To War With The Old Gent

CHARLES RIDLEY PAWSEY

A further addition to the archive category ~ Books written by or about Old Berkhamstedians.

To War With The Old Gent ~ Written by Nicholas Lambert.

The story of the 1/8th Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment in the First World War. 

Excerpt from the book -

On 4th July, the 48th Division was ordered to support the 93rd Brigade of the ill-fated 31st (Territorial) Division in the front-line trenches near Serre. The History recorded:

There the fighting had been desperate, and the defences had been wrecked by heavy shells. Dead men lay everywhere, and the task of clearing and repairing the trench-line was difficult and nauseating ……… the Territorial battalions held that line in succession for twelve days, and those trenches long remained in the memories of the officers and men, as their worst experience of the horrors of the field of a great battle. 

During that period (4th-7th July) Lieut.CR Pawsey showed great bravery in repeatedly rescuing helpless wounded men out in ‘No-Mans-Land’ during daylight.

Pawsey was the first member of the Battalion to be awarded an MC.

Sir Charles Ridley Pawsey MC* CSI, CIE. OB Bees 1913.