Frank de Pass explained

Frank de Pass
Birth Date:26 April 1887
Birth Place:Kensington, Middlesex, England
Death Place:Festubert, France
Placeofburial:Bethune Town Cemetery
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Indian Army
Serviceyears:1906–1914
Rank:Lieutenant
Unit:Royal Horse Artillery
34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse
Battles:First World War
Awards:Victoria Cross
Mentioned in Despatches

Frank Alexander de Pass, VC (26 April 1887 – 25 November 1914) was an officer in the British Indian Army and a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the first Jew to receive the VC.[1] [2]

Early life and family

De Pass was born in Kensington to London merchant Sir Eliot de Pass and Beatrice de Mercado.[3] The family's original surname, Shalom, was translated to the Spanish word for peace and became Paz before being anglicised to Pass when the family first settled in England in the 1660s.[4] [1] De Pass attended Rugby School.[5]

His sister, Marjorie, married Sir Henry Kitson and had two sons, including Sir Frank Kitson.[6]

First World War

By the age of 27, De Pass had attained the rank of lieutenant in the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse.

On 24 November 1914, de Pass entered a German sap near Festubert, France, and destroyed a traverse in the face of the enemy's bombs. He also rescued, under heavy fire, a wounded man who was lying exposed to enemy bullets in the open. The next day, de Pass was killed in a second attempt to capture the sap, which the enemy had re-occupied. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 18 February 1915. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London.Web site: National Army Museum. National Army Museum. 2023. Lieutenant Frank de Pass. National Army Museum. 25 November 2023 . The full citation for the award reads as follows:

In 2014, on the centennial of his death, de Pass was honoured with a memorial paving stone laid outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, London.[2] The ceremony was attended by his nephew, Colonel Jonny Kitson, his great nephew Thomas Kitson and Victoria Cross recipient Sergeant Johnson Beharry.[1]

See also

Publications

Notes and References

  1. News: First World War hero honoured at Whitehall . 18 May 2019 . gov.uk . 25 November 2014 . en.
  2. News: Culbertson . Alix . First Jewish Victoria Cross recipient honoured 100 years after being shot dead . 18 May 2019 . Get West London . 26 November 2014.
  3. News: Obituary: Sir Eliot De Pass – The West India Committee . . 12 July 1937 . 14 .
  4. Book: Field . Peter Old . Victoria Crosses on the Western Front August 1914 – April 1915: Mons to Hill 60 . 2014 . Pen and Sword . 9781783030439 . 184 . en.
  5. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/62690 De Pass, Frank Alexander
  6. Book: Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood. Burke's Peerage & Gentry . Mosley, Charles . Charles Mosley (genealogist) . 107 . 2003 . 2208 . Burke . 0-9711966-2-1.