Alexander Picton Brereton
Corporal, 8th Battalion Manitoba Regiment, C E F
- Register No.
- 121 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal (register: Acting Corporal) all Corporals →
- Unit
- 8th Battalion Manitoba Regiment, C E F (register: 8th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 27th September 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 13th November 1892 at Oak River, Manitoba, Canada
- Died
- 11th June 1976 at Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 9th August 1918 east of Amiens, France during an attack when a line a hostile machine guns opened fire suddenly on his platoon which was in an exposed position with no cover, Corporal Brereton realised that unless something was done, his platoon would be annihilated. On his own initiative he at once sprang forward alone and, reaching one of the enemy machine-gun posts, shot the operator of the gun and bayoneted the next one who attempted to operate it, whereupon nine others surrendered. His action inspired the platoon to charge and capture the five remaining posts
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BRERETON, Alexander Picton. (reg No. 121).
Corporal 8th Battalion Manitoba Regiment, C E F.
London Gazetted on 27th September 1918.
Born on 13th November 1892 at Oak River, Manitoba, Canada.
Died on 11th June 1976 at Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th August 1918 east of Amiens, France during an attack when a line a hostile machine guns opened fire suddenly on his platoon which was in an exposed position with no cover, Corporal Brereton realised that unless something was done, his platoon would be annihilated. On his own initiative he at once sprang forward alone and, reaching one of the enemy machine-gun posts, shot the operator of the gun and bayoneted the next one who attempted to operate it, whereupon nine others surrendered. His action inspired the platoon to charge and capture the five remaining posts.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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