NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Friday 15 September 1916

Bravery Rewarded - Jerseyman Receives the Military Medal. A special supplement of the London Gazette issued last evening states that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field on various occasions during the progress of the campaign to a number of NCOs and men. The list includes the following Jerseyman, 7533 V H Andrews RAMC. The above soldier is the son of Mr & Mrs Andrews of Clearview Street and was formerly an Assistant Scout Master in 1st Jersey (St Simons) Troop of Boy Scouts. and has been at the Front since the outbreak of hostilities.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 14 July 1917

Jersey Boy Scout Awarded Bar to Military Medal. We are pleased to state that ex-Assistant Scout Master Vernon Andrews, who has been serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in France since the first landing of the BEF, has been awarded a Bar to his Military Medal for conspicuous bravery and continuous devotion to duty. It will be remembered that this young Jerseyman, who is a son of Mr & Mrs W Andrews of Clearview Street, was recommended for the DCM and later received the Military Medal for gallantry on several occasions during the early stages of the war. He is a former member of the 1st Jersey (St Simons) Troop of Boy Scouts and we trust will be spared to gain even further honour for himself, his old corps and his native Island. Our congratulations to the gallant Scout who, we understand, is expected on leave shortly.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 18 August 1917

Decorated for Bravery in the Field. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of a Bar to the Military Medal for 7533 Private (Acting Corporal) V H Andrews, Royal Army Medical Corps. As stated previously the above was Assistant Scout Master in the 1st Jersey (St Simons) Troop of Boy Scouts.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 22 September 1917

Gallant Jersey Soldier on Leave Awarded Military Medal and Bar. Arriving by yesterday's mail steamer was Corporal V H Andrews of the Royal Army Medical Corps, the only Jerseyman to date who has gained the Military Medal and Silver Rose denoting that he has been awarded the Bar for further acts of gallantry in the field. Corporal Andrews, who is one of the few Jerseyman who will have received the medal awarded by the King to the original Expeditionary Force, landed in France with the 1st Cavalry Division and has been in the fighting line practically ever since. The gallant Corporal was handed both the decorations near the Front and like all heroes will not talk of the acts which won him the double distinction. Previous to joining up Corporal Andrews was an Assistant Scout Master in the 1st Jersey (St Simons) Troop of Boy Scouts and we understand that due honour will be paid to the gallant scout at a Church Parade on Thursday next, in all probability a public reception will follow this Parade which will take place in the early evening.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Wednesday 26 September 1917

Tomorrows Public Reception. Everything points to tomorrows public reception at the Town Hall to Corporal Vernon Andrews of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who has been awarded the Military Medal and Bar for continued acts of bravery in the field, being one of the most enthusiastic and successful of the series. The gallant lad, being an Assistant Scout Master of 1st Jersey Troop, a Church Parade of the local Troops of Boy Scouts will be held at 6.30 at St Helier Parish Church at which an address will be given by the Very Reverend the Dean. At the conclusion the Scouts will march to the Town Hall for the public reception at 7.15. The general public are heartily invited to both functions. From what we can gather the story of gallantry which will be unfolded will be thrilling in the extreme and we feel sure the Islanders will show their appreciation of the gallant Scout by being present in very large numbers. We are asked to state that the reception will conclude before 8pm and that all Troops of Boy Scouts should assemble at St Pauls Schoolyard by 5.45. St Ouens Scouts should meet outside St Ouens Parish Hall at 4 o'clock and St Helier Troop at St Clements Road at 5 o'clock.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Friday 28 September 1917

