376:
boys were granted a half-holiday at Reid's request. The editor of the
Radleian of the day recorded the event. A great reception was held with a dinner and speeches. He met Reid personally, and little had changed despite his military hardships. He had fallen in love with a sister of an old school chum, but she had married another man. He was feeling quite depressed about it. But Reid was a tall good looking robust, strong young man, well-liked and popular. He had a ready smile and good humour, never complained about his wounds and bore his infirmities manfully. He hid his VC in a tree trunk ashamed by his embarrassment. When he left Radley Reid returned to his base. On 6 February 1920 he was demobilized and travelled home to South Africa. On 1 April, he resigned his army commission, taking up a new commission in the Transvaal Scottish Regiment with the rank of captain. He was he first secretary of the
331:
leave that summer 1917 returned to
Johannesburg. The town's first winner of the Victoria Cross was given a rapturous welcome, reported a local newspaper. "Thank you all very much. It's all a matter of luck", said Reid in all due modesty - soldierly and professional to the last. Reid left South Africa to return to the regiment on Monday 13 August 1917. He had already been made Acting Major on 10 May. On 31 August 1917 it was announced that the Italian government had awarded him the silver medal for Military Valour. In October 1917 he suffered a recurrence of the Rugby injury to a cartilage in the knee, and was invalided out. In December the General's Report mentioned him in despatches. He returned home to recover from his injuries.
294:
they were gassed; and he praised the men who "carry an enormous weight on their packs...their marvellous imperturbability and cheerfulness...They face death as if it was a common occurrence." He took strength from their courage. Having been sent home wounded, he returned to France in
September 1915. He was a lieutenant with the 1st battalion, having been promoted to that rank in March, until promoted to captain in December in "one of the finest and oldest of the British Regiments." The British now had trench mortars. But he was wrong to think the war would be won by summer 1916. He had already been wounded a second time at
135:
319:, the men of the King's Own Lancaster Regiment tried to cross the river, but even before the first platoon had crossed were under Turkish cross-fire. The Royal Engineers building the pontoon were killed from 50 yards away across the river by machine-guns and artillery. A second pontoon was attacked by mustard gas killing or wounding all the engineers. In all five attempts were made to cross the river but the positions were dominated by enfilade fire. Dead and wounded bodies were seen floating down the river.
323:
night. With great skill they managed to throw back the grenades thrown into their positions by the Turks. Sometimes at the point of a bayonet they fought back the Turks, time and time again constantly for 30 hours. The one piece of good fortune was the redoubt thrown up by the bend in the river, that offered some shelter. Finally on the morning of 10 March, a rescue was effected. They found 30 exhausted survivors; bodies piled up around the defensive parapets.
212:
123:
154:
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Sergeant of the OTC. He picked up another
Football injury in 1913, and had to be excluded for the second year running. Without Reid, with two weak knees, Rugby XV was without pace in the backs. In summer 1913 he was an excellent Cricket XI captain scoring 101 with the bat against Bradfield in one match. He represented the Public Schools XI at Lord's. He continued playing cricket after school and in the army.
