Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett

Cyril Bassett, VC.

Bassett's grave in [North Shore Memorial Park] Cemetery.

Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett (3 January 1892 – 2 January 1983) was a New Zealander 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. He was the first New Zealander to be awarded the VC in World War I.

He was 23 years old, and a corporal in the New Zealand Divisional Signal Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

New Zealand VC Winners. Back row, Left to Right: Col. L.W. Andrew, Maj. R.S. Judson, Pte. J.D. Crichton, Lt. H.J. Laurent, Lt. C.R.G. Bassett
Front row, Sg. J.D. Hinton, Lt. K. Elliott, Cpt. C.H. Upham, Sg. A.C. Hulme, Cpt. S. Frickleton, Lt. J.G. Grant.

On 7 August 1915 at Chunuk Bair Ridge, Gallipoli, Turkey, after the New Zealand Brigade had attacked and established itself on the ridge, Corporal Bassett, in full daylight and under continuous fire, succeeded in laying a telephone line from the old position to the new one on Chunuk Bair. He also did further gallant work in connection with the repair of telephone lines by day and night under heavy fire. He is quoted "I was so short that the bullets just passed over me".

He later achieved the rank of colonel.

During World War II, he trained others in skills he had attained in World War I. According to his daughter, her father rarely spoke about his achievements. "It just wasn't done". ^[1]

Reference list

1. ^ Eames, David (24 April 2009). "Gallipoli hero downplayed his achievement". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10568337. Retrieved 26 September 2011. 

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
• VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)

External links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
• Bassett C.R.G.
• New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (brief biography details)

Persondata
Name	Bassett, Cyril Royston Guyton
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	3 January 1892
Place of birth
Date of death	1953
Place of death