Group portrait of VC winners. Left to right: Edward Cooper (left), awarded the VC: Belgium, 16 August 1917; Robert Bye, awarded the VC, Belgium, 31 July 1917; William Ratcliffe, awarded the VC, Belgium, 14 June 1917; Wilfred Edwards, awarded the VC, Belgium, 16 August 1917.
When the 1/Welsh Guards attacked Pilckem Ridge the leading units, following a creeping barrage, achieved their first objective of the Black Line, but were then halted by two pill boxes. Bye rushed one, put it out of action and then rejoined his unit.
After suffering heavy casualties the Guards moved on to attack the Green Line. Held up by a series of blockhouses, Bye volunteered to take charge of a party, which captured the blockhouses along with many prisoners. Still more prisoners were taken when he advanced to the Green Line.[1]
His citation read:
No. 939 Sgt. Robert Bye, Welsh Guards (Penrhiwceiber, Glamorgan).
For most conspicuous bravery. Sgt.Bye displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty during an attack on the enemy's position. Seeing that the leading waves were being troubled by two enemy blockhouses, he, on his own initiative, rushed at one of them and put the garrison out of action. He then rejoined his company and went forward to the assault of the second objective.
When the troops had gone forward to the attack on the third objective, a party was detailed to clear up a line of blockhouses which had been passed. Sgt. Bye volunteered to take charge of this party, accomplished his object, and took many prisoners. He subsequently advanced to the third objective, capturing a number of prisoners, thus rendering invaluable assistance to the assaulting companies. He displayed throughout the most remarkable initiative.[2]
Bye, who moved to Nottinghamshire to work as a coal miner, also served in World War II as a sergeant major in the Sherwood Foresters guarding prisoners of war until ill health (arising from his pit work) forced him to leave the army. He then served in the Home Guard and as a temporary police constable.[3]
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Welsh Guards RHQ) in London, England.
robert, sergeant, major, robert, james, december, 1889, august, 1962, british, army, soldier, welsh, recipient, victoria, cross, highest, most, prestigious, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, born, pontypridd, robert, . Sergeant Major Robert James Bye VC 12 December 1889 23 August 1962 was a British Army soldier and a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross VC 1 the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces He was born in Pontypridd Robert James ByeBorn12 December 1889Pontypridd Glamorganshire WalesDied23 August 1962 aged 72 Warsop Nottinghamshire EnglandBuriedWarsop CemeteryAllegiance United KingdomService wbr branch British ArmyYears of service1914 19211939 1940RankSergeant MajorService number939UnitWelsh GuardsSherwood ForestersBattles warsWorld War IWorld War IIAwardsVictoria Cross Group portrait of VC winners Left to right Edward Cooper left awarded the VC Belgium 16 August 1917 Robert Bye awarded the VC Belgium 31 July 1917 William Ratcliffe awarded the VC Belgium 14 June 1917 Wilfred Edwards awarded the VC Belgium 16 August 1917 He was 27 years old and a Sergeant in the 1st Bn Welsh Guards British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place on 31 July 1917 at the Yser Canal Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres for which he was awarded the VC When the 1 Welsh Guards attacked Pilckem Ridge the leading units following a creeping barrage achieved their first objective of the Black Line but were then halted by two pill boxes Bye rushed one put it out of action and then rejoined his unit After suffering heavy casualties the Guards moved on to attack the Green Line Held up by a series of blockhouses Bye volunteered to take charge of a party which captured the blockhouses along with many prisoners Still more prisoners were taken when he advanced to the Green Line 1 His citation read No 939 Sgt Robert Bye Welsh Guards Penrhiwceiber Glamorgan For most conspicuous bravery Sgt Bye displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty during an attack on the enemy s position Seeing that the leading waves were being troubled by two enemy blockhouses he on his own initiative rushed at one of them and put the garrison out of action He then rejoined his company and went forward to the assault of the second objective When the troops had gone forward to the attack on the third objective a party was detailed to clear up a line of blockhouses which had been passed Sgt Bye volunteered to take charge of this party accomplished his object and took many prisoners He subsequently advanced to the third objective capturing a number of prisoners thus rendering invaluable assistance to the assaulting companies He displayed throughout the most remarkable initiative 2 Bye who moved to Nottinghamshire to work as a coal miner also served in World War II as a sergeant major in the Sherwood Foresters guarding prisoners of war until ill health arising from his pit work forced him to leave the army He then served in the Home Guard and as a temporary police constable 3 His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters Welsh Guards RHQ in London England References edit a b McGreal Stephen Boesinghe Battleground Europe Pen amp Sword Military Barnsley 2010 p 137 No 30272 The London Gazette Supplement 4 September 1917 p 9260 Robert Bye An Heroic Soldier Archived 2009 09 01 at the Wayback MachineBibliography editSnelling Stephen 2012 1998 Passchendaele 1917 VCs of the First World War The History Press ISBN 978 0752476667 External links editLocation of grave and VC medal Nottinghamshire Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Bye amp oldid 1218294657, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
