Frederick William Hedges
| Frederick William Hedges | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
6 June 1896 Umballa, British India |
| Died |
29 May 1954 Harrogate, North Yorkshire |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1920 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
London Regiment The Bedfordshire Regiment The Northamptonshire Regiment (attached) Home Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} Victoria Cross |
Frederick William Hedges VC (6 June 1896 – 29 May 1954) was a British 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.
Early life
Frederick Hedges was born on 6 June 1896 at Umballa in India, the seventh of nine children. He was later educated at Grove Road Boy's School, and Isleworth County School.[1]
Frederick married his wife Mollie in Hounslow, Middlesex in 1919 and they had one son, John Grosvenor Hedges born in 1924.[2]
Details
Hedges was 22 years old, and a temporary lieutenant in The Bedfordshire Regiment, British Army, attached to the 6th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment during the First World War at the Pursuit to the Selle when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
The citation for the medal reads:
"For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the operations north-east of Bousies on the 24th October, 1918.He led his company with great skill towards the final objective, maintaining direction under the most difficult conditions. When the advance was held up by machine-gun posts, accompanied by one Serjeant and followed at some considerable distance by a Lewis-gun section, he again advanced and displayed the greatest determination, capturing six machine guns and 14 prisoners. His gallantry and initiative enabled the whole line to advance, and tended largely to the success of subsequent operations."[3]
Postwar
Hedges suffered from depression after the death of his son in a drowning accident and committed suicide.[2]
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment gallery located in Wardown Park Museum, Luton, Bedfordshire.
References
- ↑ "The Bedfordshire Regiment in the Great War". Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- 1 2 "The Hedges Study". Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31155. p. 1503. 28 January 1919. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (North Yorkshire)
- Frederick William Hedges at Find a Grave