Harry Cator
Sergeant, 7th Battalion East Surrey Regiment
- Register No.
- 197 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 7th Battalion East Surrey Regiment all East Surrey Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 24th January 1894 at Drayton, Norwich
- Died
- 7th April 1966 at Sproston, Norwich
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 9th April 1917 near Arras, France, Sergeant Cator's platoon had suffered heavy casualties from a hostile machine gun. Under heavy fire the sergeant, with one man, advanced across the open to attack the gun and when his companion was killed, he went on alone. Picking up a Lewis gun and some drums on his way, he succeeded in reaching the enemy trench and sighting another hostile machine on, he killed the entire team and the officer. He held the end of the trench with such effect that the bombing squad were able to capture 100 prisoners and five machine-guns
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CATOR, Harry. (reg No. 197).
Sergeant. 7th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.
London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.
Born on 24th January 1894 at Drayton, Norwich.
Died on 7th April 1966 at Sproston, Norwich.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th April 1917 near Arras, France, Sergeant Cator's platoon had suffered heavy casualties from a hostile machine gun. Under heavy fire the sergeant, with one man, advanced across the open to attack the gun and when his companion was killed, he went on alone. Picking up a Lewis gun and some drums on his way, he succeeded in reaching the enemy trench and sighting another hostile machine on, he killed the entire team and the officer. He held the end of the trench with such effect that the bombing squad were able to capture 100 prisoners and five machine-guns.
Additional information: Captain Cator also held the Military Medal (MM) and the Croix de Guerre (France).
Additional information
Captain Cator also held the Military Medal (MM) and the Croix de Guerre (France).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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