Manley James (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manley Angell James
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Brigadier Manley James VC, pictured here in February 1961.
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| Born | 12 July 1896 Odiham, Hampshire, England |
| Died | 23 September 1975 (aged 79) Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, England |
| Buried |
Canford Cemetery and Crematorium, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, England
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1951 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Service number | 9531 |
| Unit | Gloucestershire Regiment Royal Sussex Regiment |
| Commands held | Director of Ground Defence, Air Ministry (1948–50) 140th Infantry Brigade (1945) 128th Infantry Brigade (1941–43) 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (1939–40) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Arab revolt in Palestine Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Member of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (3) |
Manley Angell James (born July 12, 1896 – died September 23, 1975) was a brave officer in the British Army. He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest award for courage given to British and Commonwealth soldiers who face the enemy. He also received other important awards like the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Military Cross (MC).
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Early Life and School Days
Manley Angell James was born in Odiham, Hampshire, England, on July 12, 1896. He was one of four children. His family later moved to Bristol, where he went to Bristol Grammar School. While at school, he joined the Officers' Training Corps (OTC), which is a program that trains young people to become army officers. He became a sergeant there.
Serving in World War I
Manley planned to become a doctor like his father and had started studying at Bristol University. However, when the First World War began in August 1914, just after his 18th birthday, he decided to join the British Army instead. Many young people of his generation volunteered to serve their country.
On December 1, 1914, Manley became an officer, a second lieutenant, in the 8th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. This was a famous army unit. After many months of training, his battalion went to France in July 1915 to fight on the Western Front. By this time, he was a lieutenant and in charge of the battalion's machine guns.
First Battles and Awards
In July 1916, Manley's battalion fought in the Battle of the Somme. He was wounded during this battle and sent back to England to recover. He was praised for his bravery and skill with the machine guns. This praise is called being "mentioned in despatches."
He returned to France and was promoted to captain in February 1917. He was wounded again by shrapnel (pieces of metal from an explosion). In June 1917, he fought in the Battle of Messines. For his courage in capturing a place called Druid's Farm, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC). His company was even given a special badge of honor for their bravery.
The award citation for his MC said:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Previous to our attack, he took up a forward position under heavy hostile barrage in order to obtain accurate information as to the progress of our advance. He afterwards went forward and assisted to consolidate, as well as in the capture of a strong point, and having rallied the supports when they were disorganised by hostile fire he led them to their position. He then made a very daring personal reconnaissance of the whole line under heavy shelling and rifle fire that he might send back a report to his battalion commander, and his total disregard of danger and brilliant initiative throughout the action were largely responsible for its success.
Victoria Cross: An Act of Extreme Bravery
In March 1918, the German Army launched a huge attack. On March 21, near Velu Wood, France, Captain James showed incredible bravery. He led his company forward and captured 27 enemy soldiers and two machine guns. Even though he was wounded, he refused to leave his company. He then fought off three enemy attacks over the next day.
Two days later, the enemy broke through the lines. Captain James and his company made a determined stand. They caused heavy losses to the enemy and bought valuable time for their own army's guns to be moved to safety. He held out until the very last moment to allow his brigade (a large group of soldiers) to escape. He then led his company in a counter-attack, where he was wounded a second time. He was last seen fighting alone with a machine gun, was wounded a third time, and was eventually captured as a prisoner.
Many thought Captain James had been killed. However, in May, he managed to send a postcard to his father, letting him know he was a prisoner. He was released after the war ended in November 1918 and returned to England on Christmas Day.
Between the World Wars
On February 22, 1919, King George V personally presented Manley Angell James with his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace.
After the war, he left the army for a short time and played rugby. But he soon rejoined the Regular Army as a lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was promoted to captain in 1925. He married Noreen Cooper in 1928, and they had a son named Peter in 1930.
Manley continued his military career, serving in Egypt and attending the Staff College, Camberley, where he trained with other officers who would become important leaders in the next war. He was promoted to major in 1936 and later to lieutenant colonel in 1938. In 1939, he took command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, which was stationed in Northern Ireland.
Serving in World War II
When the Second World War began in September 1939, his battalion was sent to England to prepare for service in France. In 1940, he became a colonel and later a brigadier.
In February 1941, he took command of the 128th Infantry Brigade. After months of training for desert warfare, he led his brigade to North Africa in January 1943. They fought bravely throughout the Tunisian campaign, which ended in May 1943. For his leadership and courage, Manley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was known for being "as brave as a lion" but also careful about his troops.
His brigade then took part in the Allied invasion of Italy in September. During this tough campaign, Manley was badly wounded in the leg on September 20 and had to be evacuated to Egypt. After recovering from his injuries, he continued to serve in various staff roles, including commanding a training brigade in 1945.
After the Wars
From 1948 to 1951, Manley Angell James was the Director of Ground Defence for the Air Ministry. He was promoted to the permanent rank of brigadier in 1948. On March 1, 1951, he retired from the military.
He passed away in Westbury-on-Trym, England, on September 23, 1975, at the age of 79. His Victoria Cross medal is now on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London.
