An amazing event took place at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Thursday the 25th of September. People from across Merseyside, Sefton and West Lancashire were brought together to honour the life of Noel Chavasse, VC & Bar: MC. A Captain in the 1/10th (Scottish) Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment.
The occasion was the presentation of the Liverpool Heroes Memorial Maquette; the maquette is the preliminary model for the large bronze statue set on a low plinth depicting Captain Noel Chavasse and a Liverpool Scottish stretcher bearer attending a wounded soldier. The bronze statue was sited at the Liverpool University, Abercrombie Square in August 2008.
The Duke of Gloucester attended the ceremony and was shown the Maquette situated in front of the Choir Stalls along with the sword used by Captain Chavasse which was donated to the Cathedral archive last September.
The guests included local Members of Parliament and officers and cadets from all branches of the services. The Liverpool born actor known for his role as Doctor Patrick Turner in the TV Drama ‘Call the Midwife, Stephen McCann, whose father was a Royal Naval Commando, read the World War One Poem by John McCrae, ‘In Flanders Fields’. Lieutenant McCrae, a Canadian, was an Army Physician like Captain Chavasse.
The most spectacular element of the occasion was the presence at the entrance to the Cathedral of the ladies of the Area 18 Side Saddle Association. Their mounts were perfectly turned out and for this special ceremony they were dressed in replica uniforms of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, a unit established in 1907 and still fully active today. Their striking side saddle uniforms in bright blue and vivid red created a colourful display. A small but not insignificant detail included in this special display was a riding crop loaned by Lathom Park Trust for the occasion, the crop was originally owned by an officer from the Remount Service at the Lathom Park Remount Depot in 1916 and has been donated to the Trust this year. The sterling silver engraved plaque on the crop is hallmarked Birmingham 1910 from Birmingham whip makers W. Shammon & Son. The officer’s monogram ‘JSS’ is on the crop but as yet he has not been identified.
Ten members of Lathom Park Trust attended the service and were delighted to meet again the Right Reverand James Newcome, great grandson of the 1st Earl of Lathom, who retired from his Royal Duties as Clerk to the Closet to the Sovereign in 2023. Reverand James had last visited Lathom Park to dedicate the Remount Depot Memorial on July 12th 2019.
An excellent display covering the military career of Captain Noel Chavasse was curated by the Archivist at the Cathedral and the display also included the Victoria Cross and Bar. Chavasse was first awarded the VC for his actions on 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, France, when he attended to the wounded all day under heavy fire. The full citation was published on 24 October 1916 and read:
Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, M.C., M.B., Royal Army Medical Corps.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.
During an attack, he tended the wounded in the open all day, under heavy fire, frequently in view of the enemy. During the ensuing night, he searched for wounded on the ground in front of the enemy's lines for four hours.
The next day, he took one stretcher-bearer to the advanced trenches and, under heavy shell fire, carried an urgent case for 500 yards into safety, being wounded in the side by a shell splinter during the journey. The same night, he took up a party of twenty volunteers, rescued three wounded men from a shell hole twenty-five yards from the enemy's trench, buried the bodies of two officers, and collected many identity discs, although fired on by bombs and machine guns.
Altogether, he saved the lives of some twenty badly wounded men, besides the ordinary cases that passed through his hands. His courage and self-sacrifice were beyond praise.
The citation for the Bar added to his first VC read: War Office, September, 1917.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of a Bar to the Victoria Cross to Capt. Noel Godfrey Chavasse, V.C., M.C., late R.A.M.C.,
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in action.
Though severely wounded early in the action while carrying a wounded soldier to the Dressing Station, Capt. Chavasse refused to leave his post and, for two days, not only continued to perform his duties but, in addition, went out repeatedly under heavy fire to search for and attend to the wounded who were lying out.
During these searches, although practically without food during this period, worn with fatigue and faint with his wound, he assisted in carrying in a number of badly wounded men over heavy and difficult ground.
Through his extraordinary energy and inspiring example, he was instrumental in rescuing many wounded who would have otherwise undoubtedly succumbed under the bad weather conditions.
This devoted and gallant officer subsequently died of his wounds.
The very well organised commemoration was a fitting way to remember the legacy of Captain Chavasse.
Copyright Dot Broady Hawkes 2025