Ceremony to honour Laugharne war hero

A CEREMONY has taken place to honour a war hero from Laugharne – the first Welsh man to be awarded a Victoria Cross for heroic deeds in World War One.

William Charles Fuller has had a paving stone laid in his honour as part of the WW1 100th anniversary commemorations.

Mr Fuller was awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1914, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be given.

Now, as part of the commemorations, all VC recipients are receiving a paving stone in their honour to be laid in their home county.

As the stones are being laid 100 years to the date that the VC was awarded the ceremony for Mr Fuller took place on September 14.

Dozens of members of Mr Fuller’s family came from across the UK to be at the event organised by Carmarthenshire County Council and Laugharne Town Council.

The paving stone was unveiled by his daughter Muriel Crooks, aged 91, who said it was a very proud day for her family.

“It’s been a fantastic day and a wonderful honour,” Mrs Crooks said. “I am completely overwhelmed and very proud.”

The unveiling was part of a ceremony that took place at Laugharne Memorial Hall, which included the playing of the Last Post and a two minute silence.

Armed Forces Champion Cllr Kevin Madge was one of the speakers at the event. He said: “One hundred years ago, William Fuller became the first Welsh man in World War One to be awarded the Victoria Cross, it was and is a huge honour, and we are delighted to be able to pay tribute to him.

“Both my grandfathers fought in the Great War and thankfully both returned. We are grateful to all those men who fought, we recognise their heroism and the sacrifices they made for the freedom we have today.”

William Fuller’s heroic deeds

On September 14, 1914, Lance Corporal Fuller of the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, was near Chivy-sur-Aisne in France.

Despite heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire he advanced to extract a wounded officer and carried him back to cover.

Fuller won his VC for saving Captain Mark Haggard, nephew of famous author Rider Haggard, who had fallen wounded.

He carried him a distance of around 100 yards to a ridge where he managed to dress the officer’s wounds.

Capt Haggard asked Fuller to fetch his rifle from where he’d fallen as he did not want the enemy to get it. Fuller managed to do this.

With the help of two others, Fuller managed to get Haggard to the safety of a barn that was being used as a First-Aid dressing station.

He remained with Captain Haggard trying to help him until the officer died later on that evening.

His last words to Fuller were “Stick it, Welsh.” After the officer died Fuller attended to two other officers who had also been brought to the barn wounded.

The barn came under heavy fire and the wounded men and officers were evacuated. Later it was razed to the ground with German shell-fire.

On October 29, Fuller was wounded while dressing the wounds of Private Tagge a fellow soldier.

Shrapnel entered his right side, 12 inches in up to his shoulder blade and came to rest on his right lung.

He was sent to Swansea Hospital where they operated, removing the shrapnell and was given a home posting after his recovery as a successful recruiting sergeant in his native Wales.

Fuller also served in the Swansea Home Guard in World War II and was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for Life Saving.

He died at the age of 90 in December 1974 and is buried in Oystermouth Cemetery.

Family history

William Fuller was born on March 13, 1884, at Newbridge Road, Laugharne, the son of William and Mary Fuller of Laugharne.

He was educated in Swansea, and joined the Army in 1902 during the Second Boer War.

Fuller was recalled as a reservist in 1914 where he joined the 2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment.

He died in 1974, at the age of 90, and is buried in Oystermouth Cemetery.