William Frederick Faulds

Crossed open ground to rescue wounded men under fierce fire.

William Frederick Faulds was born at Cradock, South Africa, in 1895. During the First World War he served as a private in the 1st South African Infantry.

On 18 July 1916 at Delville Wood, a bombing party attempting to cross the open ground between the opposing trenches came under heavy fire. Lieutenant Craig fell wounded between the lines. In daylight, Faulds and two comrades went over the parapet, picked him up and carried him back. Two days later Faulds went out alone to rescue another wounded man. Despite intense artillery fire he carried the casualty nearly half a mile to a dressing station. These actions earned him the Victoria Cross.

Faulds later became an officer and received the Military Cross for his conduct during a rearguard action on 22 March 1918. He was captured at Marrières Wood on 24 March 1918 and later attained captain rank. During the Second World War he served in Somaliland, Abyssinia and Rhodesia. He died at Salisbury, now Harare, on 16 February 1950. His medal group was held by the South African National Museum of Military History; most of the original medals were stolen in 1995.

Official Victoria Cross citation:

A bombing party under Lieut Craig attempted to rush over 40 yards (37 m) of ground which lay between the British and enemy trenches. Coming under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire the officer and the majority of the party were killed and wounded. Unable to move, Lieut Craig lay midway between the 2 lines of trench, the ground being quite open. In full daylight, Pte Faulds, accompanied by 2 other men, climbed over the parapet, ran out, picked up the officer, and carried him back. Two days later Private Faulds again showed most conspicuous bravery in going out alone to bring in a wounded man, and carried him nearly half a mile to a dressing-station. The artillery fire was at the time so intense that stretcher-bearers and others considered that any attempt to bring in the wounded man meant certain death. This risk Private Faulds faced unflinchingly, and his bravery was crowned with success.