VC hero Claude gets blue plaque
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Claude Nunney was awarded the highest military honour - The Victoria Cross for his dash toward the front-line during a fierce battle for the Drocourt-Queant line in France in 1918.
He sadly died from his wounds a few weeks after the action.
Claude was described as ‘fearless’ in his VC citation.
Claude was born in Hastings but he and his brother were sent to Canada as ‘Home Children’ after his mother died.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe signed up to join the Canadian Army on 8th February 1915. He was a machine gunner in the 38th Canadian Expeditionary Force, which went to France embarking to cross the Channel on 13th August 1916.
Claude, who was known as ‘Red Nunney’ by his comrades, due to his red hair, was involved in the heavy fighting at Vimy Ridge on 8th April 1917 and was awarded a medal for his bravery.
Within the next three months he was taking part in the ongoing fighting around Avion and he was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery.
In April 1918 Claude was one of several soldiers who attempted to rescue the pilot and observer of a German plane that had been shot down and crashed in flames nearby. He suffered burns to his face and to his hands.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe later went into action at Dury when they attacked the very heavily fortified defensive trench system known as the Drocourt Queant Line on 1st September 1918.
The 38th Ottawa Overseas Battalion were successful in their attack which took place on the 1st and 2nd September. Nunney was badly wounded on the second day of the attack.
He was s buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery.
The plaque was unveiled by Hastings Mayor Judy Rogers in the presence of several generations of Claude’s family along with representatives from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
Canada has many 1914-18 links with Hastings, three of the Canadian Divisions had their headquarters and several hospitals in the town, and there were training bases in both Hastings and Bexhill.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe event was co-ordinated by Councillor Andy Patmore and Peter Silk, who has spent twenty years researching Claude’s life in Hastings, Kentish Town, Lancaster Ontario and France.
Claude Nunney is the only First World War Victoria Cross winner born in Hastings. He was the most highly decorated Private soldier in the Canadian Army in the Great War, being awarded in addition to the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Vimy 1917 and Military Medal at Avion also in 1917.
Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad1 Make our website your homepage at www.hastingsobserver.co.uk
2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hastingsobserver
3 Follow us on Twitter @HastingsObs
4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!
The Hastings Observer - always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.