322:
The next night a surprise assault was made, but other pontoons behind were held up as
Turkish sentries awoke to the noise. As a result, 100 Lancashire soldiers were left stranded on the north bank of the river, cut off without reinforcements. A much stronger Turkish force attacked all day and all
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in April 1915. In his copious correspondence to his
Headmaster in St John's College, Johannesburg he explained his motives and experiences. Of the regiment's complement of 30 officers and 1000 men, only 7 officers and 300 men remained after only two months in the theatre of operations. At Ypres
326:
Captain Reid consolidated a small post with the advanced troops on the opposite side of the river to the main body, after his lines of communication had been cut by the sinking of the pontoons. He maintained this position for 30 hours against constant attacks by bombs, machine-guns and rifle fire,
375:
On the fourth anniversary of the start of the war, 4 August 1918, at a commemoration in
Johannesburg, Reid received a ceremonial sword on his son's behalf, who was still serving in Mesopotamia. On All Saints Day 1919, Oswald Reid attended a reunion at Radley where he was very welcome indeed. The
330:
Reid's bravery in defending the position, and isolated bridgehead was vital, and crucial, allowing enough time for reinforcements to cross the river. The manoeuvre allowed
General Sir Stanley Maude to outflank the Turks and to effect entry into Baghdad on 11 March 1917. Captain Reid was granted
391:
On Monday 25 October he fell ill going to the office, but insisted on working. Two days later he died from gastro enteritis due to complication from the wounds he received during the war. His funeral took place on Sunday 31 October 1920, at St Mary's
Cathedral, Johannesburg. Crowds thronged the
268:
Reid became Senior
Prefect in Michaelmas 1912, began writing poetry and, dominated the school's sports. He was there for three years became Senior Prefect and Captain of the Football and Cricket teams. He was also captain of Swimming and elected President of the Debating Society, and Colour
264:
Joining the College OTC he gained an A Certificate in March 1912. In freezing conditions he played in the Rugby 1st XV in January 1912, injured himself in a skating accident. He recovered, switched to the wing in Rugby and proved fast. He proved a great hurdler, and then returned as 1st XI
260:
in England in April 1910. The Headmaster sent a glowing reference praising his fine athleticism and role as senior prefect. Aged 16, he entered the Cricket XI as wicket-keeper in his first term. The next year he was in the Football XI and played as forward in the Rugby XV. . Reid was a
289:. He fought alongside soldiers from India. The casualty rate of officers was very high, attrition rates of over 100. Two of his friends were killed. The shelling was terrific, and the Germans had very accurate snipers. Reid was wounded in the head at the
327:
with the full knowledge that repeated attempts at relief had failed and that his ammunition was all but exhausted. It was greatly due to his tenacity that the crossing of the river was effected the next night. During the operations he was wounded.
298:
in April 1915, spending all the months to July 1916 in England. He did not serve in the Somme, but was sent to India on the North-West Frontier with 2nd battalion. In December he arrived in Mesopotamia, promoted to captain and transferred into the
345:
By his dauntless courage and gallant leadership he was able to consolidate a small post with the advanced troops, on the opposite side of a river to the main body, after the lines of communication had been cut by the sinking of pontoons.
272:
That summer he left for Holland to learn Dutch with a view to working in the Transvaal, when the war broke out. He continued a lifelong correspondence with his old headmaster in Johannesburg: in one of his letter hinting he would enter
255:
Reid was born at Johannesburg, the son of Harry Austin Reid and his wife Alice Gertrude, pioneering founders of the city. He attended the Diocesan College in Cape Town and St John's College in Johannesburg before moving on to
349:
he maintained his position for 30 hours against constant attacks by bombs machine guns and shell fire, with the full knowledge that repeated attempts at relief had failed, and that his ammunition was all but exhausted.
1341:
1381:
818:
261:
Heavyweight boxing champion in the college and a member of the Debating Society. Then he became a full back in the football XI and was elected to the Literary Society in November 1911.
1376:
960:
1391:
1386:
360:
1351:
976:
392:
streets to see off their hero. The procession cortege passed along the street to the cemetery. Acting-Major Reid is buried in Braamfontein Cemetery in Johannesburg.
1396:
1346:
723:
1366:
952:
811:
944:
1371:
864:
804:
409:
936:
771:
920:
1315:
995:
904:
968:
896:
740:
303:, attached to the 6th Battalion. He was perhaps naive in his assessment of the Turk as "much more of a sportsman than the Germans..."
186:
44:
872:
1401:
1289:
1310:
827:
607:
300:
658:
1019:
912:
381:
1254:
1249:
85:
377:
755:
888:
856:
286:
220:
312:
1204:
1194:
1179:
435:
244:
413:
1119:
1054:
385:
290:
60:
295:
1284:
1109:
1104:
928:
140:
239:, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to
353:
It was greatly due to his tenacity that the passage of the river was effected on the following night.
