225762 Cpl. John Frederick Pascoe MID.British Army 211th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Pool, Redrurh, Cornwall My grandfather John Pascoe was a tin miner and so was exempt from Military Service in the 1st World War. Unfortunately, whilst drinking in his local pub, he was persuaded by a recruiting sergeant to volunteer. His training took place at St. Mawes Castle in Falmouth from where he was sent to join the 211th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Jack was wounded at the Battle of the Somme when his gun battery was over-run by the Germans and although he was wounded in the thigh he managed to carry the Chaplain, who was also wounded, to safety. For this he was mentioned in despatches. He got a certificate from Winston Churchill and also two weeks loss of wages for not carrying the chaplain to the nearest medical station (because he thought the Germans were going to overrun it).
The wounded chaplain also survived and after the war he came to visit my grandfather once every year until my grandfather, who had gone back to mining, died from silicosis at the age of 61. The chaplain told my grandmother he believed that if my grandfather had been an officer he would have received the Victoria Cross.
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