The first VCs
Subtitle: the moving true story of First World War heroes Maurice Dease and Sidney Godley
By: Mark Ryan
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Stroud
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780750957496; 9780750954518
Subjects: Mons, 1st Battle of, Mons, Belgium, 1914; Victoria Cross; HISTORY; Western
Description: What would you do if you were struck by an enemy bullet in wartime, then realised you were still alive? For most of us, that would be the end of our fight. If we were capable of thought while we tried to cope with the pain, we'd probably hope to be rushed to hospital, so that someone could save our lives. But a hundred years ago, in the opening battle of the First World War at Mons, two young men didn't react like that. Lieutenant Maurice Dease and Private Sidney Godley, born only weeks apart into sharply contrasting worlds, shared the same defiance. They didn't think of themselves and we.
Table of contents: title: Cover; Title Page; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1 Privilege and Pain; 2 Birdman, Ironman, Army; 3 Beyond Control; 4 Mollie and the Horses; 5 The Road to Mons; 6 Intelligence; 7 Nimy Bridge; 8 Maurice James Dease, VC; 9 Sidney Frank Godley, VC; 10 Aftermath; 11 Not Knowing; 12 Wounds, Death and Decorations; 13 The Heavy Price of Glory; 14 Survivor; 15 A Hero's Wedding; 16 Gunner Godley and Old Bill; 17 Remembering ... and Learning Nothing; 18 Bombs, Dentists and the Final Battle; Postscript: The Centenary; Bibliography; Plate Section; Copyright.