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| Picture No | 10694139 |
| Date | 1915 |
| Description | Captain Anketell Moutray Read V.C. |
| Details |
Captain Anketell Moutray Read V.C., (1884-1915), British soldier, athlete and recipient of the Victoria Cross. ~~~~Captain Read was well known as an athlete and won the heavyweight championship (boxing) of India eight times, and the middle-weight twice. He also won the Army and Navy heavyweight championship at Aldershot and Portsmouth three times, an unequalled record. During one match, an opponent recalls wishing to throw in the towel against Read, citing his 'devastating jab'. As a result, Read earned the nickname 'Widowmaker'.~~~~He was 30 years old, and a captain in the 1st Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.~~~~On 25 September 1915 near Hulluch, France, Captain Read, although partially gassed, went out several times in order to rally parties of different units which were disorganised and retiring. He led them back into the firing line and regardless of danger to himself, moved about under withering fire, encouraging them, but he was mortally wounded while carrying out this gallant work. He had shown conspicuous bravery on other occasions, particularly on the night of 29/30 July when he carried out of action an officer who was mortally wounded, under a hot fire of rifle and grenades
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| Source | Photograph in The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News, 9 October 1915 |
| Credit | © Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans |
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