Alec George Horwood

Alec George Horwood VC, DCM (6 January 1914- 20 January 1944) 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.

Details

He was 30 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1/6th Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, British Army, attached to 1st Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 January 1944 at Kyauchaw, Burma (now Myanmar), Lieutenant Horwood accompanied a company into action with his forward mortar observation post. Throughout the day he was in an exposed position and under intense fire, but he came back at night with most valuable information about the enemy. On 19 January he moved forward and established another observation post, directing accurate mortar fire in support of two attacks, and also carrying out personal reconnaissance, deliberately drawing the enemy fire so that their position could be definitely located. On 20 January he volunteered to lead the attack and while doing so was mortally wounded.

References

*British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)