Presentation of Military Medal to Ernest Wilby
Transcript of Stanley News article
Ought to have been the V. C.
Military Medal Presented to South Moor Hero.
An interesting incident occurred at Saturday evening’s performance of “Arcadia,” South Moor, when ex-Pte Ernest Wilby, 19th D.L.I., was publicly presented with the Military Medal, awarded him some time since, and also with a gold watch and chain and a wallet of Treasury notes, the result of a subscription organised by his fellow-members in the South Moor Colliery Silver Prize Band.
The presentation was made in an eloquent speech by the Vicar of South Moor, the Rev. F. S. Myers, B.A., who successfully sketched the military career of Pte. Wilby. He joined up, he said, on 7 March, 1915, having previously failed to come up to the standard and so was no conscript. He reached France, via Havre, by the following January, being 36 hours in trucks on the way to St. Omer, and then marching to the trenches near the old German first line, between Armentieres and La Bassee.
Lack of Due Recognition.
Referring next to the battle of the Somme, the Rev. Mr Myers spoke of the South Africans’ suffering at Longueval, near Delville Wood, and picturesquely portrayed how the brave Durhams went to the rescue. He took the opportunity of caustically commenting on the lack of recognition from which the miners’ regiments had suffered on many an occasion, in contradistinction from the official mention showered on the Colonial units, who by popular delusion, had always figured prominently. Yet it was undeniable, for instance, that at St Eloi the Canadians were literally saved by the Northumberland Fusiliers.
Speaking next of the “Devil’s Wood,” the reverend gentleman described how there were no trenches and the troops had to dig themselves in under heavy shell fire. No one else could have held the position, yet they achieved the impossible. Mr Myers, graphically pictured the shortage of men and the absence of communications and told how the British had no rations and no water, having, indeed, to take food from the wounded and dead.
In thrilling tones the speaker conjured up the scene – its dirt, blood, stench, uproar, and nerve-crashing hellishness. Half the company on one occasion were casualties; the relief party was wiped out and the stretcher bearers killed. At the village of Montebaur the road was obstructed, and the snipers were at their worst, while the machine guns had the range with pitiless accuracy. Yet day after day our troops hung on and the wounded were passed down with unselfish solicitude.
Merited the V.C.
Those were the conditions under which Wilby got his military medal – and surely it should have been the V.C., a medal not pinned on not by the speaker but by the King himself. Relief came at last; but it was when Wilby stopped to pull up his puttie-string that he lost his leg. In a few hours he was in England, and now they had the pleasure of taking him back to South Moor.
Concluding with a lofty peroration, Mr. Myers, turning to ex-Pte. Wilby, said that though his words were feeble they told of their heart’s love and gratitude and of their pride for him. He (Wilby) symbolised for them the heroism, courage, and sacrifice that would buy back the peace and progress of humanity. He exemplified, indeed, the glorious spirit of Britain, which would stand firm until the crime of Germany was punished and Prussian brutality forever shattered. From their hearts they thanked him; from their hearts they honoured him; in loving pride his countrymen gripped his hand to-day and said “God bless you” (Loud and prolonged applause.)
The recipient briefly expressed his thanks, and the pleasing proceedings closed with a well-merited vote of thanks to the Vicar.
Date: 3-Jan-1918
Author: The Stanley News
Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham
