Charles Pope

He held the isolated post and charged as ammunition ran low.

Charles Pope was a lieutenant in the 11th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, whose posthumous Victoria Cross recognized his last stand during a German counterattack at Louverval, France, on 15 April 1917. Before enlisting, he had worked for the Metropolitan Police in London and later settled in Perth, Western Australia, with his wife and children.

### Holding the picquet at Louverval

Pope commanded a small picquet post in the 11th Battalion’s sector during the German attack on the Australian line. He had orders to hold the position at all costs. When his ammunition ran low, he sent back for supplies, but the situation deteriorated before they could arrive. Pope led his men in a charge against a superior force. The post was overwhelmed, and Pope and most of his men were killed. Their bodies were later found close to approximately eighty German dead, evidence of the fierce resistance they had made. Other members of the picquet were captured.

Born in London in 1883, Pope migrated to Australia in 1910 and enlisted in the AIF in 1915. He was commissioned in 1916 and joined the 11th Battalion in France that December. His Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously and announced in the London Gazette on 8 June 1917. He was buried at Moeuvres Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in command of a very important picquet post in the sector held by his battalion, his orders being to hold this post at all costs. After the picquet post had been heavily attacked, the enemy in greatly superior numbers surrounded the post. Lt. Pope, finding that he was running short of ammunition, sent back for further supplies. But the situation culminated before it could arrive, and in the hope of saving the position, this very gallant Officer was seen to charge with his picquet into a superior force, by which it was overpowered. By his sacrifice Lt. Pope not only inflicted heavy loss on the enemy, but obeyed his order to hold the position to the last. His body, together with those of most of his men, was found in close proximity to eighty enemy dead – a sure proof of the gallant resistance which had been made.

Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8 June 1917. 8 June 1917, Numb. 30122, p. 5703