Memorial Title
Pte J Rivers VC
Summary
Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a war memorial room to Pte Jacob Rivers in the Council House, Derby.
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Locations
| Last known location: Council House Corporation St Derby |
Nearest postcode: DE1 2FS NGR: SK 35430 36347 (From online digital mapping.) |
Location details: A reception room on the first floor of the civic suite. |
Type
| Overall type: Room |
Overall condition: Good The inscription is legible and the memorial is well cared for. |
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| Description: A wooden panelled reception room with a sign plate on the door and a glazed and framed display on the wall. |
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Inscription
| Sign plate: | Jacob Rivers VC Reception Room |
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| Display: | 6016 Private Jacob Rivers VC | ||||||||||
| Jacob was born in Derby on the 17th November 1882, the son of Mrs Adeline Rivers of Court 12, House 4, Wide Yard, Bridge Gate, Derby. He served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers from 1899 to 1907, seeing service in India. On the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, he re-enlisted into the Notts and Derby Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters), going to France in December 1914. He was with the 1st Battalion when it was engaged in the action at Neuve Chapelle in early 1915, and it was here that he was to win the Victoria Cross (VC). The citation for the award appeared in the London Gazette dated 28th April 1915 and reads: "For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve Chapell, on the 12th March 1915, when he, on his own initiative, crept to within a few yards of a very large number of the enemy who were massed on the flank of an advance company of his battalion, and hurled bombs at them. His action caused the enemy to retire, and so relieved the situation. Private Rivers performed a second act of great bravery on the same day,similar to the first mentioned, again causing the enemy to retire. He was killed on this occasion." His Victoria Cross was presented to his mother by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 26th November 1916. The people of Derby were extremely proud of their own VC winner, Private Jacob Rivers, and on the 23rd March 1923 they made his mother a Freeman of the City of Derby, an honour she shared with Earl Haig and the Duke of Devonshire. Mrs Rivers died on the 1st March 1937, and in accordance with her wishes, the Victoria Cross, 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal awarded to her son Jacob were presented to the regiment at a civic reception on 7th April 1937, and are now displayed at the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Museum in Nottingham Castle. |
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Administration
Local authorities:
Before 1974: Derby County Borough Council (Derby Corporation)
From 1974 to 1997: Derby District (later Borough and from 1977 City) Council and Derbyshire County Council.
Since 1997 the unitary authority has been Derby City Council.
History
References
Comments