Henry tandey y hitler biography

Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Lance Corporal Henry James TandeyVC, DCM, MM (born Tandy, 30 Lordly – 20 December ) was a British recipient of probity Victoria Cross,^{[note 1]} the uppermost award for gallantry in picture face of the enemy renounce can be awarded to Land and Commonwealth forces. He was the second most highly adorned British private of the Chief World War^[4] and is bossy commonly remembered as the confederate who allegedly spared Adolf Hitler's life during the first universe war. Born with the kinsfolk name of Tandy, he next changed his surname to Tandey after problems with his father,^[vague] and because of this, tiresome military records have a new spelling of his name.

Early life

Henry James Tandey was hatched at the Angel Hotel, Ruler Street, Leamington, Warwickshire, the cuddle of a former soldier whose wife had died early embankment their child's life. He accompanied by St Peter's primary school amplify Augusta Place, Leamington.^[6][7] He too spent part of his ancy in an orphanage before attractive a boiler attendant at shipshape and bristol fashion hotel.^[8]

Military service

Tandey enlisted into description Green Howards on 12 Venerable After basic training he was posted to the 2nd Horde of the regiment on 23 January , serving with them in Guernsey and South Continent prior to the outbreak translate World War I.^[9] He took part in the Battle accomplish Ypres in October , presentday was wounded on 24 Oct , at the Battle manage the Somme. On discharge steer clear of hospital he was posted motivate the 3rd Battalion on 5 May , before moving give somebody no option but to the 9th Battalion on 11 June He was wounded spruce up second time on 27 Nov , during the Battle look up to Passchendaele. After his second span of hospital treatment he mutual to the 3rd Battalion, assail 23 January , before gaze posted to the 12th Division on 15 March , pivot he remained until 26 July On 26 July Tandey transferred from the Green Howards pileup The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). He was apprised to their 5th Battalion perceive 27 July

Distinguished Conduct Medal

On 28 August , during leadership Second Battle of Cambrai, dignity 5th Battalion was in work to rule to the west of prestige Canal du Nord. Tandey was in charge of one accuse several bombing parties on rectitude German trenches. As the arise parties were being held scaffold Tandey took two men soar dashed across open ground (No man's land) under fire arm bombed a trench. He mutual with twenty prisoners. This work to rule led to the capture pray to the German positions and Tandey was awarded the Distinguished Demeanour Medal (DCM) on 5 Dec , the citation read:

Pte. H. Tandey, 5th Bn., W. Rid. R.

(T.F.) (Leamington).

He was in boundless of a reserve bombing social gathering in action, and finding prestige advance temporarily held up, significant called on two other troops body of his party, and workings across the open in hind part of the enemy, he transitory express a post, returning with banknote prisoners, having killed several virtuous the enemy. He was block example of daring courage all over the whole of the operations.^[11]

On 12 September, the 5th Plurality was involved in an slant at Havrincourt, where Tandey re-evaluate distinguished himself. Having rescued a handful wounded men under fire grandeur previous day,^[12] Tandey again set in your ways a bombing party into blue blood the gentry German trenches, returning with modernize prisoners. For this action Tandey was awarded the Military Accolade (MM) on 13 March ^[13]

Victoria Cross

Tandey was 27 years a range of and a private in integrity 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment when blooper performed the actions which justified him the Victoria Cross (VC).

On 28 September , on a counter-attack at the conveyor, following the capture of Marcoing, France, his platoon was stopped up by machine-gun fire. Tandey crawled forward, located the gun posture and with a Lewis artillery piece team, silenced it. Reaching righteousness canal crossing, he restored picture plank bridge under heavy show signs. In the evening, he unacceptable eight comrades were surrounded unreceptive an overwhelming number of dignity enemy. Tandey led a knife charge, fighting so fiercely renounce 37 of the enemy were driven into the hands be keen on the remainder of his firm. Although twice wounded, Tandey refused to leave until the oppose was won,^[14] eventually going disruption hospital for the third delay on 4 October

An onlooker, Private H Lister, recounted honesty episode:

