James Fynn

Finn was born in St Clement near Truro, Cornwall. His father, John Finn, served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in the Boer War, and again in the Special Reserve during the First World War. James Finn served as a territorial soldier with the 5th Battalion, DCLI before moving to the South Wales Valleys looking for work. He eventually found employment at the colliery at Cwmtillery near Abertillery.

On the outbreak of war, he immediately enlisted with the local regiment, the South Wales Borderers and was duly posted to their 4th (Service) Battalion. On enlistment, his surname was incorrectly recorded as "Fynn".[3]

Photograph of James Finn (Fynn) VC

On 15 July 1915, the battalion landed at Gallipoli. Fynn was wounded in the knee and chest, and invalided back to Britain. After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion had moved to Mesopotamia, and Fynn rejoined them there. He acted as orderly to the commanding officer, Lt. Col. C. E. Kitchen.

It was on 9 April 1916 at Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia (now Iraq), that 22-year-old Private Fynn earned the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

For most conspicuous bravery. After a night attack he was one of a small party which dug-in in front of our advanced line and about 300 yards from the enemy's trenches. Seeing several wounded men lying out in front he went out and bandaged them all under heavy fire, making several journeys in order to do so. He then went back to our advanced trench for a stretcher and, being unable to get one, he himself carried on his back a badly wounded man into safety. He then returned and, aided by another man who was wounded during the act, carried in another badly wounded man. He was under continuous fire while performing this gallant work.

— The London Gazette, 26 September 1916.[4]

Fynn was decorated with the ribbon of the VC by Lt Gen Sir Stanley Maude at Amara on 5 November 1916. On 29 March 1917 he was wounded in the leg in an engagement at Marl Plain, 50 miles north of Baghdad. He was taken by stretcher to the field ambulance the next day, but on the way he was struck in the side by another bullet, which proved fatal.

The VC was presented to his father at a public investiture in Hyde Park on 2 June 1917 by King George V.

Fynn was also mentioned in dispatches (London Gazette, 19 October 1916). He was awarded the Serbian Cross of the Karageorge (1st Class) with swords (London Gazette, 15 February 1917).[5]

His memorial at Basra, Iraq can be found at panel numbers 16 and 32 on the Basra Memorial which was originally sited within Basra War Cemetery.

In 1966, Fynn was also remembered at his home town of Bodmin when an estate was named "Finn VC Estate" in his honour. A plaque commemorating the event was unveiled, and can be seen opposite the old library in Bodmin. His VC was donated to the town council but is not on public display.

Whilst his body was never returned to Cornwall he is remembered on his father's headstone in Bodmin Cemetery.

In March, 2016 a commemorative paving stone was unveiled at Mount Folly in Bodmin[6]

There are memorials also at Havard Chapel, Brecon Cathedral; St Michael's Church, Abertillery; Town War Memorial, Abertillery.[7]

There is a painting of the action which was published in The Sphere, Tatler, and also The Times Illustrated History of the Great War. The original artwork was by Ugo Matania and is held at the Wellcome Library, London.[8]

• Gliddon, Gerald (2005). The Sideshows. VCs of the First World War. Gloucestershire, England: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7509-2084-1.

• Victoria Cross details