Ernest Albert Egerton VC (10 November 1897 – 14 February 1966) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Ernest Albert Egerton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 10 November 1897 Longton, Staffordshire |
| Died | 14 February 1966 (aged 68) Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire |
| Buried | St Peter's Churchyard, Blythe Bridge |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1915 - 1919 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | North Staffordshire Regiment The Sherwood Foresters Home Guard |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Egerton was born on 10 November 1897. When he was 19 years old, and a Corporal in the 16th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment),[1] British Army during the First World War, he was awarded the VC for his actions during the Battle of Passchendaele.
On 20 September 1917 southeast of Ypres, Belgium: ...during an attack, visibility was bad owing to fog and smoke. As a result, the two leading waves of the attack passed over certain hostile dugouts without clearing them and enemy rifles and machine-guns from these dugouts were inflicting severe casualties. Corporal Egerton at once responded to a call for volunteers to help in clearing up the situation and he dashed for the dugouts under heavy fire at short range. He shot a rifleman, a bomber and a gunner, by which time support had arrived and 29 of the enemy surrendered.[2]
He later achieved the rank of sergeant. He served in the Home Guard in World War II and died on 14 February 1966.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Sherwood Foresters Museum in Nottingham Castle.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Victoria Cross Winners". Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
- ^ "No. 30400". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1917. pp. 12328–12329.
- ^ "Victoria Cross Winners". Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
Bibliography
edit- Snelling, Stephen (2012) [1998]. Passchendaele 1917. VCs of the First World War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0752476667.
External links
edit- Webpage about Sergeant Egertons Life Archived 18 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Staffordshire)
- Location of grave and VC medal (Staffordshire)
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