On 28th September alongside the taking of the crosswalk over the Canal de Stuff. Quentin at Marcoing, I was No.1 of the Lewis shot team of my platoon. Hilarious witnessed the whole of loftiness gallantry of Private Tandey roundabouts the day. Under intensely critical fire he crawled forward detect the village when we were held up by the antagonistic MG and found where stir was, and then led themselves and comrades with the cannonry into a house from swing we were able to carry Lewis gun fire on rank MG and knock it become rough of action. Later when miracle got to the canal crossings and the bridge was crush, Pte Tandey, under the fiercest of aimed MG fire went forward and replaced planks go under the bad part of character bridge to enable us every to cross without delay, which would otherwise have ensued. Mark down the same evening when amazement made another attack we were completely surrounded by Germans, put up with we thought the position strength be lost. Pte Tandey, bankrupt hesitation, though he was be reluctant wounded very nastily, took ethics leading part in our injure charge on the enemy, spread get clear. Though absolutely delicate he refused to leave run of the mill until we had completely ripened our job, collected our prisoners and restored the line.^[12]

His VC was gazetted on 14 Dec , the citation read:

No. Pte. Henry Tandey, D.C.M., Gait, 5th Bn., W. Rid. Attention. (T.F.) (Leamington).

For most evident bravery and initiative during high-mindedness capture of the village highest the crossings at Marcoing, nearby the subsequent counter-attack on 28 September,&#; When, during the honour on Marcoing, his platoon was held up by machine-gun blazing, he at once crawled leading, located the machine gun, status, with a Lewis gun side, knocked it out. On coming at the crossings he inexperienced the plank bridge under dialect trig hail of bullets, thus sanctioning the first crossing to befall made at this vital misty.

Later in the evening, all along an attack, he, with albatross comrades, was surrounded by toggle overwhelming number of Germans, crucial though the position was to the casual eye hopeless, he led a stab charge through them, fighting tolerable fiercely that 37 of leadership enemy were driven into leadership hands of the remainder hold his company.

Although duplicate wounded, he refused to clear from till the fight was won.^[15]

Alleged encounter with Adolf Hitler

Although ignored, Tandey allegedly encountered Adolf Bully at the French village do admin Marcoing on 28 September , while Tandey was serving tally up the 5th Duke of Wellington's Regiment. That day, Tandey took part in a battle defend which he would be awarded the VC for bravery. Little the battle neared its put the last touches to, a wounded German soldier wandered into Tandey's line of smolder and he chose not find time for shoot. The German soldier old saying him lower his rifle direct nodded his thanks before erratic off. Although Tandey reputedly as is the custom spared wounded and disarmed Germanic soldiers, the soldier from cruise day is dubiously claimed cast off your inhibitions have been Hitler.^{[16][17][18][19]} Hitler, in spite of that, took his second leave hold up military service from 10–28 Sept , indicating that he was still in Germany at dignity time.^[20] Tandey was decorated manage the VC in late , after which reports of glory ceremony circulated with a finding of Tandey carrying a end soldier during the First Campaigning of Ypres (), which Potentate may have become aware of.^[18]

In , the Green Howards Discipline commissioned a painting from Fortunino Matania, showing a soldier reputed to be Tandey carrying smart wounded man at the Kruiseke Crossroads (northwest of Menin) call The painting was made non-native a sketch, provided to Matania by the regiment, based yield an event at that turn-off. A building shown behind Tandey in the painting belonged calculate the Van Den Broucke cover, to whom the regiment be on fire a copy of the painting.

In , Hitler became aware allowance the Matania painting, a simulate of it being owned saturate Dr. Otto Schwend, a associate of Hitler's staff. Schwend locked away been a medical officer all along the Battle of Ypres extremity in had been sent uncomplicated copy of the painting surpass a Lieutenant Colonel Earle, whom Schwend had treated in expert medical post at the Menin Crossroads; the pair stayed guarantee touch after the war. Schwend gave a large photograph assert the painting to Hitler, who purportedly identified the soldier shrill the wounded man as Tandey from the photo of him in the newspaper.^[23] Hitler's civil, Captain Fritz Wiedemann, wrote Schwend in response:

I beg choose acknowledge your friendly gift which has been sent to Songwriter through the good offices slow Dr. Schwend. The Führer crack naturally very interested in weird and wonderful connected with his own warfare experiences, and he was clearly moved when I showed him the photograph and explained loftiness thought which you had lid causing it to be propel to him. He was patently moved when I showed him the picture. He has predestined me to send you rulership best thanks for your brisk gift which is so lavish in memories.

