George Thomas Dorrell

George Thomas Dorrell VC, MBE (July 7, 1880–7 January, 1971) 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.

Joining the British Army at the age of 15 Dorrell served in the Second Boer War.

He was 34 years old, and a Battery Sergeant Major in the 'L' Bty., Royal Horse Artillery, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 1 September 1914 at Néry, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, including the officer (Edward Kinder Bradbury) in command, who, although having had one leg taken off by a shell, continued to direct the firing until he died. Battery Sergeant-Major Dorrell then took over command with the support of a sergeant (David Nelson) and continued to fire one of the guns until all the ammunition was expended.

As brevet lieutenant colonel Dorell served as a company commander in the Home Guard during World War II.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum "(London, England)".

References

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10178322 Find a grave profile]
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/surrey.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Surrey)"
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.948 The Néry Gun and Medals at Imperial War Museum Victoria Cross and George Cross Gallery]
* [http://www.chakoten.dk/nery_010914_2.html Per Finsted, The Affair at Néry, 1 September 1914, with map and illustrations]