Anyone else for the Victoria Cross?
October 9, 2013 7:12 PM
My father used to talk of a scene from a movie, I assume World War One but who knows. At the front under heavy fire the commander tells his men that anyone who gets across the line will be awarded the Victoria Cross. A young soldier jumps up saying he'll do it and as soon as he lifts his head up he is shot dead. The commander then turns to the remaining men and asks "anyone else for the Victoria Cross"
I have heard this story all my life and would love to know the movie it came from.
As described it sounds more (black) comedic than realistic (the trenches were usually deep enough for men to stand up in), ruling out some possibilities, unless you're less certain about that detail. There are certainly plenty of war movies, especially I would name Paths of Glory and Gallipoli, that characterize trench warfare in a brutal and futile manner. But usually people were shot going "over the top".
But this does feel familiar, and may be a variant of something about the Civil War, for example, perhaps at Gettysburg.
posted by dhartung at 5:04 AM on October 10, 2013
But this does feel familiar, and may be a variant of something about the Civil War, for example, perhaps at Gettysburg.
posted by dhartung at 5:04 AM on October 10, 2013
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posted by aspen1984 at 7:33 PM on October 9, 2013