Benjamin Handley Geary

Benjamin Handley Geary VC (28 June 1891 - 26 May 1976) 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 23 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment, British Army, attached to 1st Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 and 21 April 1915 on Hill 60 near Ypres, Belgium, Second Lieutenant Geary led his men across exposed open ground swept by fierce enemy fire to join survivors of the Bedfordshire Regiment in a crater at the top of the hill, which he held against artillery and bomb attacks during the evening and night. Each attack was repulsed mainly owing to the fine example and personal gallantry of Second Lieutenant Geary. He deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire in order to see by the light of flares the whereabouts of the enemy. He was severely wounded early on 21 April.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of major. Grave/memorial at Buried at St. Mark's Church Cemetery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Headstone.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Canadian War Museum "(Ottawa, Canada)".

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)
* [http://collections.civilization.ca/public/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=1100646 Geary's Medals at the Canadian War Museum]