Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards came together today to commemorate two of their finest comrades who were honoured with Victoria Crosses 100 years ago.
Captain Cyril Frisby and Lance Corporal Thomas Jackson showed remarkable bravery during the First World War in the face of fearsome odds and devastating machine gun fire.
Lance Corporal Jackson lost his life after charging a trench in Canal du Nord, France, where he had shouted ‘come on boys!’ before killing the first two soldiers he met and then succumbing to gunshot wounds.
Captain Frisby recommended him for the Victoria Cross. His Victoria Cross citation reads that he displayed ‘Great Valour’.
Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards came together today to commemorate two of their finest comrades who were honoured with Victoria Crosses 100 years ago. Captain F N G Russell (left) and Lance Corporal Amos Hannan of the Coldstream Guards, hold the Victoria Crosses of Captain Cyril Frisby and Lance Corporal Thomas Jackson respectively, prior to a Drumhead Service at Victoria Barracks, Windsor today
Captain Cyril Frisby (left) and Lance Corporal Thomas Jackson (right) showed humbling bravery during the First World War in the face of fearsome odds and machine gun fire
Captain Cyril Frisby and Lance Corporal Thomas Jackson showed humbling bravery during the First World War in the face of fearsome odds and machine gun fire
Richard Frisby (left) and his son Henry (right), great nephew and great great nephew of Captain Cyril Frisby, pose alongside Lance Corporal Hodgkinson
Captain Frisby recommended him for the Victoria Cross. His Victoria Cross citation reads that he displayed ‘Great Valour’. He died with the rank of Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal Jackson was buried with full military honours in Sanders Keep Military Cemetery, Graincourt-les-Havrincourt, France
Jackson’s award was published in the London Gazette on 26th November 1918. His fiancée Daisy Flatt, from Kenley, Surrey, and his sister Charlotte were presented with his Victoria Cross by the King on Saturday 29th March 1919
Meanwhile Captain Frisby oversaw the successful capture under heavy fire of a machine gun that was pinning the Coldstream Guards back
Calling for volunteers, Captain Frisby dashed forward with three other ranks, the first to offer being Jackson, who was a young non-commissioned officer, and had shown bravery ever since the battle began
The two soldiers along with two other Coldstream Guardsmen climbed down into the canal under intense machine-gun fire and captured the post with a dozen men and two machine-guns
In this swift successful enterprise Captain Frisby was wounded in the leg by a bayonet, but he remained at duty, and having restored the situation, led the attacking companies
Lance Corporal Jackson was buried with full military honours in Sanders Keep Military Cemetery, Graincourt-les-Havrincourt, France.
Jackson’s award was published in the London Gazette on 26th November 1918. His fiancée Daisy Flatt, from Kenley, Surrey, and his sister Charlotte were presented with his Victoria Cross by the King on Saturday 29th March 1919.
Meanwhile Captain Frisby oversaw the successful capture under heavy fire of a machine gun that was pinning the Coldstream Guards back.
Calling for volunteers, Captain Frisby dashed forward with three other ranks, the first to offer being Jackson, who was a young non-commissioned officer, and had shown bravery ever since the battle began.
The two soldiers along with two other Coldstream Guardsmen climbed down into the canal under intense machine-gun fire and captured the post with a dozen men and two machine-guns.
In this swift successful enterprise Captain Frisby was wounded in the leg by a bayonet, but he remained at duty, and having restored the situation, led the attacking companies.
He was gazetted for the VC on 27th November 1918. After the war he spent much of his time tuna fishing. He was once described as Britain’s most famous tuna fisherman.
Hundreds of Guardsmen attended the memorial service today in full military regalia honouring the bravery of the two soldiers.
A service was held and relatives of Captain Frisby attended as honoury guests where they were pictured alongside Lance Corporal Hodgekinson who was holding the Victoria Cross.