Memorials Brighton Victoria Cross Winners

WW1 Centenary Victoria Cross Winners Memorial stones

"Captain Theodore Wright VC. born 15 May 1883 in Hove. At the start of the First World War Captain Wright was serving in the 57th Field Company of the Royal Engineers. He was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force arriving in Mons in August 1914 where he was detailed to supervise the destruction of eight bridges over the canal. He was awarded the VC for valour under fire at the Battle of Mons where despite being wounded by shrapnel he continued to set charges under the bridges.
At Vailly on 14 September 1914 Captain Wright assisted the passage of the 5th Cavalry Brigade over a pontoon bridge and was mortally wounded whilst assisting wounded men to shelter."
Theodore Wright. Captain. Royal Engineers. Died 14 Sep 1914. Aged 31. Buried at Vailly British Cemetery, France. Captain Wright's Victoria Cross is held by the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, Kent.
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"Second Lieutenant Ernest Frederick Beal VC.
Born 27 January 1883 in Brighton. In September 1914 Second Lieutenant Beal enlisted as a trooper in the 2/1st Sussex Yeomanry and served in Gallipoli and Egypt. He was recommended for a commission and posted to 16th Royal Sussex Regiment and then transferred to the 3rd Yorkshire Regiment in December 1916 where he served on the Western front.
Second Lieutenant Beal was involved in an act of conspicuous bravery in the trenches at St Leger, followed the same day, 22 March 1918, by saving the life of one of his men under fire. he died of his wounds the following day and was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously."
Ernest Frederick Beal. Second Lieutenant. 13th Bn Yorkshire Regiment. Died 22 March 1918. Aged 35. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Second Lieutenant Beal's Victoria Cross is held by the Green Howards Museum, Richmond, North Yorkshire.
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Major Edward 'Mick' Corringham Mannock VC, DSO**, MC*
born 24 May 1887 in Brighton. Major Mannock joined the Royal Engineers and then transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps. In 1916 he joined the Royal Flying Corps and was assigned to 40 Squadron RFC. In February 1918 he was appointed as Flight Commander of 74 Squadron RFC and in July 1918 Commanding Officer of 85 Squadron RFC. During his remarkable flying career he amassed 61 air victories and was awarded the DSO and Two Bars and the MC and Bar. On 26 July 1918, the engine of his aircraft was believed to have been hit by a massive volley of ground fire and he crashed behind enemy lines and died. He was awarded a posthumous VC on 18 July 1919, nearly a year after his death."
Edward Mannock. Major. 85th Squadron. RAF. Died 26 July 1918. Aged 31. Commemorated at Arras Flying Services Memorial, France.
Major Mannock's Victoria Cross is held by The Lord Ashcroft Collection.

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Source

• Text: Information Board/Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward (1, 2, 4, 6, 8), Gallagher Ltd (3), See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (5), AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (7)