Post by anthony on May 14, 2009 14:08:36 GMT
THE Duke of Gloucester on 7 May 2009 opened the R G Masters VC Territorial Army Centre at Bootle. Private Richard George Masters was an Army ambulance driver. On 9 April 1918 near Bethune, France, owing to an enemy attack, communications were cut off and the wounded could not be evacuated. The road was reported impassable but Private Masters volunteered to try to get through. He was awarded a well deseved Victoria Cross.
This is a most interesting Victoria Cross award since it happens behind the lines although clearly under enemy fire. A most worthy award but I was amazed to find that Wikipedia now claims that he saved 200 lives. Firstly, would it be possible to transport 200 wounded in an afternoon over a road deemed to be impassable but which Private Masters after great difficulty succeeded in traversing, although he had to clear the road of all sorts of debris. Private Masters made journey after journey throughout the afternoon over a road which was being shelled and swept by machine-gun fire and once he was bombed by an aeroplane.
There is no question about the valour of Private Masters but 200 wounded sounds an exaggeration. So does the claim that he saved their lives. He was an ambulance driver whose valiant efforts got many wounded out of danger to better medical facilities. His gallant action would have saved some lives but for most of the wounded it was getting them to better care faster. The citation for Private Masters is most moving and does not need to be enhanced.
This is a most interesting Victoria Cross award since it happens behind the lines although clearly under enemy fire. A most worthy award but I was amazed to find that Wikipedia now claims that he saved 200 lives. Firstly, would it be possible to transport 200 wounded in an afternoon over a road deemed to be impassable but which Private Masters after great difficulty succeeded in traversing, although he had to clear the road of all sorts of debris. Private Masters made journey after journey throughout the afternoon over a road which was being shelled and swept by machine-gun fire and once he was bombed by an aeroplane.
There is no question about the valour of Private Masters but 200 wounded sounds an exaggeration. So does the claim that he saved their lives. He was an ambulance driver whose valiant efforts got many wounded out of danger to better medical facilities. His gallant action would have saved some lives but for most of the wounded it was getting them to better care faster. The citation for Private Masters is most moving and does not need to be enhanced.
