Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch British Army Rank Brigadier Awards Victoria Cross | Name Charles Foss Role Armed force officer | |
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Buried at West Hill Cemetery, Winchester Battles/wars World War I
World War II Died April 9, 1953, London, United Kingdom Place of burial Winchester, United Kingdom Unit Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment | ||
Battles and wars World War I, World War II | ||
Brigadier Charles Calveley Foss, (9 March 1885 – 9 April 1953) 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.
Biography
Foss was born in Kobe, Japan, the son of Rev. Hugh James Foss, Bishop of Osaka. He was 30 years old, and a captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, France, after the enemy had captured a part of one of the British trenches and a counter-attack made with one officer and 20 men had failed (all but two of the party having been killed or wounded in the attempt) Captain Foss on his own initiative dashed forward with only eight men under heavy fire and attacked the enemy with bombs and captured the position and the 52 Germans occupying it.
One of the eight men who accompanied Captain Foss at Neuve Chapelle was William George Peggs, 9822 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, who was awarded the Order of St George 4th Class by Russia for his part in the attack. Peggs died from wounds received during a later battle on 9 August 1916. Peggs is buried at La Neuville British Cemetery, Albert, France.
Foss later achieved the rank of brigadier. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1937 New Year Honours. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regimental Collection at the Wardown Park Museum, Luton, Bedfordshire.