Manley Angell James

Manley Angell James VC, DSO, MBE, MC
Born	(1896-08-12)12 August 1896 Odiham, Hampshire
Died	Westbury on Trym, Bristol
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1914 - 1951
Rank	Brigadier
Unit	Gloucestershire Regiment Royal Sussex Regiment
Commands held	128th Infantry Brigade 140th Infantry Brigade Director of Ground Defence, Air Ministry
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Order of the British Empire Military Cross

Brigadier Manley Angell James VC, DSO, MBE, MC (12 July 1896 - 23 September 1975) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

As a 21-year-old Temporary Captain in the 8th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, British Army during the First World War he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Spring Offensive.

Early years

He was born on the 12 July 1896 in Odiham, Hampshire. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School.

World War I

On 21 March 1918, near Velu Wood, France, Captain James led his company forward, capturing 27 prisoners and two machine-guns. Although wounded, he refused to leave his company and repulsed three enemy assaults the next day. Two days later, the enemy having broken through, he made a determined stand, inflicting heavy losses and gaining valuable time for the withdrawal of the guns. After holding out to the last to enable the brigade to be extricated, he led his company forward in a local counter-attack, being again wounded in the process. He was last seen working a machine-gun single-handed, was wounded a third time and eventually taken prisoner.

He was discharged from the army in 1919, and played for Clifton Rugby Football Club for a few years before receiving a new army commission.

World War II

At the start of World War II he was Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, part of 133rd Infantry Brigade, part of 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division. In 1940 he was promoted to Brigadier, and served on the staff of the VIII Corps. The next year he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the 128th Infantry Brigade, of 46th Infantry Division, serving in North Africa. He would command the 128th Brigade until being wounded 1943. Later that year he was assigned to the General Staff of the Middle East Command, and was transferred to the General Staff for Training Home Forces. Finally, in 1945 he became the Commanding Officer for the 140th Infantry Brigade.

After World War II

Between 1948 and 1951 he was the Director of Ground Defence for the Air Ministry. In 1951 he retired from the military at the rank of Brigadier.

The Medal

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

External links

• Unit Histories
• Clifton RFC
• Location of grave and VC medal (Avon)
• Manley Angell James on Find-A-Grave