Memorial

Private J Rivers

Rivers VC Plaque

Source: Copyright Graham Wild

1/2

Current Location

Platform 1, Derby Railway Station, Nelson St, Derby, South Derbyshire, Derbyshire, DE1 2SA, England

SK 36208 35543

Send us details and photographs of your local war memorials, to help enhance the information about the people, places and events they commemorate.

This record shows everything IWM currently knows about this memorial. We are continually updating our records.

To share information or photographs, contact us.

WMR Reference Number: 76648
Description: Black plaque bearing Victoria Cross at top and gold inscription.
Inscription: IN MEMORY OF / PRIVATE JACOB RIVERS VC / 1ST BATTALION SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE REGIMENT) (17TH NOVEMBER 1881-12TH MARCH 1915) / BORN IN DERBY, JACOB RIVERS ENLISTED INTO THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS / IN JUNE 1889 AND SERVED IN INDIA UNTIL HE WAS DISCHARGED INTO THE / REERVE IN JUNE 1907. HE REMAINED THERE UNTIL JUNE 1911 WHEN HE / JOINED THE MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY AT DERBY WORKING AS A / LABOURER ON BALLAST TRAINS. HE RE-ENLISTED INTO THE 1ST BATTALION / SHERWOOD FORESTERS ON 18TH AUGUST 1914, AND WAS SENT TO FRANCE. / AT NEUVE CHAPPELLE, ON THE 12TH MARCH 1915, ACTING ON HI OWN / INITIATIVE, HE CREPT WITHIN YARDS OF A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF ENEMY / TROOPS AND 'HURLED BOMBS ON THEM' CAUSING THEM TO RETIRE. LATER THE SAME DAY, HE REPEATED HIS ACT OF BRAVERY, ONLY TO BE KILLED. / FOR HIS COURAGE HE WAS AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS. WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE, HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE / LE TOURET MEMORIAL