George Thomas Dorrell
Lieutenant-Colonel George Thomas Dorrell, VC, MBE (7 July 1880 – 7 January 1971) 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.
George Thomas Dorrell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 July 1880 Paddington, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 7 January 1971 (aged 90) Cobham, Surrey, England |
| Buried | Randall's Park Crematorium, Leatherhead |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British ArmyTerritorial Army Home Guard |
| Years of service | 1895–1926, 1941–45 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | Royal Horse Artillery Royal Artillery Home Guard |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Military career
Joining the British Army at the age of 15, Dorrell served in the Second Boer War.
He was 34 years old, and a Battery Sergeant Major in the 'L' Bty., Royal Horse Artillery, British Army during World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Involvement in the Action at Néry
On 1 September 1914, at Néry, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, including the officer (Edward Kinder Bradbury) in command, who, although having had one leg taken off by a shell, continued to direct the firing until he died. Battery Sergeant-Major Dorrell then took over command with the support of a sergeant (David Nelson) and continued to fire one of the guns until all the ammunition was expended.[1]
As brevet lieutenant colonel, Dorrell served as a company commander in the Home Guard during World War II.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.
References
- "No. 28976". The London Gazette. 13 November 1914. p. 9374.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)