James Welch (VC)

He captured four men with an empty revolver, then fought on.

James Welch was born at Stratfield Saye, Hampshire, on 7 July 1889. After working as a farm labourer, he enlisted in the Royal Berkshire Regiment in January 1908 and served in India with its 2nd Battalion. He reached France in November 1914 and was wounded during the battles of Neuve Chapelle and the Somme.

While recovering in Sheffield, he met Daisy Barnes. They married in 1915 and later raised a family. Welch returned to his battalion and served as a machine-gunner during the fighting around Oppy in April 1917.

On 29 April, he entered a German trench and overcame an opponent in close combat. Although his revolver was empty, he pursued four other soldiers across open ground and captured them. He then kept his machine-gun working for more than five hours, repeatedly exposing himself to fire while collecting ammunition and spare parts. A shell wound eventually put him out of action.

George V presented Welch with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in July 1917. He later became a sergeant, but his wounds led to discharge in April 1919. He settled in Sheffield, working on property repairs and in the cardboard-box industry.

During the Second World War he returned to uniform with a balloon squadron in Sheffield. His duties included helping identify unexploded bombs for disposal teams. After the war he worked as a factory foreman and continued attending commemorative events.

Welch and Daisy moved to the Bournemouth area in 1960. She died in 1968, and he died on 28 June 1978. His ashes were placed in her grave at Bournemouth North Cemetery. The regiment later acquired his Victoria Cross and most of his surviving medals for its museum collection.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery. On entering the enemy trench, he killed one man after a severe hand-to-hand struggle. Armed only with an empty revolver, L/Cpl. Welch then chased four of the enemy across the open and captured them single-handed. He handled his machine gun with the utmost fearlessness, and more than once went into the open fully exposed to heavy fire at short range, to search for and collect ammunition and spare parts in order to keep his guns in action, which he succeeded in doing for over five hours till wounded by a shell. He showed throughout the utmost valour and initiative.