Grave of the English Victoria Cross recipient captain Francis Octavius Grenfell (1880-1915) at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium
Francis Octavius Grenfell, VC (4 September 1880 - 24 May 1915) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. Grenfell was 33 years old, and a Captain in the 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed during the Action of Elouges took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 24 August 1914 at Audregnies, Belgium, Captain Grenfell rode with the regiment in a charge against a large body of unbroken German infantry. The casualties were very heavy and the captain was left as the senior officer. He was rallying part of the regiment behind a railway embankment when he was twice hit and severely wounded. In spite of his injuries, however, when asked for help in saving the guns, by Major Ernest Wright Alexander of the 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, he and some volunteers, under a hail of bullets, helped to manhandle and push the guns out of range of enemy fire. The citation was gazetted on 16 September 1914 and read: For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day. He was killed in action on 24 May 1915 and is buried in the Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery
Size: 3840px × 5760px
Location: Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Hospitaalstraat, 8908 Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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