Arthur Walderne St. Clair Tisdall
Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 1216 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sub-Lieutenant all Sub-Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve all Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 April 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 31st March 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 21st July 1890 at Bombay, India
- Died
- in action on 6th May 1915 at Achi Baba, Gallipoli
- Memorial / grave
- on Hellas Memorial, Gallipoli and at St George's Churchyard, Deal, Kent
- Medal held by
- the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth
Digest of citation
On 25th April 1915, during the landing on 'V' Beach, Gallipoli, from the S.S. River Clyde, Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall heard wounded men calling for assistance. He jumped into the water and, pushing the boat before him, went to their rescue. Needing assistance, he took with him, on two trips, Leading Seaman Malia, and on further trips he was assisted by Chief Petty Officer Perring and Leading Seamen, Curtis and Parkinson. Sub-lieutenant Tisdall made around five trips between ship and shore, and was responsible for the rescue of several wounded men, all the time under extremely heavy and accurate fire. (The following was attached): "Owing to the fact that Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall and the platoon under his orders were on detached service at the time, and that this officer was killed in action on 6th May 1915, it has only now been possible to obtain complete information as to the individuals who took part in this gallant act. "
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TISDALL, Arthur Walderne St. Clair. (reg No. 1216).
Sub-Lieutenant. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. * London Gazetted on 31st March 1916.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth.
Born on 21st July 1890 at Bombay, India.
Killed in action on 6th May 1915 at Achi Baba, Gallipoli.
Memorial on Hellas Memorial, Gallipoli and at St George's Churchyard, Deal, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 25th April 1915, during the landing on 'V' Beach, Gallipoli, from the S.S. River Clyde, Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall heard wounded men calling for assistance. He jumped into the water and, pushing the boat before him, went to their rescue. Needing assistance, he took with him, on two trips, Leading Seaman Malia, and on further trips he was assisted by Chief Petty Officer Perring and Leading Seamen, Curtis and Parkinson. Sub-lieutenant Tisdall made around five trips between ship and shore, and was responsible for the rescue of several wounded men, all the time under extremely heavy and accurate fire. (The following was attached): "Owing to the fact that Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall and the platoon under his orders were on detached service at the time, and that this officer was killed in action on 6th May 1915, it has only now been possible to obtain complete information as to the individuals who took part in this gallant act. " * Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division.
Additional information:. Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall was the second son of the Reverend William St. Clair Tisdall and his second wife, Marian Louisa. Educated at Bedford School, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He also went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he rode in the First Trinity boat. He graduated with a BA, with Double First Classical Honours, in 1913 gaining the Chancellor's Gold Medal. In May 1914 he joined the RNVR serving in the European War (WW I). He took part in the Antwerp expedition and in 1914 was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant. In April 1915 he took part in the landing a Gallipoli, where he won his Victoria Cross.
Additional information
Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall was the second son of the Reverend William St. Clair Tisdall and his second wife, Marian Louisa. Educated at Bedford School, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He also went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he rode in the First Trinity boat. He graduated with a BA, with Double First Classical Honours, in 1913 gaining the Chancellor's Gold Medal. In May 1914 he joined the RNVR serving in the European War (WW I). He took part in the Antwerp expedition and in 1914 was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant. In April 1915 he took part in the landing a Gallipoli, where he won his Victoria Cross.
* Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Hellas Memorial, Gallipoli and at St George's Churchyard, Deal, Kent
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