William Charles Fuller
William Charles Fuller | |
|---|---|
| Medal for Life-Saving |
William Charles Fuller,
Early life
Fuller was the son of William and Mary Fuller of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was born in Laugharne on 13 March 1884. Educated in Swansea, he served in the British Army from 1902 to 1909. Fuller married Mary Elizabeth Phillips in 1909, and they had five children: four daughters (Mary, Doris, Muriel and Caroline); and one son, William. He was recalled to the army as a reservist in 1914. [2]
First World War
Fuller was 30 years old, and a
On 14 September 1914 near Chivy-sur-Aisne, France, Fuller advanced under very heavy enemy
With the help of two others, Private Snooks and Lieutenant Melvin, Officer in charge of the machine-gun section of the Welsh Regiment, they managed to get Haggard to the safety of a barn that was being used as a first-aid dressing station. Fuller remained with Haggard trying to help him until the officer died later on that evening, his last words being "Stick it, Welch."[4] Fuller attended to two other officers who had also been brought to the barn wounded (Lieutenant The Honorable Fitzroy Somerset and Lieutenant Richards). The barn came under heavy fire, and the wounded men and officers were evacuated. Afterwards, the barn was razed to the ground via German shell-fire.
On 29 October, Fuller was wounded while dressing the wounds of Private Tagg; shrapnel entered his right side, twelve inches in up to his shoulder blade and came to rest on his right lung. Fuller was sent to Swansea Hospital where they operated, removing the shrapnel. Fuller was given a home posting after his recovery, as a recruiting sergeant in Wales.
Later life and legacy
After the war he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for Life-Saving for attempting to save a drowning child at Mumbles, South Wales. During the Second World War, Fuller served in the Swansea Home Guard.[4] Fuller died on 29 December 1974 and was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles. A memorial stone was erected there in 2005.[5]
References
- ^ "No. 28942". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1914. p. 8355.
- ^ "William Charles Fuller VC". victoriacrossonline.co.uk. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "No. 28983". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 November 1914. p. 9663.
- ^ a b "West Wales Victoria Cross Winners". West Wales War Memorial Project. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ Stewart, Iain (6 January 2006). "William Charles Fuller VC". victoriacross.org.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
Bibliography
- Gliddon, Gerald (2011) [1994]. 1914. ISBN 978-0752459080.