Geoffrey Harold Woolley

Geoffrey Harold Woolley VC OBE MC (14 May 1892-10 December 1968) 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.

As a child, he attended Parmiter's School. He was 22 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 9th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

During the night of 20/21 April 1915 on Hill 60, Belgium, Second Lieutenant Woolley was the only officer on the hill at the time, but with very few men he successfully resisted all attacks on his trench, and continued throwing bombs and encouraging his men until relieved. His trench during all this time was being heavily shelled and bombed.

He later achieved the rank of Captain. He resigned his commission in 1923.

Woolley was later ordained into the Church of England. In 1940 he was commissioned into the Royal Army Chaplains' Department and reached the rank of Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class (Major). His son Rollo, a Spitfire pilot, died in the same year. He resigned his commission in 1952.

References

* Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
* The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
* VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915 (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/sussex.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(West Sussex)"