Victoria Cross / Knight's Cross Databases

[kc]

We've set up two fully searchable databases of the holders of the two prestigious awards.

At the moment, the search 'boxes' are available from one page only - http://www.military-art.com/mall/articles/pilot_aces_directory.php

and are infused with our databases of signatures, pilots, aircraft, squadrons, and a full database of individual Spitfire airframes!

They are set up to compliment one another.. i.e. Take the British WW2 Ace Johnnie Johnson. You will find him in the Aces search, with links back and forth to his squadrons and aircraft, as well as a link to his signature (on our art prints), and the individual Spitfires he flew.

We are now incorporating the Victoria Cross and Knight's Cross into theis system, and hope to gather as much information on each individual as possible. Some are easy, some are not. I have already scoured the forum and lifted the information and photographs posted here to the various VCs.

Also, we have transcribed a number of old out-of-copyright books for some of the early information on VCs, notably Crimea, colonial wars and some WW1. This is mostly military Victoria Crosses. For the Knight's Cross, most of the information has come from signature collectors etc, and is therefore mainly based on aviation.

The searches can be based on various criteria, and laid out in several ways. Go to the page linked above and see for yourself. Please feel free to submit any suggestions for improvement or additions here, and especially any more information on the medal holders in a new thread for the person.

I also plan to incorporate the ships database which is still being added to (in the background) in the near future. Once Christmas is over, the non-forum part of this site should get at least a partial makeover, with the pages being driven from the databases.

Here's that link again:
http://www.military-art.com/mall/articles/pilot_aces_directory.php

[steve roberts]

kc, apart from the VC are any other military awards capable of being awarded posthumously? Regards Steve Roberts

[dennis a feary]

Kc, have been to the Military Art site that you posted. Cannot see any RNAS pilots there - realise that they are not `Aces' in that they did not shoot down many aircraft, but they were awarded the VC for services rendered.
Should you not include such pilots ?? See here an `illustration ;

DAVIES Richard B DSO Lt. - Sqdn.Cdr. RNAS 85T014
Vice Admiral East Mediterranean Sqdn. N/E 01.01.16 Gazetted
R.N.A.S. Officers Attack on Ferrijik Junction 19.11.15 VC
With Fl.S/Lt. Gilbert F. Smylie :-
These two officers carried out an air attack on the 18th November, 1915. Flight Sub.Lt. Smylie's machine was hit by machine guns and compelled to descend. During his forced descent he released all his bombs simultaneously at the station, except one which failed to drop. He then descended on a marsh, and after alighting saw the one unreleased bomb. He set fire to his machine knowing that this bomb would ensure its destruction, and ran towards Turkish Territory. He then saw Squadron Commander Davies descending, and fearing that he would descend near the burning machine and be damaged by the explosion of the bomb, he returned and exploded it himself, from a short range with his pistol. Sqdn.Cdr. Davies descended at a safe distance from the burning machine, took up Sub.Lt. Smylie, and returned to the aerodrome. This happened within a mile and a half of Ferrijik Junction, and Turkish soldiers were rapidly approaching the spot.

Perhaps such is not in the `Format' of that site.
Just an `observation', you understand.

Sadsac

[kc]

Hi Dennis,

I think you searched our Aces database rather than our Victoria Cross database. If you go back to that page and scroll down the page you will see there are separate search boxes for VC and Knights Cross.

I just put in 'Davies' to the name search and the entry came up straight away - here it is : http://www.military-art.com/mall/victoria_cross_entry.php?vcid=580

[dennis a feary]

Kc, Yes, you are correct in that I only looked into `Aces' part, did not realise there is also a VC one. I am a bit slow at wizzing around sites.
Visited the VC site & found the VC mentioned. Also looked for WARNEFORD VC but he does not come up. Perhaps again I have not looked in right place. He received VC for attack on Zeppelin in N.Sea.
Do you have him ??

Sadsac

[kc]

No problem Dennis - these things are obviously to me because I designed it! The databases are in a holding place just now until we start to use them properly. One for ships is in progress too, but not big enough to be useful yet.

I don't know why you didn't find Warneford, but here is a tip - just use the minimun of information for the search. i.e. just putting in 'warne' in the name search will bring up his entry and maybe a coupl of other that match. The search the 'exact phrase' method, so any names matching the exact text you search for will come up. You might for example expect anyone named Warner to come up alongside Warneford if your search for 'warne'.

Here is Warneford's (admittedly quite small) entry in our database. We will add any text we can get to these databases in due course. http://www.military-art.com/mall/victoria_cross_entry.php?vcid=1126

We also commissioned a painting of Warneford's VC winning exploit a couple of years ago which I include below :

http://www.military-art.com/mall/images/dhm1786.jpg (http://www.military-art.com/mall/more.php?ProdID=17081)

Lieutenant Reginald Warneford by Ivan Berryman.

Having successfully weaved and dodged the hail of bullets from the defensive guns of the German Zeppelin, Lieutenant Warneford climbed above the giant airship and prepared for a run along the full length of the LZ.37 in the hope that his 20lb bombs would turn it into an inferno and bring it down. Warneford had time to release all six of his bombs, the last of which set off a chain of eruptions that resulted in the Zeppelin breaking its back before plunging to earth in a fireball. So violent was the initial explosion that Warnefords tiny Morane Saulnier Type L was flipped over and thrust 200ft into the air above the disintegrating leviathan. Warneford survived this historic interception, whilst the LZ.37 plunged to the ground near Ghent and was completely destroyed. This was the first time that a Zeppelin had been brought down by an aircraft for which gallant action, Warneford was awarded the Victoria Cross. Special mention should be made of the roundels on the Type L, where the original French examples were not overpainted to British colours on the wings, unlike those on the fuselage sides.

[dennis a feary]

Thanks for that Kc, especially as I had not realised that that particular kite had BOTH roundels marked on her. Great picture to give `flesh on the bones' !!

Sadsac