George Symons
Sergeant (later Captain), Royal Regiment of Artillery
- Register No.
- 1200 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant (later Captain) (register: Sergeant) all Sergeants →
- Unit
- Royal Regiment of Artillery all Royal Regiment of Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 June 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 20th November 1857, Amendment 1st December 1857.* on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 18th March 1826 at South Hill, Cornwall
- Died
- 18th November 1871 at Bridlington, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- Priory Church Bridlington, Yorkshire
Digest of citation
On 6 June 1855 at Inkerman, Crimea, Sergeant Symons volunteered to unmask the embrasures of a five- gun battery in the advanced Right Attack. He did this under terrific fire from the enemy, which commenced with the opening of the first embrasure, increasing further on the opening of additional ones until he came to the last one in having overcome the difficulty uncovering the last one, he boldly mounted the Parapet and threw down the sandbags. As he was doing this an enemy shell burst and wounded him severely
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SYMONS, George. (Reg. No. 1200)
Sergeant (later Captain) Royal Regiment of Artillery.
London Gazetted 20th November 1857, Amendment 1st December 1857.* Born on 18th March 1826 at South Hill, Cornwall.
Died on 18th November 1871 at Bridlington, Yorkshire.
Memorial at Priory Church Bridlington, Yorkshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 6 June 1855 at Inkerman, Crimea, Sergeant Symons volunteered to unmask the embrasures of a five- gun battery in the advanced Right Attack. He did this under terrific fire from the enemy, which commenced with the opening of the first embrasure, increasing further on the opening of additional ones until he came to the last one in having overcome the difficulty uncovering the last one, he boldly mounted the Parapet and threw down the sandbags. As he was doing this an enemy shell burst and wounded him severely Additional information: he also held the Legion d'Honneur (France). There was an error in the London Gazette on 20th November 1857. It stated that his Deed of Courage was on the 18th October 1854. This was amended in the London Gazette, dated the 1st December 1857, to read 6th June 1855
Additional information
he also held the Legion d'Honneur (France) There was an error in the London Gazette on 20th November 1857. It stated that his Deed of Courage was on the 18th October 1854. This was amended in the London Gazette, dated the 1st December 1857, to read 6th June 1855
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Alf recorded the memorial as: Priory Church Bridlington, Yorkshire
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