Back to Mobilisation of the Regiment at Norwich. Also obituaries and cuttings regarding 12Ls during first months of WWI.
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| Accession number | 912L : 2281 |
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war . WE deeply regret to announce the death of Captain J. C. Michell , 12th ( the Prince of Wales's Royal ) Lancers , and late Adju tant of the Punjab Light Horse . The bare intimation that he was killed in ac tion with the British Expeditionary Force has been brought by the new mail , but no details are yet available . It will be re membered that the 12th Lancers were mentioned as making a brilliant charge , in company with the Scots Greys , in the cavalry action of August 28th . Captain Michell , who was 43 years of age , was a brilliant cavalry officer and had distinguish ed himself , while still a subaltern , in South Africa . He took part in both the Matabele campaign of 1896 and the South African He was em ployed in the latter campaign with the Commander - in - Chief's Bodyguard , and afterwards took part in the relief of Mafeking . He served in the campaign in Rhodesia from October , 1899 , to May , 1900 , and in the operations in the Trans vaal west of Pretoria from July to November , 1900 , including the action of Elands River . From November , 1900 , to the end of the war he was engaged in operations in the Orange River Colony . The Queen's medal with four clasps and the King's medal with two clasps were evid ence of the extent of his participa tion in the South African war . He came to India with his regiment , and from March , 1909 , until March of the pre sent year he was employed as Adjutant of the Punjab Light Horse . meanwhile His regiment had proceeded to England , and THE LATE CAPT . J. C. MICHELL . A CORNISH OFFICER'S GLORIOUS DEATH . The following account of the death of this gallant Cornish officer , who held a captain's commission in the Militia Battalion of the D.C.LI.I. , at Bodmin , and served with distinction in Plumer's Horge for the re lief of Mafeking in the South African war , is con tained in a letter to his widow from a brother officer who saw him fall , and is forwarded to us by his uncle , Mr. Robert Michell , of St. Ives . Capt . J. C. Michell , who at the time of his heroic death was in command of C Squadron of the 12th Lancers , was killed at Moy , on the 22nd or 23rd of August last . He was the eldest surviving son of Mr. John Michell , H.B.M. Consul - General at Petrograd ( retired ) : " Before this reaches you you will , I expect , have re ceived your very sad news about poor Michell , but I know you would like to have full details from me , as I saw everything that happened , and I can only assure you that M. died as every soldier would wish to , had he a choice . He was killed at the head of his squadron ( C ) , while leading them in a gallant and most successful charge against German cavalry who were dismounted . M. was shot in the head and died in stantly , at very short range , probably only a few feet away . Every single German against whom this His de at the end of his tenure of the Light Horse Adjutancy Captain Michell went home to rejoin it at Norwich . parture was much regretted by all ranks of the Punjab Light Horse , to whom he had endeared himself by his fine soldierly qualities and by innumerable kindnesses . The feeling of the corps found ap propriate expression at the guest night dinner at the close of last camp week , when a very cordial farewell was taken of the retiring Adjutant . Colonel Pease , the Commandant of the corps , in propos ing Captain Michell's health on that occa sion , bore witness to the very real regret which the whole corps felt at his depar ture . He observed that Captain Michell was not a man to say much , but that there was very little he did not see , and added that they all knew him as a fine officer and gentleman . The non - commissioned officers and of the corps also paid a warm tribute to Captain Michell's personal qualities and his efforts for the corps . These tributes expressed no more than the truth . out in the least degree seeking popu larity , Captain Michell made member of the corps feel that he was personally interested in them and was sincerely anxious for the welfare of the corps . Added to this , he was recog nised as a fine horseman and almost the beau ideal of a cavalry officer , and these qualities made the corps very proud of having him as Adjutant . The deepest sympathy will be felt with Mrs. Michell in men With every her bereavement . me no one could I will try to find out . It was a glorious sight to see G from a flank where my squad had got round and using their rifles , dismounted , and were pouring in a heavy fire right up to the time C charged . When G ( squadron ) charged my men rose to their feet and My first thought was to get him Squadron , led by your Jack , wiping these swine out , but little did we know then that he was killed . I heard it shortly after , and as these Germans were then in full retreat I rode over the spot where I was told Jack had fallen . I found him ; death must have back and buried , and the R.A.M.C. people told that this would be done . Before I left the spot the R.A.M.O. had removed his body to the ambulance . I was sent for by the general , and so had to rush off , and had no more time to take any little things that Jack may have had on him , such as his watch & c . , but probably the doctors did so . cheered like mad . been instantaneous . It was impossible for me last night to stay at the scene of action longer as we had some fourteen miles to march to get here . I can only tell you you hav the sympathy of every officer in the regiment , as Jack was so beloved by us all . All agree You must They were command of Squadron C owing to Bailey ( the major ) being hors de combat . There were a few other casualties in the 12th Lancers , but considering all things the casualties were very small , and it is pure bad luck that M. should have been shot . cheer up and remember that he died in the most glorious manner , giving his life for his country , which so many more of us still have to do , and if my death I may tell you that there was not a living is one - half so glorious as his was I shall indeed dia German within the area of the charge . happy . killed to a man , and there were no less than five dead Germans lying on the ground practically touching I will try and find out from the R.A.M.C. , but times Michell . " C " allowed none to avoid their lances .. are now so strenuous . " cover but We had one very exciting day at the com mencement of the Battle of the