The story of Charles Jarvis is not a particularly intricate one, but Jarvis did manage to aid Britain against World War I enemies while risking his life. Jarvis, a native of Scotland, joined the British Army in 1907 following in the footsteps of his father’s own strict moral code (his father was a coastguard). Not that much is known about this war hero, but without the tasks the Jarvis completed against all odds, Britain may not have been so successful.

Jarvis had a penchant for things mechanical and so he joined the Royal Engineers in hopes of serving his duty working from behind the scenes. The army quickly found a use for Jarvis and sent him to serve in France with the British Expeditionary Force. Jarvis’ mission was seemingly simple, he was to blow up eight bridges that spread over the Mons-Conde canal in order to immobilize enemy troops. But his mission proved to be trickier than he had anticipated. As Jarvis sent out to rig the bridges and complete his mission, he came under thunderous enemy fire and was forced to complete his work with bullets whizzing over his head. Jarvis’ mission was successful, and on January 13th, 1915 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery and service. But Jarvis’ military career was to come to a somewhat sad end when, just shy of his eighteenth year serving the military, Jarvis was discharged and sent home. Jarvis died relatively unknown working at the Portsmouth Dockyard, but today he is remembered for his crucial acts that helped to win World War I.

Labels: war heroes, WWI

Known to his battalion as “Boy Cornwell” John Cornwell was only sixteen when he registered to fight in the Royal Navy during World War I. Cornwell was something of a rebel, having signed up to fight without his father’s permission. Some say that this boy had a mission, a real purpose in life that could not be reasoned with. On Easter Monday in 1916, Boy Cornwell left his home to head for Rosyth, Scotland, to fight German ships at sea. Cornwell found himself manning a gun on the HMS Chester smack in the midst of the Battle of Jutland.

Having just enlisted, Cornwell saw battle in a short amount of time as the Chester was attacked by four marine cruisers that were the same size as the massive Chester. Although Cornwell was stowed near the guns and ammunition at the bottom of the ship, the cruisers were heavily armed and their technology was top notch. As Cornwell gallantly tried to fight off enemy ships, the Chester was pummeled with enemy fire and Cornwell suffered many blows to his body. When the fight was finally over, this young boy was the sole gun operator still stuck to his weapon. When rescue workers found him, Cornwell was in dire shape. As he was being transferred to the hospital with bits of ammunition protruding from his young chest, his life was slowly slipping away. Cornwell died shortly after in the hospital, but his memory lived on. After his death, Cornwell was presented with the Victoria Cross for bravery and for remaining at his post even though he had been shot numerous times. Cornwell remains sort of a legend for current naval officers. Although he was young, he fought valiantly and never abandoned his ship.

Labels: war heroes, WWI

Ross Tollerton, a private in The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, British Army, earned the Victoria Cross at the young age of twenty-four. The Victoria Cross is the absolute highest medal that any British soldier can receive, and Ross Tollerton truly earned this honor. Believing in his cause, Tollerton did the unthinkable – he carried a wounded soldier amidst heavy gunfire to safe ground during the Battle of the Aisne in France. But Tollerton wasn’t able to escape unscathed, he was terribly wounded in the head and elsewhere on his body, wounds bad enough that most soldiers would have stayed hidden in the woods, but the military doesn’t award the highest honor possible without just cause. Tollerton returned to the front lines in order to help his battalion win the fight, but his courage did not stop there. After his battalion had finished fighting for the day, Tollerton returned to wait with the wounded officer that he had originally rescued. Thankfully, both Tollerton and the officer were rescued three days later.

Unfortunately for Tollerton, the injuries that he sustained while rescuing members of his battalion could not be completely healed, and he suffered throughout his short life. Although he eventually left the army to marry and to seek a regular occupation (as a janitor), Tollerton’s bravery could not ward off death. This brave hero died of stomach cancer at the young age of forty-one. Because Tollerton’s wife and son saw the war hero that this man was until the end of his days, they generously donated his highest honor to his battalion’s own museum. For those that wish to understand more of what this courageous man accomplished throughout his military career, Tollerton’s Victoria’s Cross is permanently on display at the Cameron’s Own Highland Museum in Inverness-Shire, Scotland.

