I am delighted to announce that Whilton village plan to commemorate the life of Captain Henry Reynolds (known as Harry) on the centenary of him being awarded the prestigious Victoria cross. Wednesday 20th September's event will be a formal commemoration, along with a tasteful village tribute on Saturday 23rd. The Heritage Lottery Fund have provided a fantastic grant of £7,000 to the Whilton Local History Society for their project, so I am sure that it will not disappoint!
I have attached both of the event's itineraries, which feature a procession, a powerful audio and visual presentation, an exhibition of key photos and artefacts and musical entertainment. Copies of his biography will be available for collection.
Harry was born in 1979 in the Wharf House at Whilton Locks and educated nearby at Daventry Grammar School. He joined the new Northamptonshire Imperial Yeomanry after the Boer War in 1902, and from then on a series of courageous actions led him to the Victoria Cross. We can look no further than the day of 20th September 1917, where the fighting was in thick churned up mud, drainage systems had been obliterated and the weather and warfare was taking its tool on the spirit of the comrades. Harry's company had the task of seizing the blockhouse called A1 and capturing the fiercely fortified farm, known as 'Potsdam', but on the way they faced opposition, who had opened fire leaving his fellow men terrified. Somehow, in the midst of unimaginable terror and fear, Harry chose to go alone and captured the pillbox. In the words of one of his men, 'It was marvellous how he escaped, and even more marvellous the courage he displayed - in pressing on at the head of the men, unmindful of his wound, and thinking only of the need for carrying through the operations successfully'. His deeds led to the award of the Victoria Cross, and to his new title, 'The Pill Box Hero'.
Harry showed an ability to value others, to work in a team, and to encourage and enable the potential of his comrades in the most hopeless of situations. I have only briefly touched upon his achievements, but to fully understand what the man achieved, I highly recommend paying a visit to either one of the events (or both!).