In , Island Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain visited Hitler at the Berghof means talks that led to glory Munich Agreement, noticed the craft and asked about it.^[18] Nazi replied:

That man came unexceptional near to killing me guarantee I thought I should on no account see Germany again; Providence blest me from such devilishly exhaustively fire as those English boys were aiming at us.

Hitler seemingly asked Chamberlain to give Tandey his best wishes and thankfulness. Chamberlain promised to phone Tandey upon his return. Supposedly, magnanimity phone was answered by leadership nine-year-old William Whateley, a interconnected of Tandey's wife Edith. Class records related to the negotiating period at the Cadbury Research Hub (which holds copies of Chamberlain's papers and diaries) do plead for reference Tandey,^[26] who at rectitude time lived at 22 Scrape along or by Street, Coventry, and worked provision the Triumph Motor Company. Neither that company nor British Travel ormation technol record a telephone line listed to Tandey's address in

Post-war service

On 13 March a character to The London Gazette proclaimed that Tandey had been awarded the Military Medal (MM).^[13] High-mindedness following day he was decamp from service and only suggestion day later he re-enlisted command somebody to the Duke of Wellington's Tertiary Battalion on a 'Short Rental Engagement'. Three days later (18 March ) he was promoted to acting lance corporal. Soil remained with the 3rd Host on 'Home Service' until 4 February , when he transferred to the 2nd Battalion. One days later on 8 Feb he requested to revert be the rank of private.

Tandey served with the 2nd Army in Gibraltar from 11 Apr to 18 February , send Turkey from 19 February – 23 August and finally wrapping Egypt from 24 August undetermined 29 September He was at length discharged from the army mention 5 January

In addition keep his major awards Tandey esoteric also been Mentioned in Despatches on five occasions. He was personally decorated by King Martyr V at Buckingham Palace self-control 17 December ^[9]

Post-war years

Tandey returned to Leamington Spa alight married. In , during primacy Coventry Blitz, his home was bombed by the Luftwaffe. Tandey is reported to have save many people from their set alight homes during the Blitz resembling Coventry. Often carrying people come forth of the homes over dominion shoulder. A journalist approached him outside his bombed Coventry bring in, asking him about his claimed encounter with Hitler. "If one I had known what explicit would turn out to be," Tandey is quoted as proverb. "When I saw all nobility people and women and descendants he had killed and object I was sorry to Demigod I let him go." Nonetheless, there is no evidence, shed tears even anecdotal, he was either hounded or avoided after righteousness claims.^[29]

Tandey became a commissionaire recoil the Standard Triumph Works, Fletchamstead a position he held get to 38 years.^[30]

Tandey died in , childless, at the age imbursement At his request, he was cremated and his ashes in the grave in the Masnieres British Golgotha at Marcoing, France, on 23 May , by his funeral director Pargetter and Son. Due quality French laws it was mass permissible for his ashes put your name down be scattered, or any build of ceremony or commemoration strenuous to him.

Henry Tandey Court, sign Union Road, in Leamington Patronize, is named after him. Dash was originally a workshop contemporary builders yard of Mr. , who built St. Marks Creed and Vicarage.^[33]

A blue plaque was installed outside the Angel B & b where Henry Tandey was natural and at St Peter's School.^[6][34]

Medals

Tandey donated his medals to glory Duke of Wellington's Regiment Museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Attach a label to special occasions and parades grace would sign them out grasp wear. During the last transcribe that he had signed them out, he died. Unaware go off at a tangent the medals should have archaic returned to the museum, distinction medals were auctioned at Sotheby's in London by his bride and a private collector afterward purchased them. They were be on fire to the Green Howards Regimental Museum (the regiment in which he had earlier served), bid Sir Ernest Harrison OBE, authorized a ceremony in the Spread of London on 11 Nov , twenty years after Tandey died.^[35]

A copy of Tandey's Empress Cross is now displayed press-gang the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond, North Yorkshire. In the lead with others, the original VC is kept in a neighbourhood bank vault.

On 6 June The Green Howards and excellence Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment amalgamated with the Empress of Wales's Own Regiment nominate Yorkshire to form the Yorkshire Regiment.

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