Labels: battle of aisne, war heroes

John Bent was a member of the British Expeditionary Force, which he joined after enlisting with the East Lancashire Regiment at the mere age of fourteen. When Bent was sent with the 11^th Brigade as a drummer in the 1^st battalion to rescue captured soldiers in Le Gheer, Belgium, he helped his battalion take back the small village from German troops. Brent went down in history when he decided to take it upon himself to run out amidst enemy fire to rescue Private McNutty (of his battalion) who had been badly wounded by German gunfire. In addition, Bent took it upon himself to take control of the Platoon since his sergeant (and platoon leader) had been badly wounded and could no longer command. Partly in thanks to this twenty-three year old boy, the Germans were defeated and the remained of his battalion were able to return to their homes.

While attempting to save McNutty’s life, Bent himself was wounded in the leg. Even upon returning home and applying all the latest medical technology, Bent’s let took an excruciatingly long time to heal. But this wound didn’t stop this gallant soldier – instead, he went back for more. Bent re-enlisted in the army and returned for another round of battle on the Western Front. Eventually, through his early brave effort and successful attempt at saving Private McNutty’s life, John Bent was awarded the Military Medal of “Bravery in the Field,” a title which he deserved more than any other. John bent later went on to triumph in other battles showing his unmatched bravery and eventually settled down in London to live out his remaining days. Bent passed away on May 3^rd, 1977.

Labels: war heroes, WWII

Throughout history some of the greatest works of literature, art, and music have come from the minds of the aristocrats. Philip Kearney is amongst these great minds, and his art happens to be the one which is perhaps the most calculated and intricate of them all – the art of war. Kearny was born into a privileged family in the heart of New York City during the year 1815, but the life of a pampered and privileged gentry did not fit his poetic heart. Since he was a boy, Kearny wished to join the army and fight amongst brethren in order to make his mark in history. However, his grandfather (who raised him) vehemently insisted that Philip take up law and forget the life threatening career of a military man. Kearny respected his grandfather’s wishes and earned a law degree, but his mind was still set on joining the ranks. Attacking battle from the rare stand point of a true intellectual, Kearny traveled to Saumur, France, in order to study French cavalry tactics. After studying the French way of fighting, like a true American cowboy Kearney rushed into battle holding one weapon in each hand and the reigns of his horse in his teeth – what a sight that must have been! Perhaps that is why Kearny earned the nickname “Kearny le Magnifique.”

Always the thinker, Kearny wrote a manual for other Americans considering joining the army that described the specific maneuvers he had come across while fighting across the ocean. After finishing his manual, Kearny longed to return to the battle field and was sent to fight in the Mexican-American war. Yet, once again Kerny’s active spirit was not content being a high ranking officer in the war. He yearned for action, and as such he resigned his post. Realizing that they needed him, Kearny returned to the war shortly after his resignation and was sent to lead and recruit troops for the 1^st U.S. Dragoons. True to aristocratic style, Kearny purchased 120 pure bred horses for his cavalry to ride, so that the unit would match and appear as one. Whether this was a tip he learned in France or just a bit of wealthy eccentricity, nobody knows for sure, but his tactics worked and Kearny was seen as one of the most popular war time leaders. Later, during the Civil War, following his rebellious gut instinct Kearny snuck across enemy lines and was shot in the spine upon his return. Although most have forgotten war heroes from long ago, it is hard to replace the image of Kearny, reigns in teeth, galloping onto enemy lines shouting “I’m a one-armed Jersey son-of-a-gun, follow me!”

Labels: civil war, mexican-american war, war heroes

Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States of America, is only synonymous with World War II because of two things. Truman succeeded Franklin Delano Roosevelt, since he was vice president when Roosevelt passed away, and Truman was the one that issued the order to end the War in the Pacific by allowing the use of atomic bombs against Japan.

