HEROISM EMERGES FROM THE GREAT WAR 161
Table 8.2 The cost of courage, 1917: casualties per quarter
Quarter Jan.–Mar. April–June July–Sept. Oct.–Dec. 1917 Total
20 47 48 55 174

Awarded Raw % Raw % Raw % Raw % Raw %

No Wound 10 50 22 47 29 60 33 60 96 55
WIA 5 25 11 23 7 15 5 9 28 16
DOW 2 10 2 4 8 17 6 11 18 10
KIA 3 15 12 26 4 8 10 18 29 17
Total Casualties 10 50 25 53 19 40 22 ∗ 40 78 45
Total Lethal 2 25 14 30 12 25 16 29 18 28

• Total includes one unwounded soldier taken prisoner.
  The statistics for the first quarter of 1918 deviated sharply from the pattern
  of 1917 (Table 8.3), with a huge spike in the number of Crosses granted
  for defensive actions, but this does not indicate a change in the concept of
  heroism. In the first quarter the brunt of the German Spring Offensive fell
  on the British. For the rest of the year the pattern of 1917 was repeated and
  intensified.
  Table 8.3 Acts winning the Victoria Cross, 1918: winners by quarter
  Quarter Jan.–Mar. April–June July–Sept. Oct.–Dec. 1918 Total
  27 37 86 44 203*

  Awarded Raw % Raw % Raw % Raw % Raw %

  
  

  War-Winning 26 96 29 78 82 95 40 31 182 90

  
  

• Offensive 1 4 15 40 67 78 24 54 110 54


• Defensive 19 70 7 19 11 13 3 7 41 20


• Symbolic 4 15 2 5 2 2 3 7 11 5


• Secondary 2 7 5 13 2 2 10 23 20 10
  Humanitarian 0 0 6 16 3 3 2 4 13 6


• Enlisted 0 0 6 16 3 3 2 4 13 6


• Officer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Symbolic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Special 1 4 2 5 1 1 2 4 8 4

• Total includes Crosses awarded for cumulative valour not reflected in quarter figures.