Harold Whitfield

Harold Edward Whitfield VC (10 June 1886 – 19 December 1956) 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.

For the South African crickter, see Harold Whitfield (cricketer).

Harold Edward Whitfield
Born10 June 1886
Oswestry, Shropshire
Died19 December 1956 (aged 70)
Buried
Oswestry Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1908-1934
RankSquadron Sergeant Major
UnitKing's Shropshire Light Infantry
Shropshire Yeomanry
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsVictoria Cross

Born in Oswestry, Whitfield joined the Shropshire Yeomanry in 1908. When World War I broke out in 1914 he was mobilized spending the next two years in England. In 1916 he was shipped to Egypt, his unit becoming part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. He was now a member of the 10th Battalion of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry as his unit had been re-designated.[1]

Whitfield was 31 years old, and a private in the 10th Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry, British Army during the First World War Battle of Tell 'Asur when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 10 March 1918 at Burj El Lisaneh, Egypt, during the first of three counter-attacks made by the enemy on the position which had just been captured by his battalion, Private Whitfield, single-handed, charged and captured a Lewis gun, killed the whole gun team of three and turned the gun on the enemy, driving them back with heavy casualties. Later he organised and led a bombing attack on the enemy, again inflicting many casualties and by establishing his party in their position saved many lives and materially assisted in the defeat of the counter-attack.[2]

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major.

In civilian life, he was a farmer. After giving up business, he worked at Express Dairies at Whittington, Shropshire until his death, aged 70. He died from head injuries received in a road accident three days earlier when, cycling after work to his home in Lord Street, Oswestry, his machine was hit from behind by an army Jeep.[3]

His medals are held by the Shropshire Regimental Museum in Shrewsbury Castle.

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References
  1. Border Counties Advertiser FIRST WORLD WAR: Victoria Cross Winner Harold Whitfield, report by Aimee Jones, 5 August 2014.
  2. "No. 30675". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 May 1918. p. 5556.
  3. "Incredible story of county regiment's VC". Shropshire Star. 19 November 2016. p. 18.Report by Toby Neal.
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