Gazette Information: VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29210/pages/6270. No. 2832 Corporal John Ripley, 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). On 9th May 1915 at Rue du Bois, France, Corporal Ripley led his section on the right of the platoon in the assault and was the first man of the battalion to climb the enemy's parapet. From there he directed those following him to the gaps in the German wire entanglements. He then led his section through a breach in the parapet to a second line of trench. With seven or eight men he established himself, blocking other flanks, and continued to hold the position until all his men had fallen and he himself was badly wounded in the head.
Fold3_Team · Oct 31, 2023
Gazette Information: VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29210/pages/6270. No. 2832 Corporal John Ripley, 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). On 9th May 1915 at Rue du Bois, France, Corporal Ripley led his section on the right of the platoon in the assault and was the first man of the battalion to climb the enemy's parapet. From there he directed those following him to the gaps in the German wire entanglements. He then led his section through a breach in the parapet to a second line of trench. With seven or eight men he established himself, blocking other flanks, and continued to hold the position until all his men had fallen and he himself was badly wounded in the head.