265:
wicket-keeper. But working on bowling and batting, his averages improved in all aspects of the game.
1361:
1356:
1089:
1244:
1134:
1114:
1074:
1064:
1011:
880:
513:
1320:
1274:
1239:
1234:
1099:
717:
518:
489:
469:
1305:
1003:
211:
1269:
1184:
1174:
1144:
767:
736:
654:
339:
Captain Oswald Austin Reid King's Liverpool Regiment attached Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
200:
1224:
1214:
1149:
1139:
1124:
484:
464:
1219:
1199:
1189:
1169:
1164:
1154:
1059:
1049:
848:
763:
153:
796:
611:
1279:
1209:
1079:
1036:
277:. On 14 August 1914 he was commissioned into 4th battalion King's Liverpool Regiment.
257:
240:
236:
232:
215:
128:
1335:
1259:
1094:
1069:
608:"The Grave of Capt. Oswald Austin Reid. VC. In Braamfontein Cemtery in Johannesburg"
1264:
1229:
1084:
1044:
791:
364:
175:
157:
56:
43:
17:
316:
274:
196:
787:
565:
1159:
388:) he entered the political sphere winning a seat at Troyeville in March 1920.
235:(2 November 1893–â27 October 1920) was a South African recipient of the
100:
87:
679:
A selection of British Military Swords of the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries
533:
670:
Venture of Faith: The story of St John's College, Johnannesburg 1898-1968
704:
Official History of the Great War: The Campaign in Mesopotamia 1914-1918
566:"Medals held by the South African National Museum of Military History"
759:
342:
For most conspicuous bravery in the face of desperate circumstances.
436:"Captain Oswald Austin Reid VC | Lancashire Infantry Museum"
800:
733:
Machine Gunners: Personal Experiences of the Machine Gun Corps
1342:
South African World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
710:
When God Made Hell: The Campaign in Mesopotamia 1914-1922
694:
688:
St John's College and the War: The Letters of Oswald Reid
447:
445:
961:
82nd Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
651:
History of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919
1298:
1035:
988:
841:
834:
206:
192:
181:
171:
163:
146:
116:
76:
66:
50:
34:
555:citation from the London Gazette dated 8 June 1917
653:. Vol. 1â3. Naval & Military Press Ltd.
81:Braamfontein Cemetery, Johannesburg, South Africa
1382:Recipients of the Silver Medal of Military Valor
977:81st Regiment of Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers)
1377:British Army personnel of the Russian Civil War
1387:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
953:40th (the 2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
812:
8:
945:59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot
1392:Alumni of St John's College (Johannesburg)
838:
819:
805:
797:
722:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
42:
31:
522:(Supplement). 8 June 1917. p. 5702.
503:C.E. Crutchley, Machine Gunner 1914-1918
632:
594:
451:
401:
359:His Victoria Cross is displayed at the
937:30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot
715:
356:During the operations he was wounded.
1397:Alumni of Diocesan College, Cape Town
1347:British Army personnel of World War I
865:King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
546:The Star (Johannesburg), 23 July 1917
7:
1367:Military personnel from Johannesburg
1352:King's Regiment (Liverpool) officers
921:63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot
731:Crutchley, C.E. (28 November 2013).
1316:Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers
905:55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot
361:National Museum of Military History
969:47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot
897:34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot
649:Wyrall, Everard (September 2002).
25:
1372:People educated at Radley College
873:Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
585:The Radleian Magazine, April 1919
1290:Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke
996:King's Own Royal Border Regiment
410:"Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum"
378:Comrades of the Great War League
210:
152:
133:
121:
1090:William Robert Fontaine Addison
473:. 21 August 1914. p. 6600.
301:Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
187:The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
493:. 16 March 1915. p. 2637.
