VICTORIA CROSS and Murder

 In the second article regarding the Victoria Cross and Murder – this blog will be about the Victoria Cross.

So, question.  How many men were born in Swansea and were awarded the Victoria Cross?

The answer should be none of course, but two men had connections to Swansea.  Both men were awarded their Victoria Cross during the First World War.

William Fuller

The first was William Fuller, who was the first Welsh soldier to receive the medal during the conflict.  14^th September 1914, Chivy-sur-Aisne, France, Fuller under heavy enemy fire and machine fire extract a mortal officer.

Captain Mark Hagard, the nephew of Ridger Hagard, had fallen wounded, Fuller carried Hagard 100 yards to a ridge, where he was able to dress the officer’s wounds.  Hagard also asked for his rifle, which Fuller managed to retrieve.

Fuller along with two other soldiers, were able to get Hagard back safely to a barn that was used as a First Aid Post.  Fuller stayed with Hagard until he died. 

Fuller who was born March 1884, Laugharne died December 1974, Swansea.  He was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery.

George Henry Prowse

The second was George Henry Prowse, who in September 1918, at Pronville, France led a small party of men against an enemy strong point, capturing it, together with 23 prisoners and 5 machine guns.  Prowse on three different occasions displayed great heroism in dealing with difficult and dangerous situations. On an occasion, Prowse dashed and captured two machine-gun posts, killing six of the enemy and taking 13 prisoners along with two machine guns.  He was the only surviour of this gallant party.  But his actions allowed the battalion to push forward.

Prowse was killed in action on the 27^th of September 1918.  Prowse was born in 1886, at Gilfach Gach.

So that should be the end of the blog, however, The Star of Gwent newspaper printed an article on the 12^th of December 1857 titled Swansea.

The Star of Gwent

So, who was Henry Thomas Sylvester?

Henry Thomas Sylvester

Sylvester was born so the records inform us in Devizes, Wiltshire, in April 1831.  Following in both his father, Charles Sylvester, and grandfather, Thomas Sylvester in the medical field, Sylvester trained as a doctor in Edinburgh. Enlisting with the 23^rd Regiment of Foot, as an Assistant Surgeon.

During the Crimean War, Sylvester and his regiment were posted to the Crimean Peninsula during the latter of 1854. Sylvester severed in the trenches of Sebastopol. Having been mentioned in despatches, Sylvester was awarded the Crimean Medal with clasp also the French awarded Sylvester with the Legion of Honour.

On 20^th November 1857, Sylvester was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions during the assault of Redan two years earlier during September 1855. During the assault, Sylvester volunteered to go out and help Lieutenant Dyneley, who had been hit and wounded.  Sylvester who run under heavy fire.  Dyneley was mortally wounded however, Sylvester managed to dress his wounds.

During the Indian Mutiny, Sylvester was awarded the Victoria Cross.  Sylvester saw action in the Relief of Lucknow and was awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal with two clasps.  Sylvester retired from the Army in 1861 as a Surgeon Major.

On returning to the UK, Sylvester furthered his career in the medical profession.  Sylvester died in March 1920, at Paignton, Devon and he is buried at the local cemetery.

Admitted all the census records of Sylvester’s birthplace as that Devizes.