I HAVE PETITIONED INFORMALLY THE MOD 3 TIMES AND THE GOVERNMENT TWICE, REFUSED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER ON THE SECOND PETITION THEY ARE TO PUBLISH THE SHORT VERSION OF THE PETITION.
THE LARGER PETITION IS ON THE PETITION PAGE WHERE THE FULL STORY HAS BEEN TOLD.
BELOW ARE THE WAR GRAVES COMMISSIONS BURIAL RECORDS OF THE BRAVE MEN WHO DIED IN MAY OF 1915. NOTICE THE RED ARROW NEXT TO THE NAME OF
PRIVATE WILLIAM TONGS V.C.
THE TRUE STORY OF THIS BRAVE GUERNSEY MAN AND REMEMBRING PRIVATE
W. TONGS DCM
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF WORLD WAR 1 AT A DECIDING BATTLE THAT KILLED THOUSANDS OF ALLIED SOLDIERS
In short, Private William Tongs of the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles
on March 10th. March 12th, and May 9th, 1915. He undertook 9 acts of valour, each act deserved the award of the Victoria Cross. On the 10th of March, he silenced a German Machine Gun, that was doing much damage, thereby saving many lives. On the 12th of March, he went out under heavy fire and retrieved 7 men of the Royal Irish Regiment, brought them back to safety, and on the 9th act of bravery, he was mortally wounded the 9th of May and died on the 12th of May. His commanding officer said: -"There was no more gallant officer or man in the battalion than your son; He earned his D.C.M. on 10th March for conspicuous bravery both in the handling of a machine gun, and for going out under very heavy fire from the enemy and helping in seven wounded men. He died from wounds received in action on the 9th May. On this occasion his gallantry was equally conspicuous in the manner he worked his machine gun. He served his country nobly and died a hero’s death."
It will be noticed that no award was made for the third plucky incident in the career of this noble Guernsey man. His commanding officer was injured on both days when these deeds were undertaken and removed to the hospital. It is highly possible that he was the bravest man of the Regiment, as stated 9 months later in a letter from Major Campbell to my grandfather. Although being buried with the insignia of the Victoria Cross next to his name, he only received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. And due to the hectic, chaotic, and confusing time, Tongs fell through the bureaucratic gap. He was never issued with the Victoria Cross. In this website, I hope to give a full picture of those critical days, as described by a Major Oakley, who replaced Major G. C. Campbell, who was injured twice on the 10th of March and the 12th of March, Major Oakley replaced Major Campbell a week or more later. The records (War Diaries) were kept by the Regiment, and I found them at the Curators at The Southern Lanarkshire Museum. See Page Museum. For the transcript of those two critical days in March 1915.
THE PETITION HAS ALSO BEEN SIGNED BY BY
BRIGADIER GENERAL TWEEDIE BROWN RETD.
&
THE ROYAL GUERNSEY BRANCH OF THE BRITISH LEGION
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