Thanks to family member Joe Dobson for providing the press cuttings and her relative’s article, 15th September 2016 saw the Centenary of Bramley man, Fred McNess bravery on The Somme that resulted in him being awarded the Victoria Cross. He is inscribed on Panel 2 (left hand side) of the Memorial, with a Commemorative stone at the foot of the panel.
A full film of the Unveiling Service is shown below and also the Order of Service.
Fred McNess VC
Born 22 January 1892
Bramley, West Yorkshire, England
Died 4 May 1956 (aged 64)
Boscombe, Dorset, England
Buried at Bournemouth Crematorium and North Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Lance-Sergeant
Unit Scots Guards
Battles/wars World War I – First Battle of the Somme
Awards Victoria Cross
Fred McNess VC (22 January 1892 – 4 May 1956) was an English-born Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
McNess was 24 years old, and a lance-sergeant in the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 15 September 1916 near Ginchy, France, during a period of severe fighting, Lance-Sergeant McNess led his men with great dash in the face of heavy shell and machine-gun fire. When the first line of the enemy trenches was reached, it was found that the left flank was exposed and that the enemy were bombing down the trench. McNess then organised and led a counter-attack and, although he was very severely wounded in the neck and jaw, did not give up. Finally he established a “block” and continued encouraging his men and throwing bombs until exhausted by loss of blood.
The severe nature of his wounds left McNess in lifelong pain which eventually led him to take his own life. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Scots Guards RHQ), Wellington Barracks in London.