Buried at Egremont Cemetery Rank Private Years of service 1910 - 1919 | Service/branch British Army Allegiance United Kingdom Name Harry Christian | |
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Died 2 September 1974
West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven | ||
Harry Christian VC (17 January 1892 – 2 September 1974) 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 members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.
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Christian was 23 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place at Cuinchy, France, for which he was awarded the VC.
The citation, published in the London Gazette on 3 March 1916, read:
“For most conspicuous bravery. He was holding a crater with five or six men in front of our trenches. The enemy commenced a very heavy bombardment of the position with; heavy "minenwerfer" bombs, forcing a temporary withdrawal.
When he found that three men were missing, Private Christian at once returned alone to the crater, and, although bombs were continually bursting actually on the edge of the crater, he found, dug out, and carried one by one into safety all three men, thereby undoubtedly saving their lives. Later he placed himself where he could see the bombs coming, and directed his comrades when and where to seek cover.”
The Medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The King's Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment Museum in Lancaster, England.