THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO MAJOR RICHARD WILLIS, LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS, HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION. |
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20 May 2011 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Major Richard Willis have been acquired by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection. The Victoria Cross medal group is currently on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery. ( Richard Willis's VC had previously been on a long loan to the Imperial War Museum - North, Trafford Park, Manchester ).
For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 24 August 1915 ], W Beach, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25 April 1915, Captain ( later Major ) Richard Raymond Willis, Sergeant Alfred Joseph Richards, Private William Keneally, 1st Bn, The Lancashire Fusiliers.
On the 25th April 1915, three Companies and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and, after overcoming extreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained.
Three further Victoria Crosses were later awarded to the 1st Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant ( Elected by the Regiment ). Along with the first three VCs, these are commonly known as the "Six VCs Before Breakfast". They were: [ London Gazette 15 March 1917 ]
Richard Willis died on the 9th February 1966 at the Faithful House Nursing Home, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and was cremated at the Cheltenham Crematorium and his ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance. |
Iain Stewart, 20 May 2011