Jacob Rivers

Twice he bombed an enemy flank to protect his own battalion.

Jacob Rivers grew up in Derby in a working family and attended Orchard Street School. He worked at the Phoenix Foundry before joining the Derbyshire militia in 1898. In 1899 he enlisted in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, serving in India and Burma before transferring to the reserve in 1907. Back in Derby, he worked as a labourer, including employment on Midland Railway ballast trains. He re-enlisted after the outbreak of war in August 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters in France that December.

During the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 12 March 1915, an advanced company faced a substantial German force gathering on its flank. Rivers went forward on his own initiative and threw bombs from close range, forcing the enemy to retreat and relieving the company's dangerous position. Later that day he repeated the attack against another threatening concentration. He was killed during this second action.

His body was not recovered into an identified permanent grave, and he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France. His mother received his Victoria Cross, with a formal presentation by King George V at Buckingham Palace in November 1916. A local subscription helped support her after his death. The family subsequently entrusted his medals to the regiment.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve Chapelle on 12th March, 1915, when he, on his own initiative, crept to within a few yards of a very large number of the enemy who were massed on the flank of an advanced company of his battalion, and hurled bombs on them. His action caused the enemy to retire, and so relieved the situation. Private Rivers performed a second act of great bravery on the same day, similar to the first mentioned, gain causing the enemy to retire. He was killed on this occasion.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 27 April 1915. 28 April 1915, Numb. 29146, p. 4143