Memorial: M4643

Bust outside Wallsall Free Library commemorating Henry Carless VC d. 1917

Location

Outside Wallsall Free Library, Walsall, West Midlands, England

Transcript

'JOHN HENRY / CARLESS V.C. / BORN AT WALLSALL 11TH NOVEMBER 1896 / KILLED IN ACTION HELIGOLAND / BIGHT 17TH NOVEMBER 1917 / AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS / FOR MOST CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. ALTHOUGH / MORTALLY WOUNDED IN THE ABDOMEN / HE STILL WENT ON SERVING THE GUN / AT WHICH HE WAS ACTING AS RAMMER / LIFTING PROJECTILES AND HELPING / TO CLEAR AWAY THE OTHER CASUALTIES / HE COLLAPSED ONCE BUT GOT UP / TRIED AGAIN AND CHEERED ON THE NEW/GUNS CREW. HE THEN FELL AND DIED / HE NOT ONLY SET A VERY INSPIRING / AND MEMORABLE EXAMPLE BUT HE / ALSO WHILST MORTALLY WOUNDED / CONTINUED TO DO EFFECTIVE WORK / AGAINST THE KING'S ENEMIES'

Details

Description: A bust of Carless on a stone plinth. A bronze lion in relief above the inscription and a wreath below it.
Type: Memorial
Materials: Portland stone, bronze
Artists: R. J. Emerson

Event

Heligoland Bight

Event Date

17/11/1917

Event Category

1914-1918 First World War

People

Carless, John Henry
Age: 21
Date of Death: 17/11/1917
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: ordinary Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Victoria Cross winner.
Bibliography: David Saunders 'Maritime Memorials & Mementoes' (Yeovil, 1996) p.124-5 (photo); John Winton 'The Victoria Cross at Sea' (London, 1978) p.150
Recorder: David Saunders 1983

JSON

{
  "post_id": "4908",
  "id": "M4643",
  "location": "Outside Wallsall Free Library, Walsall, West Midlands, England",
  "transcript": "'JOHN HENRY / CARLESS V.C. / BORN AT WALLSALL 11TH NOVEMBER 1896 / KILLED IN ACTION HELIGOLAND / BIGHT 17TH NOVEMBER 1917 / AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS / FOR MOST CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. ALTHOUGH / MORTALLY WOUNDED IN THE ABDOMEN / HE STILL WENT ON SERVING THE GUN / AT WHICH HE WAS ACTING AS RAMMER / LIFTING PROJECTILES AND HELPING / TO CLEAR AWAY THE OTHER CASUALTIES / HE COLLAPSED ONCE BUT GOT UP / TRIED AGAIN AND CHEERED ON THE NEW/GUNS CREW. HE THEN FELL AND DIED / HE NOT ONLY SET A VERY INSPIRING / AND MEMORABLE EXAMPLE BUT HE / ALSO WHILST MORTALLY WOUNDED / CONTINUED TO DO EFFECTIVE WORK / AGAINST THE KING'S ENEMIES'",
  "content": "<p>Bust outside Wallsall Free Library commemorating Henry Carless VC d. 1917</p>",
  "images": [],
  "categories": ["Uncategorised"],
  "details": {
    "description": "A bust of Carless on a stone plinth. A bronze lion in relief above the inscription and a wreath below it.",
    "type": "Memorial",
    "position": "",
    "materials": "Portland stone, bronze",
    "dateErected": "",
    "artists": "R. J. Emerson",
    "vessel": ""  },
  "event": {
    "event":"Heligoland Bight",
    "date": "17/11/1917",
    "category": "1914-1918 First World War"  },
  "people": [{"name":"Carless, John Henry","age":"21","dateofdeath":"17/11/1917","causeofdeath":"War casualty","rankOccupation":"ordinary Seaman","organisation":"Royal Navy"}],
  "extra": {
    "notes": "Victoria Cross winner.",
    "bibliography": "David Saunders 'Maritime Memorials & Mementoes' (Yeovil, 1996) p.124-5 (photo); John Winton 'The Victoria Cross at Sea' (London, 1978) p.150",
    "recorder": "David Saunders 1983",
    "photographer": ""  }
}

Commemorating seafarers and victims of maritime disasters