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Leach and Hogan win the Victoria Cross
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Leach and Hogan win the Victoria Cross
An illustration by Fortunino Matania (based on a report in the Manchester Guardian newspaper) showing how Lieutenant James Leach and Sergeant John Hogan of The Manchester Regiment recaptured a trench near Festubert, France, from German occupation and in the course of doing so, earned Victoria Crosses. Along with their ten strong force, Leach and Hogan surprised the Germans with a bayonet attack and then reached a point in the trench where it turned sharply at right angles. Armed with a revolver, Leach was able to reach round the corner and fire without exposing his body, whereas the Germans, armed with rifles, could not do so without exposing part of their bodies. Meanwhile Sergeant Hogan watched the parapet to protect them against any attacks from Germans crawling out of the trench. In this manner the two British soldiers made progress along the trench, until finally sixteen German soldiers were captured (two had been wounded and eight killed). As the two advanced, Hogan raised his hat on his rifle (shown here behind Leach) to indicate to the British behind them how far they had made progress so that they would not sweep that part of the trench with fire. Date: 29 October 1914
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Media ID 14168070
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Bravery Capture Crosses Gallantry Leach Lieutenant Matania Medal Occupation Outnumbered Recapture Recaptured Sergeant Surrender Trench Hogan
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In the early days of the First World War, on October 29, 1914, near the French village of Festubert, two unsung heroes of The Manchester Regiment, Lieutenant James Leach and Sergeant John Hogan, earned the highest military decoration, the Victoria Cross (VC), for their courage and quick thinking in recapturing a vital trench from German occupation. This illustration by Fortunino Matania, based on a report in the Manchester Guardian newspaper, depicts the daring exploit of these two brave soldiers and their ten-strong force. The trench, which had been lost to the Germans, was located in a strategic position and needed to be retaken to prevent further enemy advances. Leach and Hogan led their men in a surprise bayonet attack, catching the Germans off guard. They made their way along the trench, with Leach using his revolver to fire around a sharp turn in the trench, where his body would have been exposed if he had used a rifle like the Germans. Hogan, meanwhile, protected them from any German soldiers attempting to crawl out of the trench. As they advanced, Hogan raised his hat on his rifle to signal to the British soldiers behind them how far they had progressed, preventing them from inadvertently firing on their own men. The two soldiers continued their assault, eventually capturing sixteen German soldiers (two of whom had been wounded and eight of whom had been killed). This heroic action by Leach and Hogan not only helped to secure the trench but also boosted the morale of their comrades. Their bravery and determination were recognized with the prestigious Victoria Cross, an honor that continues to be held in the highest regard for their exceptional courage in the face of the enemy.
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