John Henry Carless

John Henry Carless was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 21 years old, and a Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Navy during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 17 November 1917 at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight, Germany, Ordinary Seaman Carless of HMS Caledon, although mortally wounded in the abdomen, still went on serving his gun and helping to clear away the casualties. He collapsed once, but got up again and cheered on the new gun's crew. He then fell and died. He not only set a very inspiring example, but while mortally wounded continued to do effective work against the enemy.

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War – The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.