1:
695:"Radleian Magazine 1910-1920"
382:British Empire Service League
1311:King's and Cheshire Regiment
1255:Thomas Orde Lawder Wilkinson
1250:Richard Basil Brandram Jones
828:Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
735:. Pen & Sword Military.
285:In 1915 he took part in the
1020:Queen's Lancashire Regiment
913:King's Regiment (Liverpool)
708:Townshend, Charles (2010).
677:Monick, S.; Heming, D.R.A.
1418:
756:VCs of the First World War
889:South Lancashire Regiment
101:26.1851278°S 28.0184583°E
70:27 October 1920 (aged 26)
41:
857:East Lancashire Regiment
750:Gliddon, Gerald (2005).
287:Battle of Neuve Chapelle
221:Medal for Military Valor
27:South African army major
1402:Burials in South Africa
1205:George Stuart Henderson
1195:Alfred Robert Wilkinson
1180:Charles Harry Coverdale
701:The Star (Johannesburg)
313:Battle of Diyalah River
311:On 7 March 1917 at the
106:-26.1851278; 28.0184583
1120:Arthur Herbert Procter
291:Second Battle of Ypres
61:South African Republic
1285:Marcus Ervine-Andrews
1110:Joseph Harcourt Tombs
1105:William Edward Heaton
929:96th Regiment of Foot
766:: Sutton Publishing.
164:Years of service
141:Union of South Africa
386:South African Legion
1245:Alfred Victor Smith
1135:Jack Thomas Counter
1115:Edward Felix Baxter
1075:Joseph Henry Collin
1065:Tom Fletcher Mayson
1012:Lancashire Regiment
881:Manchester Regiment
635:, pp. 128â129.
384:and now called the
296:1st Battle of Arras
97: /
1321:Lancashire Militia
1275:John Thomas Davies
1235:Henry Edward Kenny
1100:Henry James Knight
519:The London Gazette
490:The London Gazette
470:The London Gazette
230:Oswald Austin Reid
18:Oswald Austin Reid
1329:
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1270:William Ratcliffe
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773:978-0-7509-2084-1
227:
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201:Russian Civil War
16:(Redirected from
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1225:Euston Sartorius
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610:. Archived from
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416:on 23 April 2013
412:. Archived from
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1416:
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1332:
1331:
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1325:
1306:King's Division
1294:
1190:Wilfrith Elstob
1170:George Stringer
1165:William Forshaw
1050:Harry Christian
1027:
1004:King's Regiment
984:
849:Border Regiment
830:
825:
784:
774:
764:Gloucestershire
749:
743:
730:
714:
707:
693:
685:
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640:
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631:
627:
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615:
614:on 10 June 2013
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534:"Delville Wood"
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438:. 9 March 2014.
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54:2 November 1893
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989:2nd generation
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1055:James Miller
1045:Thomas Grady
835:Predecessors
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89:26°11âē6.46âģS
72:Johannesburg
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29:
1362:1920 deaths
1357:1893 births
1215:Mark Walker
1150:James Leach
1140:James Pitts
1130:Oswald Reid
1125:David Jones
1023:(1970â2006)
1015:(1958â1970)
1007:(1958â2006)
999:(1959â2006)
980:(1793â1881)
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852:(1881â1959)
788:Oswald Reid
618:26 November
514:"No. 30122"
485:"No. 29102"
465:"No. 28876"
380:(later the
317:Mesopotamia
275:Holy Orders
197:World War I
167:1914 - 1920
104: /
92:28°1âē6.45âģE
36:Oswald Reid
1336:Categories
1220:John Lucas
1200:James Kirk
1160:Issy Smith
1155:John Hogan
1060:Jack White
660:184342360X
571:14 January
420:14 January
396:References
371:Later life
307:For Valour
251:Early life
117:Allegiance
718:cite book
712:. London.
1299:See also
247:forces.
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