Christopher Bushell

Christopher Bushell
Lt. Col. Bushell's grave in Somme, France
Born	31 October 1887 Neston, Cheshire
Died	8 August 1918 (aged 30) Morlancourt, France
Buried at	Querrieu British Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1912-1918 †
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Bushell VC DSO (31 October 1888 – 8 August 1918) 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.

Bushell was 29 years old, and a temporary lieutenant colonel in the 7th (S) Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, British Army, Commander during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 23 March 1918 west of St. Quentin's Canal and north of Tergnier, France, Lieutenant Colonel Bushell personally led C Company of his battalion, who were cooperating with an Allied regiment in a counterattack. In the course of this attack he was severely wounded in the head, but continued to carry on, walking in front of both English and Allied troops, encouraging them and visiting every portion of the lines in the face of terrific machine-gun and rifle fire. He refused to go to the rear until he had to be removed to the dressing station in a fainting condition.

He was killed in action to the south of Morlancourt, Somme, France, on 8 August 1918. He is buried at Querrieu CWGC, Somme, France.^[1]

References

1. ^ CWGC entry

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

External links

• Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Bushell DSO at www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk Biography of Christopher Bushell
• Burial location of Christopher Bushell "France"
• News item "Christopher Bushell's Victoria Cross donated to the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum"
• [1] Biography of Christopher Bushell from "Ashfords Fallen"

Persondata
Name	Bushell, Christopher
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	31 October 1887
Place of birth	Neston, Cheshire
Date of death	8 August 1918
Place of death	Morlancourt, France