 brigadier manley angell james vc, dso, mbe, mc (12 july 1896 &ndash; 23 september 1975) was an english recipient of the victoria cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. as a 21-year-old temporary captain in the 8th (s) bn., the gloucestershire regiment, british army during the first world war he was awarded the victoria cross for his bravery during the spring offensive. ==early years== he was born on the 12 july 1896 in odiham, hampshire. he was educated at bristol grammar school. ==world war i== on 21 march 1918, near velu wood, france, captain james led his company forward, capturing 27 prisoners and two machine-guns. although wounded, he refused to leave his company and repulsed three enemy assaults the next day. two days later, the enemy having broken through, he made a determined stand, inflicting heavy losses and gaining valuable time for the withdrawal of the guns. after holding out to the last to enable the brigade to be extricated, he led his company forward in a local counter-attack, being again wounded in the process. he was last seen working a machine-gun single-handed, was wounded a third time and eventually taken prisoner. he was discharged from the army in 1919, and played for clifton rugby football club for a few years before receiving a new army commission. ==world war ii== at the start of world war ii he was in command of the 2nd battalion, royal sussex regiment. in 1940 he was promoted to brigadier, and served on the staff of the viii corps. th
1896_births 1975_deaths British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_I British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_II British_Army_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross British_World_War_I_prisoners_of_war British_World_War_I_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Companions_of_the_Distinguished_Service_Order Deputy_Lieutenants_of_Gloucestershire English_rugby_union_players Gloucestershire_Regiment_officers Members_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire People_educated_at_Bristol_Grammar_School People_from_Odiham Recipients_of_the_Military_Cross Royal_Sussex_Regiment_officers World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_held_by_Germany