Arthur Walderne St. Clair Tisdall

Arthur Walderne St. Clair Tisdall VC (21 July 1890 - 6 May 1915) was a 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 attended Bedford School from 1900 to 1909.

He was 24 years old, and a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, (Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division) during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 25 April 1915 at V Beach, Gallipoli, Turkey, during the landing from SS "River Clyde", Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall, hearing wounded men on the beach calling for help, jumped into the water, and pushing a boat in front of him, went to their rescue. He found, however, that he could not manage alone, but with help from other naval personnel he made four or five trips from the ship to the shore and was responsible for rescuing several wounded men under heavy and accurate fire.

He was killed in action, Achi Baba, Gallipoli, Turkey, on 6 May 1915.

References

* Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
* The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
* VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)
* VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)

External links

* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggturkey.htm Burial location of Arthur Tisdall] "Turkey"
* [http://www.Victoriacross.org.uk/bbtisdal.htm News Item] "Arthur Tisdall's Victoria Cross sold privately"
* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConMediaFile.6743 Tisdall Memorial HMS President] VC and other decorations still on display at HMS President RNR London HQ (2006)