Aisne . Our R.E. put up a pontoon bridge for the cavalry to cross , and we had just started to cross when the Germans opened fire on with heavy artillery . We took in the village , to no purpose , for their artillery fire fol lowed us . We stopped in this village for about five hours , with shells blowing down houses and tearing up sheds . It was awful ; horrible . We all said Good - bye " to one another , and sat waiting for death . You cannot realise how terribly your nerves are racked . We couldn't advance in the face of their guns , and couldn't retire . We were cut off from the British , and had to stick it until hardly a house was left standing . Then our colonel asked us if we would follow him back across the river , as it was our only chance . We did - to a man . The order was that every man was to fol low about 25 yards behind the other , gallop through the village , and walk across the bridge ( it was only a weak one made of boats , and would have sunk if we had galloped over it ) ; then gallop from the other side to shelter in a wood . THRILLING RIDE OF THE 12th LANCERS . us We started , and it was like hell let loose , shells from siege guns and shrapnel falling as thick and fast as the Germans could fire it from twelve guns . We only had a few losses . Sorry can't write more . No paper . -Corpl . Wheeldon , 12th Lancers . * CAVALRY EXPLOITS . The following are extracts from a letter received from the front on September 23 by the relatives of a British cavalryman : not . If you follow the movements of the 5th Cavalry Brigade , you will be reading what I and my com rades are up to . The brigade is composed of our selves , the Scots Greys , 20th Hussars , and the J Battery Royal Field Artillery . Between us we have left an indelible mark on the Germans , though they have taken their toll from us , but I am proud to say that the German losses in dead , wounded , and prisoners far outweigh our losses . They will not stand up to our men , but surrender when caught in the open , and only fight when in the woods and behind barbed wire . It has been a very hard and trying time for all of us . Our planned retreat , ali the while keeping touch with the enemy , is , I believe , a wonderful piece of work on the part of our generals . I would like to give you the details of our charge , as recorded in the papers , but must What I can say is that we caught them in the open , in a field of stacked oats , charged them twice , and killed over 400 of them the remainder fled to the safety of the woods . The sensation of killing a man is not nice , but once done , your blood grows hot , and you seem to see " all red , " and a passion unknown in other moments possesses you . We had five men killed and many wounded , but it was a glorious time . Since then we have had another day out , and I expect the papers have re corded it . We followed the Germans for days , and gave them no rest when they commenced their retreat , and finally we captured a lot of their traus port , and charged their infantry in some open ground , inflicting great loss on them . Some 300 Germans threw down their arms and surrendered to the regiment , unable to stand against our lances , which they dread . Later on I will , if still alive , send you details of these , to us , personal triumphs . Strictly speaking , the Scots Greys appeared on the scene after we had put the cavalry to flight , so that the full honours should go to the 12th Lancers , a fine regiment , officers and all , with a reputation that makes other cavalry regiments green with envy . I have had occasion to thank God three times The first was for as many escapes from death . when we were forced back by artillery fire . A shell fell right under my horse , but failed to explode , being probably what is called an over - timed shell . Anyway , it was an escape ! The next time was when we were shelled out of a village . My horse was grazed by a fragment of shrapnel and lamed , and a sharp shooter missed me , but the bullet went through my rifle bucket and flattened itself on the nozzle of my rifle . The third time was when we had a most trying time in a village , and were bom barded by eight German guns . The houses were demolished like packs of cards , but Providence looked after us , and after six hours of mental agony we had to retire one by one across a pontoon bridge ; the other bridge had been blown up by the Germans . The flimsy bridge was subjected to an awful fire , but with the loss of a few men we got clear , and the General complimented us on our absence of panic . I never want to be in such a position again ; it was wonderful our losses were so slight . A shell hurst just behind me and killed the fellow following ne , but I was unharmed . My officer and chums say I have a charmed life , but my time may come yet . We have been fighting for 25 days now , and want a rest . The horses , too , are getting done up . We live pretty well , being able to supple- ' ment our biscuits and tinned meat by eggs , milk , and vegetables as we go through the villages . It is a sad sight to see large places the size of Chelston deserted , the fruit rotting on the trees , the corn and root crops spoilt , and cattle dying from neglect . On our way back from Mons we met people going to other places with their few treasures packed on their shoulders or in various carts . Where the Germans have been the houses have been broken into and their contents scattered broadcast into the roads and fields . The We all feel It's all " Vive l'Anglais " where we go . villagers look on us as their saviours . very cheerful and all have the one idea that we must win , so as long as we are not downhearted , All's well " will be the cry . ( 1 GALLANT ENGLISH CAVALRY . " It is perhaps the English cavalry which dis tinguished itself most brilliantly . On October 30 and 31 the German efforts were definitely directed against it . The German commanders doubt less thought it easier to break up this corps of cavalry than the others . The intensity of the artillery fire brought against this part of the front passed all imagination . Orders had to be given at first to evacuate certain positions , but only to reoccupy them almost immediately after wards . The British cavalry without flinching returned to the charge with an utter contempt for death . In particular a regiment of Lancers was ordered to retake the town of Messines . The men had been given bayonets , which they were using for the first time . They attacked with as much vigour as tried infantrymen and swept it clear of the enemy . I may add that the troops so hardly tested were as gay as French troopers . |
