James Edward Tait VC MC (27 May 1888 – 11 August 1918), was a Scottish/Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Although Tait was born on 27 May 1888 in Maxwelltown (Dumfries), Scotland he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in February 1916. Tait was 32 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 78th (Winnipeg Grenadiers) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War. He died in action on 11 August 1918 in Amiens, France for actions on the 8th and 12th August 1018 for which he was awarded the VC. It should be noted that prior to these events he had been wounded four times. VC Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. The advance having been checked by intense machine-gun fire, Lt. Tait rallied his company and led it forward with consummate skill and dash under a hail of bullets. A concealed machine gun, however, continued to cause many casualties. Taking a rifle and bayonet, Lt. Tait dashed forward alone and killed the enemy gunner. Inspired by his example his men rushed the position, capturing twelve machine guns and twenty prisoners. His valorous action cleared the way for his battalion to advance. Later, when the enemy counter-attacked our positions under intense artillery bombardment, this gallant officer displayed outstanding courage and leadership, and, though mortally wounded by a shell, continued to aid and direct his men until his death. —The London Gazette, 24 September 1918 The attached account of his actions was written by James Price Lloyd of the Welsh Regiment, who served with Military Intelligence. After the war, the government to destroyed all the archives relating to this propaganda (section MI 7b (1)). They were regarded as being too sensitive to risk being made public. Remarkably these documents have survived in the personal records of Captain Lloyd. Many of these papers are officially stamped, and one can trace the development of many individual articles from the notes based on an idea, to the pencil draft which is then followed by the hand-written submission and the typescript. The archive Tales of the VC comprises 94 individual accounts of the heroism that earned the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. These are recounted deferentially and economically, yet they still manage to move the reader. Date stamp: 19 November 1918. || Article with annotations.

Article with annotations. || Ivor Rees VC (18 October 1893 – 11 March 1967) was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces. Rees enlisted into the 11th, South Wales Borderers, part of the 115th Brigade, 38th Welsh Division. Rees survived the fighting at Mametz Wood, and moved with the Division to Ypres. At Ypres, the Battalion were tasked with the capture of the Pilckem Ridge - a heavily fortified German defensive line during the Battle of Passchendaele. His citation read: At Pilckem, Belgium, on 31st July 1917, an enemy machine gun inflicted many casualties when it opened fire at close range. Sergeant Rees, leading his platoon, gradually worked his way round the right flank, by making short rushes, to the rear of the gun position. At 20 yards from the machine gun, Sergeant Rees rushed forward towards it, shooting one of the crew, and bayoneting the other. He bombed a large concrete emplacement, killing five of the enemy and taking 30 prisoners, including two officers and capturing a machine gun, undamaged. —London Gazette. Major Edward Cooper VC (4 May 1896 – 19 August 1985) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Cooper was 21 years old, and at that date a Sergeant in the 12th Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place at the battle of Passchendaele for which he was awarded the VC. On 16 August 1917 at Langemarck, Belgium, enemy machine guns from a concrete blockhouse 250 yards (230 m) away were holding up the advance of the battalion on the left and also causing heavy casualties to Sergeant Cooper's own battalion. With four men he rushed towards the blockhouse, but although they fired at the garrison at very close range (100 yards) the machine-guns were not silenced, so Sergeant Cooper ran straight at them and fired his revolver into an opening in blockhouse. The machine-guns ceased firing and the garrison surrendered. Seven machine-guns and 45 prisoners were captured. He later achieved the rank of Major. His medal is on display at Preston Hall Museum in Stockton. The attached account of their actions was written by James Price Lloyd of the Welsh Regiment, who served with Military Intelligence. After the war, the government to destroyed all the archives relating to this propaganda (section MI 7b (1)). They were regarded as being too sensitive to risk being made public. Remarkably these documents have survived in the personal records of Captain Lloyd. Many of these papers are officially stamped, and one can trace the development of many individual articles from the notes based on an idea, to the pencil draft which is then followed by the hand-written submission and the typescript. The archive Tales of the VC comprises 94 individual accounts of the heroism that earned the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. These are recounted deferentially and economically, yet they still manage to move the reader. Date stamp: 27 November 1917 and 1 January 1918.

2nd Lieut. G.A. Boyd-Rochfort, 1st Scots Guards, and 2nd Lieut. George Edward Cates, 2nd Rifle Brigade, were awarded the V.C. for bravery. In trenches called The Dell and Back Street between Cambrin and La Bassee, Boyd-Rochfort protected his comrades by throwing away a live bomb that landed near him (1915). Cates died from wounds after he stood over a bomb to shield a rifleman working next to him (1917). Also mentioned are Private McFadzean, Royal Irish Rifles and Private William Butler of the West Yorks who performed similar feats of self-sacrifice. Boyd-Rochfort was 35 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the Scots Guards, British Army, (Special Reserve, attached to 1st Battalion) during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Citation: On 3 August 1915 between Cambrin and La Bassée, France, a German trench-mortar bomb landed on the side of the parapet of the communication trench in which Second Lieutenant Boyd-Rochfort was standing close to a small working party of his battalion. Instead of stepping back into safety he shouted to his men to look out, rushed at the bomb, seized it and hurled it over the parapet where it at once exploded. This combination of presence of mind and courage saved the lives of many of the working party. George Edward Cates VC (9 May 1892 – 8 March 1917) was 24 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), British Army during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his actions on 8 March 1917 at Bouchavesnes, France during which he was killed. Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When engaged with some other men in deepening a captured trench this officer struck with his spade a buried bomb, which immediately started to burn. 2nd Lt. Gates, in order to save the lives of his comrades, placed his foot on the bomb, which immediately exploded. He showed the most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in performing the act which cost him his life, but saved the lives of others —London Gazette, dated 11 May 1917 The attached account of their actions was written by James Price Lloyd of the Welsh Regiment, who served with Military Intelligence. After the war, the government to destroyed all the archives relating to this propaganda (section MI 7b (1)). They were regarded as being too sensitive to risk being made public. Remarkably these documents have survived in the personal records of Captain Lloyd. Many of these papers are officially stamped, and one can trace the development of many individual articles from the notes based on an idea, to the pencil draft which is then followed by the hand-written submission and the typescript. The archive Tales of the VC comprises 94 individual accounts of the heroism that earned the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. These are recounted deferentially and economically, yet they still manage to move the reader. Date stamp: 23 March 1918. || Article with annotations.