Cyril Edward Gourley
Sergeant, 'D' Battery, 276th (West Lancs.). Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
- Register No.
- 472 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 'D' Battery, 276th (West Lancs.). Brigade, Royal Field Artillery all Royal Field Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 13th February, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 19th January, 1893 at Wavertree, Liverpool, Lancashire
- Died
- 30th January, 1982 at Haslemere, Surrey
- Memorial / grave
- Grayswood College, Chiddingfold, Surrey and at the Memorial College at West Kirby, The Wirral
Digest of citation
On 30th November 1917 that Little Priel Farm, East of Epehy, France, Sergeant Gourley was in command of a section of howitzers. During an enemy advance, when their forces were within a few hundred yards of him, both to the front and on one flank, and though plagued by snipers, Sergeant Gourley managed to keep one gun firing. At one point he pulled the gun out of the pit and engaged a machine gun at 500 yards, knocking it out with a direct hit. All day he held the Germans in check, firing over open sights on enemy parties, thereby saving his guns, which were withdrawn at night fall
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GOURLEY, Cyril Edward. (reg No. 472).
Sergeant. 'D' Battery, 276th (West Lancs.). Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
London Gazetted on 13th February, 1918.
Born on 19th January, 1893 at Wavertree, Liverpool, Lancashire.
Died on 30th January, 1982 at Haslemere, Surrey.
Memorial at Grayswood College, Chiddingfold, Surrey and at the Memorial College at West Kirby, The Wirral.
Digest of Citation reads: On 30th November 1917 that Little Priel Farm, East of Epehy, France, Sergeant Gourley was in command of a section of howitzers. During an enemy advance, when their forces were within a few hundred yards of him, both to the front and on one flank, and though plagued by snipers, Sergeant Gourley managed to keep one gun firing. At one point he pulled the gun out of the pit and engaged a machine gun at 500 yards, knocking it out with a direct hit. All day he held the Germans in check, firing over open sights on enemy parties, thereby saving his guns, which were withdrawn at night fall.
Additional information: Captain Gourley also was awarded the Military Medal (M M).
Additional information
Captain Gourley also was awarded the Military Medal (M M).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Grayswood College, Chiddingfold, Surrey and at the Memorial College at West Kirby, The Wirral
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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