Honour for Gallant Scout - Enthusiastic Scenes at Town Hall. A few days ago when it was announced that Corporal V R Andrews of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who had been awarded the Military Medal and Bar for bravery in the field, was on leave in his native Island and that a public reception and presentation would take place at the Town Hall, it was a foregone conclusion that the Islanders, who are always ready to do honour to a hero, would do so to the gallant Corporal who was one of the original British Expeditionary Force and had been doubly honoured by His Majesty the King in unmistakable fashion, and so it proved to be. Crowds thronged the road leading to the Town Hall as the hero marched from St Helier Parish Church with the Boy Scouts and the enthusiastic and thrilling scenes at the Town Hall have rarely been eclipsed at any of the historic functions which have taken place at that locale. The hero, having been an Assistant Scout Master in the 1st Jersey (St Simons) Troop of Boy Scouts, the members of the local Association held a special parade in his honour.
On arrival at the sacred edifice the lads, who numbered about 120, were accommodated in seats near the chancel, Corporal Andrews being with the Scout officers, the church officers on duty directing the large number of the general public, who included many officials and supporters of the Scouts, to the other parts of the church. Shortly before 6.30 the Colour Party deposited the colours either side of the altar, the Boy Scouts Choir shortly afterwards taking their seats in the chancel. The Very Reverend the Dean, with whom was the Reverend A E Briggs, conducted the service, which though brief was impressive to a marked degree, and speaking from the litany desk he said that they had met not only to honour one of their own brave lads but to pray for our lads at home and fighting. The singing of the National Anthem and the Benediction pronounced by the Dean brought a most memorable service to a close. The Scouts reformed and headed by the bugle band marched to the Town Hall, large crowds lining the street en route. The District Scout Master and Assistant Scout Master Andrews marched with the Colour Party. A space at the upper end of the hall had been reserved for the accommodation of the scouts as they marched down from the service and long before the arrival of the lads all the remaining accommodation in the hall was taken up by the public, who were anxious to be present at the ceremony to do honour to the brave young Islander. On arriving at the hall shortly before 7.30 the lads of the bugle band and the Colour bearers took their places on the platform, the remainder of the lads who had taken part in the parade forming up on the staircase to form a guard of honour. When the Scouts had taken their places on the foremost benches any remaining space available in the hall was opened to the public and when the proceedings began the place was filled to over-flowing, hundreds being unable to obtain admission. As the Constable with Corporal Andrews and the other folk of the platform party entered the room the Scouts buglers, from their elevated position, blew the salute and so moving was the moment that the huge assembly rose to its feet applauding in no measured manner. The Constable of St Helier who presided said that last Sunday they met together to honour a Jersey hero and that night they were meeting again to honour another and he hoped that many more similar occasions would arise as they showed that wherever they went Jerseymen were ready to do their duty. On looking around the hall he saw many ladies but, happily, practically no men of military age, while he was pleased to see present the Boy Scouts, the manhood of the future. They had met to honour Corporal Vernon Andrews of the RAMC, one of the men who after a battle had to face the dangers incumbent upon going into No Mans Land to succour the wounded and bring in the dead. The Corporal had won the Military Medal twice over and in all probability would shortly receive further recognition from one of the Allies. Deputy Cory said he was pleased to have this opportunity of expressing to the hero of the evening the esteem, admiration and respect of the inhabitants of Jersey, the speaker then gave an extract from the record of service of Corporal Andrews, who was in the retreat from Mons and also went through the battles of the Marne and the Aisne, he also told of the circumstances under which Corporal Andrews had won his Military Medal on 15 May 1915 and the Bar, which had been won some 3 months ago. Prior to joining the Army early in January 1914 Corporal Andrews, who is one of three brothers serving King and Country, was Assistant Scout Master of the St Simons Troop and he wished to compliment the parents on their brave son. The Corporal belonged to the little army that had been termed by the Kaiser "contemptible", it was so in one respect only, its size, and they regretted that so few of that army remained today. He was one of the brave men who in the early days of August and September 1914 saved Paris and was one of the 160,000 men who held up Von Kluck and his army and so made the victory of the Marne possible and thus saving Paris and probably the remainder of Western Europe from coming under the sway of the Hun. Deputy Cory, who throughout his splendid address, which we regret we cannot give in full, was constantly applauded sat down amidst a great outburst of applause that showed unmistakably that he had in his speech touched the hearts of the people whose thoughts were at one with those he had expressed. The Constable then asked Corporal Andrews to accept a suitably engraved gold watch and a Parchment stating the circumstances under which he had won merited recognition from his Country and in handing these to him Mr Pinel, on behalf of the Jersey people, offered him hearty congratulations and every good wish for the future. Corporal Andrews, who spoke briefly but in a simple and manly way, thanked the Constable and Deputy Cory for their remarks and also for the valuable gift. He had but done his duty as every British soldier was always prepared to do. He wished to thank the Scouts for their presence that evening and also all those who from time to time had sent cheering messages to him and others of their men who were serving King and Country, these messages from home showed that they were being thought of and helped them to cheerfully face all dangers so that the object the Allies were fighting for might be attained and complete victory ground their arms. The applause, which again broke out after this speech, having subsided the large audience rose and sang the National Anthem, while on the call of Deputy Cory cheers were given for Corporal Andrews, for his brothers, for all other Jersey boys fighting and finally for King and Country.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Wednesday 27 February 1918

Brothers Meet in Hospital. Corporal V Andrews of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Private W Andrews of the Royal Engineers, sons of Mr Andrews of Clearview Street, are now both wearing the 1914 ribbon having been in France since the early days of August 1914. For four years these brothers have not met until recently when the Corporal chanced to find his brother an inmate of a hospital somewhere in France, needless to say the meeting was a pleasant and memorable one for both.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Tuesday 9 April 1918

Roll of Honour. Gallant Jerseyman Dies of Wounds. Another brave Jersey lad who had been decorated on two occasions for succouring wounded men in No Mans Land, Corporal Vernon H Andrews MM of the Royal Army Medical Corps, has died of wounds received whilst carrying out his duties. This news will be received with great regret by a large circle of acquaintances and friends, for the gallant hero, who was an Assistant Scout Master in the 1st Jersey (St Simons) Troop of Boy Scouts, had by his splendid and unassuming character endeared himself to all he came into contact with. His parents, Mr & Mrs Andrews of 23 Clearview Street, had not received any news of their son for some time and becoming anxious wired the Record Office, who last evening replied that the Corporal died at a Casualty Clearing Station on Palm Sunday, through being struck in the face by a bomb. Vernie, as he was popularly known, was just over 22 and joined up in 1914, landing in France on 16 August with the 1st Cavalry Division, with whom he took part in the memorable retreat and subsequent advance to the Marne and Aisne, where he had, in carrying out his duties, to witness many of the inhuman acts of the Hun. He had been mentioned in Sir John French's and also in Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches and won the Military Medal for gallantry in action in March 1915, though he himself had become a casualty. He was decorated with the Bar to the Medal in June 1917 when he again showed total disregard for all danger when carrying out his work. He was in the Island on leave from France last September and was given a public reception and presentation at the Town Hall when a special parade of the Jersey Scouts took place. To the parents, who have two other sons in France, and the other relatives we tender our heartfelt sympathy in their bereavement.