| Show WHO WON FIRST V. V C. C PUZZLE TO LONDON PAPERS I r One of First Clai Claimants Has lIas i k AI Already rea d y G. G Given IVell His Hi s I J r i I Life to Cause Causer r Br Dt l Service Lon on March Maich 23 London London papers W t arc c conducting a spirited investigation r tion ilon to discover who won the first Victoria F Victoria Cross In n the war and who wounded in was r wAS the first Briton to be defense of oC civilization During an investiture of or war honors few at Buckingham a a. b by the tho king the Royal days dars ago an nn o- o officer of raised this Interesting Hon tion Ho a advanced tho the claims of or Royal Roal I Fusiliers as Sydney Sdney F F. Godley coveted co tho the first winner of or tho the highly decoration But Dut G. G A. A Lea k who has written a n. book V C. C Heroes of or the I IWar forward with the assertion assertion asser asser- War comes Godley might waive naive his tion that claim to being the first V. V C. C man of oC tho the war to M M. J. J Dease of ot the same samo regiment who afterward died of or wounds received during tho the retreat 1 from Mons ons Says Leask five V. V C. C In point of time tho the first heroes of or the war were M M. J. J i 1 t Deaso Dease Royal Roal Fusiliers Corp C C. Ei E E. i Garforth Hussars S S. F F. Godley Royal Fusiliers Lance Corp C a C. A. A Jarvis Royal Engineers and Capt Theodore Theodora Wright Royal Engineers Engineers Engineers En En- These five earned their crosses on tho the first day of or actual fighting name name- 1914 It is curious that 1 ly Iy August 23 two Garforth two Garforth and Godley were prisoners prisoners prisoners pris pris- in Germany until last ye year What hat has to be decided In determining determining deter deter- mining who was actually the first V. V C. C of ot tho war is which deed actually actually actual actual- ly ranked earliest on that memorable Harmignies day Garforth won his at nies and Jarvis his at Jemappes the theother theother theother other three won theirs at Mons the at Mons tous Therefore as came first Garforth and Jarvis m may maybe may maybe be ruled out There Thera remain Dease Godley and Wright Wright won his cross for tor attempting attempting attempt attempt- ing InS tl to to- demolish a n. bridge presumably when the retreat retreat had been ordered so I as to delay deloy the German advance Dease and Godley won the coveted eted cross for working their machine guns As their heroism was performed at nt the tho battle of ot Mons during tho the thick of or the fighting fight fight- fighting ing InS both are entitled to tho claim or ot being being- the first V. V C. C of oC the tho war Private Private vate Godley will not mind sharing his great honor with ith Lieutenant Dease who mado made the great sacrifice for ho died of his wounds It has been unanimously decided that the thc first fighter in the British forces to be wounded was Sergeant Major Jillings of or tho the Royal Air force who was hit by a shrapnel splinter while making a a. reco flight on August 22 1914 the da day before tho the heroic battle at Mons fillings has thus tho the double honor honorof honorof of ot of being the first Briton wounded and the first man in tho air air r force to be hIt bit S |
