Edward Felix Baxter
Second Lieutenant, 1st/8th Battalion the King's (Liverpool) Regiment
- Register No.
- 62 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1st/8th Battalion the King's (Liverpool) Regiment (register: King's (Liverpool Regiment)) all King's (Liverpool Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 April 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th September 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 18th September 1885 at Old Swinford, Stourbridge, Worcestershire
- Died
- 18th April 1916 near Blairville, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Fillievres British Cemetery, France
- Medal held by
- the Imperial War Museum
Digest of citation
On 17th/18th April, 1916 near Blairville, France, prior to a raid, Second Lieutenant Baxter was engaged on cutting wire close to the enemy's trenches. While doing this, he held a bomb with the pin withdrawn and once the bomb slipped and fell. He picked it up, unscrewed the base plug and dug out the detonator which he smothered in the ground, preventing the alarm being given an saving many casualties. Later, leading a storming party, he was first into the trench. After assisting in bombing dug-outs, he finally climbed out, held in the last man over the parapet. He was not seen again
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BAXTER, Edward Felix. (Reg. No. 62)
Second Lieutenant 1st/8th Battalion the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.
London Gazetted on 26th September 1916.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Imperial War Museum.
Born on 18th September 1885 at Old Swinford, Stourbridge, Worcestershire.
Died on 18th April 1916 near Blairville, France.
Memorial at Fillievres British Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 17th/18th April, 1916 near Blairville, France, prior to a raid, Second Lieutenant Baxter was engaged on cutting wire close to the enemy's trenches. While doing this, he held a bomb with the pin withdrawn and once the bomb slipped and fell. He picked it up, unscrewed the base plug and dug out the detonator which he smothered in the ground, preventing the alarm being given an saving many casualties. Later, leading a storming party, he was first into the trench. After assisting in bombing dug-outs, he finally climbed out, held in the last man over the parapet. He was not seen again.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Fillievres British Cemetery, France
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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