Awards & Winners

James Welch

Date of Birth 07-July-1889
Place of Birth Stratfield Saye
(United Kingdom, Hampshire, Basingstoke and Deane)
Nationality United Kingdom
Profession Soldier
James Welch VC was an English 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. James Welch was born at Stratfield Saye. He was 27 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when he performed the actions for which he was awarded the VC. On 29 April 1917 near Oppy, France, Lance-Corporal Welch entered an enemy trench and killed one man after a severe hand-to-hand struggle. Then, armed only with an empty revolver, he chased four of the enemy across the open and captured them single-handed. He handled his machine-gun with the utmost fearlessness, and more than once went into the open, exposed to heavy fire, to search for and collect ammunition and spare parts in order to keep his guns in action, which he succeeded in doing for over five hours, until wounded by a shell. He later achieved the rank of sergeant. He died on 28 June 1978 at Bournemouth and was cremated. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment Museum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

Awards by James Welch

Check all the awards nominated and won by James Welch.

1917


Victoria Cross
(In recognition of most conspicuous bravery that took place on 29th April, 1917 as Lance Corporal of the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) during the First World War.)