was at justness Royal Southern Hospital in Liverpool,^[3] initially until 31 March , and then for a new-found six months. He then became house surgeon to Robert Linksman, his former tutor.

Military occupation and decorations

In early , funding discussions with some of jurisdiction fellow doctors, Chavasse applied muddle up and was accepted by honourableness Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC); he was commissioned as uncomplicated lieutenant on 2 June.^[8] Thanksgiving thanks to to one of his mentors, Dr McAlistair, who was afterward Surgeon-Captain of the 10th Pack of the King's (Liverpool Regiment), the Liverpool Scottish, he was attached to the battalion thanks to Surgeon-Lieutenant.^{[citation needed]} The 10th Kings had been a Territorialbattalion by reason of the Haldane Reforms in Chavasse joined the battalion on 2 June and was welcomed soak Lieutenant-Colonel W. Nicholl, the overlooking officer. As an officer reap a Territorial unit, Chavasse at the moment had to attend to both his civilian and military duties.

During the First World Clash, Chavasse was a captain wrestle the Royal Army Medical Women, British Army attached to prestige 1/10th (Scottish) Battalion of excellence King's (Liverpool Regiment), part resembling the 55th (West Lancashire) Share.

Chavasse was awarded the Force Cross for gallantry at Hooge, Belgium in June , even if the award was not gazetted until 14 January ^[9] Without fear was promoted captain on 1 April ;^[10] on 30 Nov that year he was Depend on in Despatches.

Victoria Cross

Chavasse was first awarded the VC good spirits his actions on 9 Grave , at Guillemont, France, conj at the time that he attended to the rickety all day under heavy glow. The full citation was accessible on 24 October and read:^[11]

Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, M.C., M.B., Royal Army Medical Corps.

For most conspicuous bravery and fire to duty.

During an style, he tended the wounded forecast the open all day, drop heavy fire, frequently in standpoint of the enemy. During dignity ensuing night, he searched perform wounded on the ground razorsharp front of the enemy's configuration for four hours.

The catch on day, he took one litter-bearer to the advanced trenches skull, under heavy shell fire, control an urgent case for yards into safety, being wounded remark the side by a botched job splinter during the journey. Picture same night, he took momentum a party of twenty volunteers, rescued three wounded men foreign a shell hole twenty-five yards from the enemy's trench, belowground the bodies of two team, and collected many identity discs, although fired on by bombs and machine guns.

Wholly, he saved the lives nigh on some twenty badly wounded private soldiers, besides the ordinary cases renounce passed through his hands. Tiara courage and self-sacrifice were above praise.

Bar to Victoria Cross

Chavasse's in a tick award was made during magnanimity period 31 July to 2 August , at Wieltje, Belgium; the full citation was obtainable on 14 September and read:^[12]

War Office, September,

His Majesty picture KING has been graciously beholden to approve of the grant of a Bar to nobility Victoria Cross to Capt. Noel Godfrey Chavasse, V.C., M.C., make public R.A.M.C., attd. L'pool R.

For most conspicuous bravery and fanaticism to duty when in context.

Though severely wounded early lay hands on the action while carrying top-hole wounded soldier to the Sauce Station, Capt. Chavasse refused garland leave his post and, represent two days, not only spread to perform his duties on the other hand, in addition, went out over under heavy fire to see for and attend to justness wounded who were lying tear down.

During these searches, although sagaciously without food during this time, worn with fatigue and lackluster with his wound, he aided in carrying in a few of badly wounded men slide along heavy and difficult ground.

Through his extraordinary energy and exhilarating example, he was instrumental train in rescuing many wounded who would have otherwise undoubtedly succumbed subordinate to the bad weather conditions.

This devoted and gallant office-bearer subsequently died of his wounds.

Chavasse died of his wounds purchase Brandhoek and is buried dissent Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Vlamertinge.^[13] His military headstone carries, strikingly, a representation of two Empress Crosses.^[3]

Chavasse was the only checker to be awarded both wonderful Victoria Cross and Bar have as a feature the First World War very last one of only three troops body ever to have achieved that distinction.^[3]

Personal life

At the time decelerate his death, Chavasse was busy to one of his cousins, Frances Gladys Ryland Chavasse (–), daughter of his uncle Sir Thomas Frederick Chavasse (–) exhaustive Bromsgrove, a surgeon. Noel's compromise is mentioned on a tablet at the Chavasse family critical at Bromsgrove. Gladys Chavasse was mentioned in despatches at Cards Cassino, Italy, and killed sketch in an accident in Writer while crossing the road.^[14]

Noel's nephew – Christopher Chavasse's son – was named in his bring into disrepute and served as an good to Bernard Montgomery, as arrive as being awarded the Noncombatant Cross in the Second Faux War.

Commemorations

Chavasse is believed close to be commemorated by more hostilities memorials in the UK puzzle any other individual. Sixteen be born with currently been recorded by probity UK National Inventory of Warfare Memorials.

Chavasse's medals, which challenging been left by his lineage to St Peter's College, University (which had been founded bid his father; his brother Christopher was its first Master), were purchased in by Lord Ashcroft for around £ million, fastidious world record price.^[15] The medals, along with others, are displayed in the Lord Ashcroft Assembly at the Imperial War Museum.^[15]

Chavasse Park in Liverpool city hub was named in honour interrupt the Chavasse family; Francis (2nd Bishop of Liverpool) and fulfil twin sons Christopher Maude Chavasse (an Olympic athlete and posterior Bishop of Rochester), and Noel Godfrey Chavasse.^[16]

A hospital ward practical named after him at authority Walton Centre in Liverpool.

One of the houses at Magdalen College School is named export honour of him.

There ring two World War One Town Cross paving stones (each portraying a pair of crosses) fixated to Chavasse in Oxford: only outside St Peter's College fairy story one near Magdalen College High school.

A bronze memorial (the 'Liverpool Heroes Memorial') commemorating Chavasse add-on fifteen other Liverpool-born Victoria Blend recipients has been erected classify Abercromby Square in Liverpool. Chuck it down was sculpted by Tom Spud.

In , Noel Chavasse was featured on a £5 banknotes (issued in silver and gold) in a six-coin set observance the centenary of the Regulate World War produced by picture Royal Mint.^[17]

See also

References

Further reading

External links