F. A. (V.C.) DE PASS, 26 November 1914
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Frank Alexander de Pass
Born:
2 Iyyar 5647 (26 April 1887)
Died:
7 Kislev 5675 (25 November 1914)
Basic Information
Unique reference:
DEP6617
Gender:
Male
Birth
Date of birth:
2 Iyyar 5647 (26 April 1887)
Place of birth:
Kensington, London
Death
Date of death:
7 Kislev 5675 (25 November 1914)
Died in combat?:
Yes
Place of death:
Near Festubert, France
Cause of death:
Gunshot wound
Burial place:
Bethune Town Cemetery, France
Places
Addresses
Parents' Home:
Lancaster Gate Terrace Kensington, London (26 April 1887)
Schools
Name:
The Abbey School, Beckenham
Name:
Rugby School
Name:
Royal Military Academy, Woolich
Year started:
1904
Year left:
1906
Synagogues
Name:
Bevis Marks Synagogue
Earning Victoria Cross, 24 November 1914
While serving in the trenches near Festubert Frank volunteered to crawl out of their trench in order to ascertain the enemy’s position. They discovered that the German troops had formed a sap just yards from their own position from which they began throwing grenades and other explosives injuring many in Frank's trench. Frank and two others volunteered to crawl again out to the German sap to destroy the position, which they did with great bravery. Later that day Frank spotted an injured soldier laying exposed to enemy fire and once again risked his life climbing out to rescue the fallen man and bringing him back to safety. Unfortunately Frank was killed the next day by a sniper in another attack on the German sap after it was reoccupied. For his bravery and calm under fire Frank was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
First Jewish VC, 25 November 1914
When Frank de Pass was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1914 he became not only the first Jewish recipient of this prestigious award, but also the first officer of the Indian Army to be granted it.
Family
Parents
Father: Eliot Arthur De Pass (male)
Mother: Beatrice de Pass (female)
Military Record
Military service:
Indian Army
Date enlisted/conscripted:
20 December 1906
Date discharged/death:
25 November 1914
Rank at discharge/death:
Lieutenant
Assignments
Regiment:
The Poona Horse Regiment
Battalion/unit:
34th Prince Albert Victor’s Own Poona Horse
Posting:
Secunderabad in India, France
Campaigns:
Battles of La Bassée, Armentières, Neuve Chapelle, Festubert
Medals:
Victoria Cross
Roll of Honour
Commonwealth Graves Commission
Rank:
Lieutenant
Date of Death:
25 November 1914
Age:
27 years old
Regiment / service:
34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse
Cemetery:
Bethune Town Cemetery, France
Grave reference:
I. A. 24.
Additional information:
Personal inscription:
SON OF ELIOT AND BEATRICE DE PASS BORN 26TH APRIL 1887 ". . . . . . . LOVED. GONE, PROUDLY FRIENDED".
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Documenting & commemorating the contribution British Jews made during the First World War.
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