Pte. Wallace Tacey, M.M., Robin Hood Rifles, 29th June 1917

Private Wallace Tacey M.M., 1/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles) was a married Beeston man, employed as a twist hand prior to his service in the Great War.

For his bravery in a daylight trench raid, ahead of an operation near Lens on 1st July 1917, the first anniversary of the Robin Hood Rifles’ disastrous attack at Gommecourt, Tacey distinguished himself, as recorded in the citation for his Military Medal:

“Near Lens on the morning of June 29 this year Pte. W. Tacey showed conspicuous bravery in accompanying an officer (Lieut. A.H. Gem) [1] into the German main position during daylight. When they were attacked by a party of 15 to 20 Germans, Pte. Tacey assisted in driving them off with rifle fire and bombs, and he and the officer accounted for at least three of the enemy. During the whole time that the patrol was out Pte. Tacey showed the greatest courage and initiative.” [2]

Lieutenant Gem was awarded the Military Cross for his actions, his citation as follows,

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when on patrol. He entered the enemy’s main line of Trenches near Lens on 29.6.1917, with one man, where he located a Trench Mortar which had given much trouble. They were then attacked by twenty of the enemy with bombs, to which Lieut. Gem and the Private replied vigorously, accounting for several of the enemy before they withdrew. He brought back information of the greatest value, and it was due to this gallant action that a strong enemy machine gun emplacement was destroyed by us very shortly afterwards.” [3]

[1] Lieutenant Arthur Harvard Arnold Gem, later Major, Royal Air Force.

[2] ‘Hucknall Dispatch’, 11th October 1917.

[3] London Gazette, 17th September 1917.