Passchendaele: We Remember Victoria Cross Recipient Captain Noel Chavasse

It's been 100 years since the Third Battle of Ypres, more commonly known as Passchendaele, one of the muddiest and bloodiest, battles of the First World War.

In this five-part series, BFBS Colchester’s Liz Mullen is focussing on one of its victims, a man whose extraordinary bravery earned him two Victoria Crosses as well as a Military Cross.

A medic in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Captain Noel Chavasse paid the ultimate sacrifice at Passchendaele while trying to save lives in no man’s land, as he had done time after time.

Colchester’s Personnel Recovery Centre is named after him, and Mayor Gerard Oxford has chosen Chavasse VC House as one of his charities.

To cap it all, last month Colchester held a public commemoration with a special emphasis on Captain Chavasse. From Garrison HQ, “George” Lazenby revealed to Liz that he found planning the service a meaningful experience.

Part One

To remember Captain Noel Chavasse, Colchester’s Personnel Recovery Centre foyer displays his story and replica medals.

Head Of Recovery for all its five years so far, is Steve Schollar who says Chavasse VC House could not have been better named. Steve reflects on the man whose name it bears.

Part Two

In part three, Darren Gethin, a beneficiary of Chavasse VC House, explains what Colchester’s Personnel Recovery Centre means to him, and how he feels about the hero whose name it bears.

Part Three

In the fourth part of our series, Liz speaks to documentary maker Anna Sinfield who is the great-great-niece of Noel Chavasse, descended from his twin brother.

Liz asked her how long she has known about the hero in her family.

Part Four

In the fifth and final part, the hero’s legacy of healing carries on into the future.

Liz meets up again with Steve Schollar, Head Of Recovery at Chavasse VC House, Colchester’s personnel recovery centre to hear how things have moved on during the first five years.

Part Five

Cover Image: Wikipedia / PicturePrince