Richard Annesley West

On the morning of 2 September 1918, during the Allied offensive against the Hindenburg Line near Vaulx-Vraucourt and Lagnicourt, an infantry battalion found itself reeling under an intense German counter-attack. The unit had suffered heavy officer casualties, its flanks were exposed, and a retreat seemed imminent. Acting Lieutenant Colonel Richard Annesley West, commanding the 6th Light Tank Battalion, arrived at the front line to inspect the tactical situation. Realising that the line was on the verge of giving way, West rode out on horseback into open ground between the opposing lines under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. He rallied the men, appointed non-commissioned officers to take command of companies, and galloped up and down the line encouraging the infantry to hold. Struck down by machine-gun fire, his actions stabilized the position and enabled the infantry to repulse the counter-attack.

West was born at 1 Oxford Street, Cheltenham, on 26 September 1878, the sixth child of Augustus George West, formerly an officer in the 76th Regiment of Foot, and Sara West (née Eyre). Educated at Monkton Combe School in Somerset and Uckfield Agricultural College in Sussex, he travelled to South Africa at the start of the Second Boer War. On 8 January 1900, he enlisted as Trooper 9697 in the 45th (Dublin) Company, 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. He served across Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal, surviving a brief period as a prisoner of war following an engagement at Lindley. Discharged from the Imperial Yeomanry in April 1901, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. After the war, he remained in South Africa supervising repatriation work, serving as a Lieutenant in the Transvaal Horse Artillery Volunteers, and training racehorses for the Duke of Westminster before marrying Maude Ethel Cushing in 1909.

Returning to Great Britain in August 1914, West joined the North Irish Horse as Private 1015 on 20 August, sailing immediately for France with C Squadron. His leadership during the retreat from Mons led to a commission as Lieutenant backdated to 11 August 1914 and a mention in Sir John French's dispatches. Promoted to Captain in November 1915, he was attached to the 1/1st North Somerset Yeomanry. On 11 April 1917, during the Battle of Arras, he led his cavalry squadron under severe artillery and machine-gun fire to reinforce the right flank at Monchy-le-Preux, averting a German counter-attack and earning the Distinguished Service Order.

Seconded to the Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps—later the Tank Corps—he took command of a Whippet light tank unit as Acting Major in January 1918. During the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, he directed his light tanks near Guillencourt, personally reconnoitring targets, having two horses shot from under him, and taking seven prisoners alongside his orderly. His actions won him the Military Cross. Thirteen days later, on 21 August at Courcelles-le-Comte during the Battle of Albert, he earned a Bar to his DSO by advancing through thick fog to direct his tanks, rallying lost infantry units, and securing the objective.

Promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 6th Light Tank Battalion on 22 August 1918, West met his death less than two weeks later. He was buried at Mory Abbey Military Cemetery. His highest award, the Victoria Cross, was posthumously gazetted on 30 October 1918.

Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 29 October 1918. 30 October 1918, Numb. 30982, p. 12801:

"For most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrifice. During an attack, the infantry having lost their bearings in the dense fog, this officer at once collected and re-organised any men he could find and led them to their objective in face of heavy machine-gun fire. Throughout the whole action he displayed the most utter disregard of danger, and the capture, of the objective was in a great part due to his initiative and gallantry. On a subsequent occasion it was intended that a battalion of light Tanks -under the command of this officer should exploit the initial infantry and heavy Tank attack. He therefore went forward in order to keep in touch with the progress of the battle, and arrived at the front line when the enemy were in process of delivering a local counterattack. The infantry battalion had suffered heavy officer casualties, and its flanks were exposed. Realising that there was a danger of the battalion giving way, he at once rode out in front of them under extremely heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and rallied the men. In spite of the fact that the enemy were close upon him he took charge of the situation and detailed non-commissioned officers to replace officer casualties. He then rode up and down in front of them in face of certain death, encouraging the men and calling to them, “Stick it, men; show them fight; and for God's sake put up a good fight.” He fell riddled by machine-gun bullets. The magnificent bravery of this very gallant officer at the critical moment inspired the infantry to redoubled efforts, and the hostile attack was defeated."