Bertram Best-Dunkley

Bertram Best-Dunkley (3 August 1890-5 August 1917) 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.

He was 26 years old, and a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2/5th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 31 July 1917 at Wieltje, Belgium, when the leading waves of the attack had become disorganised by rifle and machine-gun fire at very close range from positions which were believed to be in British hands, Lieutenant Colonel Best-Dunkley dashed forward, rallied his men and personally led them to the assault of these positions, which despite heavy losses, were carried. He continued to lead his battalion until all their objectives were gained. Later in the day, when the British position was threatened, he gathered up his men, led them to the attack, and beat off the advancing German forces. He later died of his wounds.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)

External links

*gutenberg|no=17813|name=At Ypres with Best-Dunkley by Thomas Hope Floyd, by Thomas Hope Floyd, from Project Gutenberg