John Spencer Dunville
Second Lieutenant, 1st Royal Dragoons
- Register No.
- 362 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1st Royal Dragoons all 1st Royal Dragoons VCs →
- Date of action
- 24–25 June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 2nd August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 7th May, 1896 at Marylebone, London
- Died
- 26th June 1917 near Epehy, France. (Died on of wounds)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Villieres-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial, Holywood, County Antrim, Ireland
Digest of citation
On 24th/25th June 1917 near Epehy, France, in order to ensure the absolute success of the demolition of the enemy's wire, Second Lieutenant Dunville placed himself between an NCO of the Royal Engineers and the enemy's ire and, thus protected, the NCO was enabled to complete a work of great importance. Second Lieutenant Dunville, although severely wounded, continued to direct his men in the wire cutting and general operations until the raid was successfully completed. He subsequently Died on of his wounds
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DUNVILLE, John Spencer. (reg No. 362)
Second Lieutenant. 1st Royal Dragoons.
London Gazetted on 2nd August 1917.
Born on 7th May, 1896 at Marylebone, London.
Died on 26th June 1917 near Epehy, France. (Died on of wounds).
Memorial at Villieres-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial, Holywood, County Antrim, Ireland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 24th/25th June 1917 near Epehy, France, in order to ensure the absolute success of the demolition of the enemy's wire, Second Lieutenant Dunville placed himself between an NCO of the Royal Engineers and the enemy's ire and, thus protected, the NCO was enabled to complete a work of great importance. Second Lieutenant Dunville, although severely wounded, continued to direct his men in the wire cutting and general operations until the raid was successfully completed. He subsequently Died on of his wounds.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Villieres-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial, Holywood, County Antrim, Ireland
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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