For Valour
For Valour
Gunner W. Connolly, VC
Second Troop, Bengal Horse Artillery
Jhelum, India 1857
This Soldier is recommended for the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in Action with the Enemy, at Jhelum, on the 7th of July 1857.
Captain E.K. Bradbury, VC
L (Néry) Battery RHA
Captain Edward Kinder Bradbury – L Battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Published in the London Gazette dated: 25th November 1914.
“For gallentry and ability in organising the defence of ‘L’ Battery against heavy odds at Nery on 1st September.”
Battery Serjeant Major G.T. Dorrell, VC
L (Néry) Battery RHA
Battery-Serjeant-Major George Thomas Dorrell – L Battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Published in the London Gazette dated: 16th November 1914.
“For continuing to serve a gun until all the ammunition was expended, after all officers were killed or wounded, in spite of a concentrated fire from guns and machine guns, at a range of 600 yards, at Nery on 1st September.”
Serjeant D. Nelson, VC
L (Néry) Battery RHA
Serjeant David Nelson – L Battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Published in the London Gazette dated: 16th November 1914.
“Helping to bring the guns into action under heavy fire at Nery on the 1st September, and while serverely wounded remaining with them until all the ammunition was expended – although he had been ordered to retire to cover.”
Battery L
Battery L of the RHA
Oh, cold grey light o' the dawn,
Woke as the mists were wreathing pale,
Woke to the moan of the shrapnel hail,
Battery L of the RHA
Sprang to their guns in the dawn.
Six guns all at the break of day,
Oh, the crash of the shells at dawn,
And out of the six guns, only one
Left for the fight ere the the fights begun,
Battery L of the RHA
Swung her round in the dawn.
They swung her clear and they blazed away,
Oh, the blood red lights o' the dawn,
Osborne, Derbyshire, brave Dorrell,
These are the heroes of Battery L,
These are the men of the RHA
Who fought that gun in the dawn.
Aye, that was a fight that was fought that day,
As the grey mists fled from the dawn,
'Til they broke up the enemy one by one,
Silenced him steadily gun by gun,
Battery L of the RHA
One lone gun in the dawn.
James L. Harvey
With acknowledgements to I Battery RHA (Bulls Troop)