Rank: LieutenantDate of Birth: 28th September 1889Battalion: 4th Battalion

Early Life

Maurice Dease was born on the 28th September 1889 in Gaulstown, County Westmeath, Ireland, the Son of Edmund and Katherine Dease. He had a younger sister Maud. The family tree can be traced back to St. Thomas Moore, Lord Chancellor to Henry Vlll, who was executed for his catholic beliefs in 1535. Maurice was educated at Stonyhurst College before joining the army and training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Military Life

Maurice was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on the 25th May 1910.

Prior to the start of the First World War Maurice was one of the officers responsible for the machine gun platoon where he had serving under him, Private Sidney Frank Godley.

The Battalion where amongst the first to set off for France landing in Le Havre on the 14th August 1914 and gradually moving with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) through France and into Belgium.

It was on the 23rd August that the BEF first came into contact with the German army at the Battle of Mons.

On this day only a single company of the 4th Battalion, including the machine gun section commanded by Maurice Dease, were defending the railway bridge that crossed the Mons-Conde canal at Nimy.

Not realising how close the Germans were, the British Army commander had decided not to demolish any of the bridges over the canal so that they would be able to advance over the coming days.

Maurice James Dease, VC

An account of the action that followed is given by H. C. O'Neill in ‘The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War’:

“The machine gun crews were constantly being knocked out. So cramped was their position that when a man was hit he had to be removed before another could take his place. The approach from the trench was across the open, and whenever a gun stopped Lieutenant Maurice Dease went up to see what was wrong. To do this once called for no ordinary courage. To repeat it several times could only be done with real heroism. Dease was badly wounded on these journeys, but insisted on remaining at duty as long as one of his crew could fire. The third wound proved fatal, and a well-deserved VC was awarded him posthumously. By this time both guns had ceased firing, and all the crew had been knocked out. In response to an inquiry whether anyone else knew how to operate the guns Private Godley came forward. He cleared the emplacement under heavy fire and brought the gun into action. But he had not been firing long before the gun was hit and put completely out of action. The water jackets of both guns were riddled with bullets, so that they were no longer of any use. Godley himself was badly wounded and later fell into the hands of the Germans.

Maurice Dease became one of the first British officer casualties of the First World War and the first posthumous recipient of the VC. His bravery was recorded on the 16th November 1914 in The London Gazette. The original citation, which is held at the museum, reads:

Maurice’s body was recovered and he is now buried at St.Symphorium Military Cemetery near Mons, Belgium. He is also remembered in Westminster Cathedral and on a plaque installed in St Martin's Church, Culmullen, County Meath, Ireland.

Citation of Lt Dease (RFM.5)

Private Sidney Frank Godley

Private Godley was born in East Grinstead, Sussex on the 14th August 1889, the Son of Frank and Avis Godley. His father was a journeyman painter and Sid worked in an ironmongery shop before joining the army on the 13th December 1909.

After Maurice Dease was fatally wounded Sidney stayed in action with the remaining machine gun so that the rest of the company, who were by this time suffering heavy casualties and looked like being overcome by superior numbers, were able to withdraw. For this action Sidney received the Victoria Cross which was gazetted in The London Gazette on the 24th November 1914. His original citation is held by the museum and reads:

‘For coolness and gallantry in fighting his machine-gun under a hot fire for two hours, after he had been wounded at Mons on the 23rd August’

‘In the defence of the Railway Bridge near Nimy, 23 rd August 1914. This afternoon Pte Godley of B. Coy shewed particular heroism in his management of the machine gun. Lt Dease having been severely wounded and each machine gunner in turn shot, I called Pte Godley to me in the firing line on the bridge and under an extremely heavy fire he had to remove three dead bodies and [go] a machine gun on the right under a most deadly fire. This he did and not a shot did he fire except as I directed and with the utmost coolness until it was irretrievably damaged and he was shot in the head. He then left the firing line under orders to go to the rear. 23. 8. 1914 FW A Steele Lt C. Coy Roy. Fus.’ Citation of Pte Godley (RFM.6)

Sidney was taken prisoner by the Germans and their surgeons almost certainly saved his life, although he carried bullet fragments in his head for the rest of his life.

Whilst in a prison camp near Doberitz, Germany in the Spring of 1915 it was announced at a special parade that he had won the VC. As well the congratulations from his fellow prisoners Frank was held in high esteem by the German officers who arranged a special dinner in his honour.

Sidney remained a prisoner until the end of the war.

On the 2nd August 1919 he married Ellen Norman at St. Marks, Harlesden, Middlesex.

He initially took up plumbing before becoming a school janitor for 30 years at Cranbrook Road School, Bethnal Green in London.

He died on the 29th June 1957 and is buried at Loughton Cemetery, Essex.

Sidney’s Victoria Cross is not held by the Museum.

Above – Godley on his wedding day (RFM.2012.76.2)

Left –as a caretaker at Cranbrook Road School, Bethnal Green (RFM.ARC.2787)