Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Charles Jarvis (VC)

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Buried at
  
Cupar Cemetery, Fife

Years of service
  
1900 - 1917

Battles/wars
  
World War I

Role
  
Armed force officer

Battles and wars
  
World War I

Unit
  
Royal Engineers

Allegiance
  
United Kingdom

Rank
  
Corporal

Name
  
Charles Jarvis

Place of burial
  
Fife, United Kingdom

Service/branch
  
British Army

Awards
  
Victoria Cross

Charles Jarvis (VC) spartacuseducationalcomFWWjarvisCJPG
Born
  
29 March 1881 Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire (
1881-03-29
)

Died
  
November 19, 1948, Dundee, United Kingdom

Charles Alfred Jarvis VC (29 March 1881 – 19 November 1948) was a Scottish 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.

Jarvis was born in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire on 29 March 1881. He lived most of his early life in Carnoustie, Angus, where there is now a memorial to him. He joined the army in 1898 and was transferred to the reserve in 1907. In civilian life, Jarvis was a metalworker and a member of the Walthamstow Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers.

At the outbreak of WW1 he was recalled to service. He was 33 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC (the first VC of the war).

Only three weeks into the war on 23 August 1914 at Jemappes, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Jarvis worked for 1½ hours under heavy fire, in full view of the enemy and finally succeeded in firing charges for the demolition of a bridge. He was wounded in the process.

In 1915 he returned to Britain and was presented with his medal at Buckingham Palace. He was later promoted to second corporal and corporal before being discharged from the Army in 1917. He went on to work at the Naval Dockyard at Portsmouth. He returned to Dundee in 1941.

References

Charles Jarvis (VC) Wikipedia