William Herbert Waring

Lance-Sergeant William Herbert Waring earned the Victoria Cross for an extraordinary attack on German machine-gun positions at Ronssoy, France, on 18 September 1918. Fighting under devastating fire during the Battle of Épehy, he overcame an enemy strongpoint and rallied his men before suffering wounds that would prove fatal.

Born at Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, on 13 October 1885, Waring worked as a labourer and poultry dealer's assistant before the First World War. He joined the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry in 1904 and was mobilised in August 1914.

After deploying to Egypt in 1916, he became part of the 25th (Montgomeryshire and Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, formed in March 1917. Serving with 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division, in the Palestine Campaign, he took part in operations around Gaza and received the Military Medal for gallantry. The award was announced on 4 February 1918.

In 1918, his battalion transferred to the Western Front. On 18 September, during the British advance at Ronssoy, Waring led an attack against enemy machine guns holding up neighbouring troops. Acting alone, he rushed a fortified position, bayoneted four defenders and captured twenty prisoners with their guns. He subsequently reorganised his men and inspired them to advance another 400 yards despite heavy artillery and machine-gun fire.

Waring, service number 355014, was mortally wounded during the action and died at Le Havre on 8 October 1918, five days before his thirty-third birthday. He was buried in Sainte Marie Cemetery.

His gallantry was recognised with the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross, announced in the London Gazette on 31 January 1919. His parents received the decoration from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 8 March 1919. His honours also included the Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.

Waring's courage, leadership and sacrifice remain part of the military heritage of Welshpool and the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.