John Cridland Latham

Rescuing wounded tank crewmen under fire behind enemy lines.

John Cridland Latham emigrated from England to the United States and entered active Army service from the New York National Guard. He was a sergeant in the machine-gun company of the 107th Infantry, 27th Division. Near Le Catelet, France, on September 29, 1918, he and two companions became separated from their platoon. Hearing calls from a disabled American tank, they crossed enemy fire to help its crew.

After Corporal Thomas O’Shea was mortally wounded, Latham and Sergeant Alan Eggers rescued three injured men. They recovered the tank’s machine gun, defended the wounded through the day and returned with them after dark. Born in England on March 3, 1888, Latham received the Medal of Honor in February 1919. After the war, he operated a florist shop in Stamford, Connecticut. He later held warrant officer rank. He died in November 1975 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Sgt. Latham, Sgt. Alan L. Eggers, and Cpl. Thomas E. O'shea took cover in a shellhole well within the enemy lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank which had became disabled 30 yards from them, the three soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machine guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area, Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded, but his companions, undeterred, proceeded to the tank, rescued a wounded officer, and assisted two wounded soldiers to cover in the sap of a trench nearby. Sgts. Latham and Eggers then returned to the tank in the face of violent fire, dismounted a Hotchkiss gun, and took it back where the wounded men were, keeping off the enemy all day by effective use of the gun, and later bringing it with the wounded men back to our lines under cover of darkness.