Citations: |
LG 8 January 1918 - "For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty when in command of his company in a very exposed position. After a very heavy bombardment during which Capt. Lascelles was wounded, the enemy attacked in strong force but was driven off, success being due in a great degree to the fine example set by this officer, who, refusing to allow his wound to be dressed, continued to encourage his men and organise the defence. Shortly afterwards the enemy again attacked and captured the trench, taking several of his men prisoners. Capt. Lascelles at once jumped on to the parapet and followed by the remainder of his company, 12 men only, rushed across under very heavy machine-gun fire and drove over 60 of the enemy back, thereby saving a most critical situation. He was untiring in reorganising the position, but shortly afterwards the enemy again attacked and captured the trench and Capt. Lascelles, who escaped later. The remarkable determination and gallantry of this officer in the course of operations, during which he received two further wounds, afforded an inspiring example to all." On 15th June 1917, Second Lieutenant Lascelles led a daylight raid near Loos. Under cover of mist, his forty raiders crossed no-man's-land and entered the trenches, killing twenty Germans and taking five prisoners. "He conducted operations throughout with great coolness and it was largely due to his fine work that the withdrawal of' the whole raid was carried out without a casualty. He was last to leave the trench. The success of the raid was largely due to the valuable reconnaissance carried out by this officer before the raid." [Military Cross Citation] He was awarded the Military Cross for his "great courage, endurance and initiative" [MC Citation] but this was not announced in the London Gazette until 1 st January 1918, just ten days before his Victoria Cross citation was published. |
Additional
Information: |
Son of John Lascelles, of Milford Hall, Newtown, Mont.; husband of Sophia Lascelles. ref. South African Roll of Honour 1914-1918. Born at Streatham in London on 12 October 1880, he was studying as a medical student at Edinburgh University when he emigrated to South Africa in 1902 and joined the Cape Mounted Rifles as a Trooper. When the First World War began, he served with the 1st South African Mounted Rifles and fought in the campaign in German South West Africa. When that campaign ended, he returned home and was commissioned in December 1915 in the 3rd Battalion DLI as a Second Lieutenant. He fought on the Western Front in 1916 with the 14th (Service) Battalion DLI and was badly wounded in September 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross at Loos on 15 June 1917, when he led a daring daylight raid, and the Victoria Cross at Masnieres on 3 December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai, when he was again severely wounded. |
