219550 Sgt. William Edwin Venning MM & BarBritish Army 1st Btn. Somerset Light Infantry from:Tavistock My Grandfather William Venning joined the Somerset L I and served as a regular until 1913/14 he then joined the Plymouth Police force. On outbreak of the 1st World War he was recalled and arrived in France on 22nd Aug 1914 as part of the BEF. He survived the war and re-joined the Police as he had gained Distinguished Service in the Field. Here in his own words are his actions:
4th Dec 1914 Mentioned in Dispatches by Field Marshal Sir J D P French. Whilst serving as a L/Cpl in the 1st Somerset Light Infantry, I volunteered with two men to reconnoiter at night, and prepare a sketch of the German Trench 150 yards away, which had to be done by crawling practically the whole of the distance. After obtaining the information required and turning back one of my patrol was shot. With great difficulty I got him on my back safely to our trenches, where it was found that he had been shot right through the head.
Also on 19th December 1914, my Company were ordered to make an attack at 1.30 p.m. on the German trenches all the Officers (seven in all) and senior N.C.O’s were killed. I took charge until relieved at 5 a.m. the following morning by a Q.M. Sgt when we were then ordered to retire to our old position 80 men were left out of the Company.
Military Medal dated London Gazette 11th November 1916 Whilst at Beaumont Hamel for reconnoitering on several occasions the enemy’s machine gun positions for Artillery information and Devotion to Duty.
Bar to Military Medal awarded on 11th June 1917
Whilst serving as a Sgt. in the Mounted Military Police on the night of 29th May 1917 the Germans were heavily shelling the village of Vlamertinghe several men of the Royal Artillery were severely wounded I assisted in getting them to a place of safety. Also on the night of 30th May 1917 whilst on mounted Patrol between Vlamertinghe and Ypres. The Germans were heavily shelling the roads wounding about 20 men I rendered first aid and helped getting them to a place of safety. I then galloped back along the road between burning lorries and screens to turn back all traffic at the rear and divert along various branch roads.
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