Upon Roosevelt’s death, Truman was left with a world turned upside down. Depression shortages were still raging, America was out of work, the United States was at war, and Japan was rapidly depleting U.S. forces. Prior to Roosevelt’s death, Truman knew little of the Manhattan Project (a secret project devised, under Roosevelt, to create the first nuclear bomb). When Truman was suddenly thrust into office, he was quickly brought up to speed regarding the Manhattan Project and the United States’ new nuclear capabilities. Upon assessing the situation that the United States and its allies were in regarding World War II and the Pacific War, Truman decided that using the atomic bomb to end conflict was the only way to settle the looming threat of Japanese occupancy.

Though Truman enjoyed short lived successes such as the final defeat of Japan, the end of World War II, and the forging of the United Nations, he was not re-elected into office during the 1952 race against Dwight Eisenhower. For his acts relating to the end of World War II, and his direct involvement in the Pacific War, Truman will forever go down in history attached to World War II, Franklin Roosevelt, and the War in the Pacific.

Labels: leaders, presidents, Truman

America’s involvement in World War II cannot be mentioned without referring to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States of America, and is the only president to have served more than two consecutive terms in the White House. Much loved by his supporters, Roosevelt was affectionately referred to in many homes across the country as “F.D.R.”

Roosevelt saw the world from an aquatic viewpoint and spent enormous amounts of money and invested large amounts of time in order to create the U.S. Navy Reserve. Under Roosevelt’s care, submarines were perfected, land mines were created, and the United States helped its war time allies, such as Britain, fight off Germany’s numerous attacks. Although Roosevelt saw the untapped potential of the vast sea, he also spent a fair amount of time and money to help boost the U.S. military’s overall status. Investing the government’s time and money into the military proved to be worth the effort and allowed the United States to strategically plan both air and sea combat.

He was a close friend of Winston Churchill’s, and as such Britain remained one of Roosevelt’s primary concerns throughout the war. Often, Roosevelt sent funds to Britain to aide against German attacks. Sometimes these funds were sent in secret, but always with the intention of bettering the allied cause. While helping American allies win the war against Nazi Germany was always near the top of his list, Roosevelt’s heart always seemed to remain close to home as he bravely led the country through the Great Depression. F.D.R’s optimistic, ever-happy attitude often lifted the weary spirits of the American people, but Roosevelt was more than just a confident face. It was under F.D.R’s watch that the creation of numerous aide programs were born, including Social Security, which lent haggard Americans a helping hand during the years of great hunger and lost wages. Although the war has long since passed, Americans have passed on their great appreciation for F.D.R’s fearless leadership, and he consistently remains ranked as one of the top three presidents ever to lead the United States.

Labels: leaders, presidents, roosevelt

A leader in every sense of the word, Sir Winston Churchill was a soldier in the British army serving on the western front; an inspirational orator; a brilliant military strategist; and commander of the 6th Battalion of Royal Scots Fusiliers – all of this before he was even elected Prime Minster. During World War I, Churchill was elected First Lord of the Admiralty, Minister of Munitions, and Secretary of State for Air. When it came to military planning, Britain looked to Churchill to defend their country and to help improve their means of attack.

With his impressive resume and proven ability to strategically defend his country, Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940, staunchly marching his country into the depths of World War II. During the war, Churchill expanded every aspect of the military from naval to aviation, but he was especially interested in the future of land battles and invested large amounts of money into the development of tanks. Since engineering technology had not quite caught up with Churchill’s vision of a stronger, better equipped Britain, the first tanks largely failed, causing public outrage that questioned Churchill’s investment choices.

In 1945 Churchill lost his office to the opposition. However, Churchill remained close to the political scene and during the years after; he served as Chancellor, which put him in charge of Britain’s economic and financial concerns. Proving that his mind was sharp and that he more than knew his way around all aspects relating to war, Churchill was re-elected to the status of Prime Minister in 1951. This time around, Churchill led Britain out of the World War II era. Churchill’s famous opposition against any sort of negotiation with Germany during the war, along with his confident, well-planned speeches made Winston Churchill one Prime Minister and statesman that Britain never forgot.

Labels: churchill, leaders