John Henry Carless

Mortally wounded, he supplied his gun until he fell lifeless

John Henry Carless was born at Walsall on 11 November 1896, the son of John Thomas Carless, a brass caster, and Elizabeth, née Smith. He attended St Mary of the Mount Roman Catholic School and worked in the local leather trade before entering the Royal Navy in September 1915.

His early naval service included HMS Victory and the depot ship Dido. In March 1917 he joined the light cruiser HMS Caledon as an ordinary seaman. On 17 November the cruiser took part in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight, an action against German naval forces in the North Sea.

Carless was serving as a gun rammer when a shell struck and mortally wounded him in the abdomen. He nevertheless continued supplying the gun and helped clear casualties from its working area. After collapsing, he rose and resumed his work, encouraging the surviving gun crew before he fell again and died. His conduct maintained the gun's operation during a critical part of the engagement and earned a posthumous Victoria Cross.

He was buried at sea. His parents received the decoration from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 22 June 1918. His name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, and Walsall commemorates him with a bust and other local memorials. His medals preserve the record of a short naval career which ended at the age of twenty-one.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although mortally wounded in the abdomen, he still went on serving the gun at which he was acting as rammer, lifting a projectile and helping to clear away the other casualties. He collapsed once, but got up, tried again, and cheered on the new gun’s crew. He then fell and died. He not only set a very inspiring and memorable example, but he also, whilst mortally wounded, continued to do effective work against the King’s enemies.

Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 14 May 1918. 17 May 1918, Numb. 30687, p. 5857.