Noel Godfrey Chavasse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Noel Godfrey Chavasse
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Portrait of N.G. Chavasse wearing the glengarry of the Liverpool Scottish
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| Born | 9 November 1884 Oxford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Died | 4 August 1917 (aged 32) Brandhoek, Passchendaele salient, Belgium |
| Buried |
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1913–1917 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Royal Army Medical Corps |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross & Bar Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
| Relations | Francis Chavasse (father) Christopher Chavasse (brother) |
| Other work | Olympic athlete |
Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse (born November 9, 1884 – died August 4, 1917) was a brave British medical doctor, an Olympic athlete, and an officer in the British Army. He is famous for being one of only three people ever to receive the Victoria Cross twice. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military.
Noel Chavasse showed incredible courage during the First World War. In 1916, during the Battle of Guillemont, he was hit by shell pieces while saving injured soldiers in a dangerous area called "no-man's land." He got very close to the German lines, finding three men and continuing his rescue work all night under constant enemy fire. He performed similar heroic acts in August 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. These actions earned him a second Victoria Cross, making him the most decorated British officer of the First World War. Sadly, he died from his wounds two days later.
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Early Life and Family
Noel Godfrey Chavasse was born on November 9, 1884, in Oxford, England. He was one of identical twin boys. His brother, Christopher Maude, was born 20 minutes before him. Their father, Francis Chavasse, later became the Bishop of Liverpool. The Chavasse family had seven children in total. Noel and Christopher were very small and weak when they were born. They also became very ill with typhoid in their first year.
Noel went to school at Magdalen College School, Oxford and Liverpool College. In 2005, a special blue plaque was placed at Magdalen College School to remember him. In 1900, his family moved to Liverpool because his father became the Bishop there. Liverpool was a very busy seaport at the time. Noel and Christopher were excellent at sports at Liverpool College. Later, in 1904, both brothers were accepted into Trinity College, Oxford.
University and Becoming a Doctor
In 1907, Noel finished his first degree with excellent grades. Both brothers loved playing rugby union at Oxford. In 1908, Noel and Christopher even represented Great Britain in the 1908 Olympic Games. They both competed in the 400 metres race. Noel finished third in his race, and Christopher finished second. Only the winners of each race moved on to the next round.
In 1909, Noel joined the Oxford University Officers' Training Corps Medical Unit, which trained future army doctors. He was promoted to lance-sergeant. After finishing his studies at Oxford, Noel went back to Liverpool to continue his medical training. He studied with famous doctors like Sir Robert Jones, who was a leader in orthopaedic surgery (bone and joint surgery).
Noel also volunteered at the Grafton Street Industrial School, a home for boys without families in Liverpool. In 1910, he passed an important exam to become a surgeon. He continued his medical studies, learning about pathology (the study of diseases) and bacteriology (the study of bacteria). He also worked at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. In 1912, Noel passed his final medical exam and became a registered doctor. He started working at the Royal Southern Hospital in Liverpool.
Military Service and Awards
In 1913, Noel Chavasse decided to join the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). He became a lieutenant on June 2. He was assigned to the 10th Battalion of the King's (Liverpool Regiment), known as the Liverpool Scottish. This was a Territorial unit, meaning its members had both civilian jobs and military duties.
During the First World War, Captain Chavasse served with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was attached to the Liverpool Scottish battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross in June 1915 for his bravery at Hooge, Belgium. He was promoted to captain in April 1915. He was also mentioned in official reports for his good work.
First Victoria Cross
Noel Chavasse received his first Victoria Cross for his actions on August 9, 1916, at Guillemont, France. He spent the whole day helping wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire. He even searched for wounded men in front of the enemy lines for four hours during the night.
The next day, he took a stretcher-bearer (someone who helps carry wounded soldiers) to the front trenches. Under heavy shelling, he carried a seriously injured soldier 500 yards to safety. During this journey, he was wounded in his side by a shell piece. That same night, he led a group of 20 volunteers. They rescued three wounded men from a shell hole very close to the enemy's trench. He also buried two officers and collected many identity tags, even though bombs and machine guns were firing at them.
Overall, he saved the lives of about 20 badly wounded men, in addition to many others he treated. His bravery and willingness to sacrifice himself were truly amazing.
Second Victoria Cross (Bar)
Chavasse earned his second Victoria Cross (called a "Bar" because it's an extra award to the first one) between July 31 and August 2, 1917, in Wieltje, Belgium. Even though he was badly wounded early in the fighting while carrying a soldier to a medical station, Captain Chavasse refused to leave his post. For two days, he kept doing his duties. He also went out many times under heavy fire to find and help wounded soldiers who were lying out in the open.
During these searches, he had almost no food and was very tired and weak from his wound. Still, he helped carry many badly wounded men over difficult ground. His amazing energy and inspiring example helped rescue many wounded soldiers who would have died because of the bad weather. This brave officer later died from his wounds.
Noel Chavasse died in Brandhoek and is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery in Vlamertinge. His military headstone is special because it shows two Victoria Crosses. He was the only person to receive both a Victoria Cross and a Bar during the First World War. He is one of only three people ever to achieve this honor.
Family Life
When he died, Noel Chavasse was engaged to his cousin, Frances Gladys Ryland Chavasse. Her father was Sir Thomas Frederick Chavasse, a surgeon from Bromsgrove. Noel's engagement is mentioned on a plaque at the Chavasse family grave in Bromsgrove. Gladys Chavasse was also recognized for her service in 1945 during World War II.
Noel's nephew, who was Christopher Chavasse's son, was named after him. He served as an assistant to famous general Bernard Montgomery and also received the Military Cross in the Second World War.
Remembering Noel Chavasse
Noel Chavasse is remembered by more war memorials in the UK than almost anyone else. Sixteen memorials have been officially recorded.
His medals were given by his family to St Peter's College, Oxford, which his father founded. In 2009, Lord Ashcroft bought the medals for about £1.5 million, a world record price. The medals are now displayed in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum.
Chavasse Park in Liverpool city centre is named after the Chavasse family. This includes Noel, his father Francis, and his twin brother Christopher.
A hospital ward at the Walton Centre in Liverpool is also named after him.
There are two special paving stones in Oxford dedicated to Chavasse. They each show two Victoria Crosses. One is outside St Peter's College, Oxford, and the other is near Magdalen College School, Oxford.
A bronze memorial called the 'Liverpool Heroes Memorial' has been built in Abercromby Square in Liverpool. It honors Chavasse and fifteen other Victoria Cross recipients from Liverpool.
In 2017, Noel Chavasse was featured on a special £5 coin. This coin was part of a set made by the Royal Mint to remember the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
See also
- Arthur Martin-Leake
- Charles Upham
- List of Olympians killed in World War I
