John William Ormsby
Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 948 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (register: King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)) all King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) VCs →
- Date of action
- 14 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
- 11th January 1881 at Dewsbury, Yorkshire
- Died
- 29th July 1952 at Dewsbury, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
- Medal held by
- The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Digest of citation
On 14th April, 1917 at Favet, France, during operations which culminated in the capture of an important position, Sergeant Ormsby, acting as company sergeant-major showed complete indifference to the heavy machine gun and rifle fire and set a fine example. After clearing a village he pushed on and drove out many snipers from localities further forward. When the only surviving officer was wounded he took command of the company and led them forward under heavy fire for 400 yards to a new position, holding it until relieved
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ORMSBY, John William. (reg No. 948).
Sergeant. 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 8th June 1917. V.C., Medal's Custodian is The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Museum (Doncaster).
Born on 11th January 1881 at Dewsbury, Yorkshire.
Died on 29th July 1952 at Dewsbury, Yorkshire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 14th April, 1917 at Favet, France, during operations which culminated in the capture of an important position, Sergeant Ormsby, acting as company sergeant-major showed complete indifference to the heavy machine gun and rifle fire and set a fine example. After clearing a village he pushed on and drove out many snipers from localities further forward. When the only surviving officer was wounded he took command of the company and led them forward under heavy fire for 400 yards to a new position, holding it until relieved.
Additional information:. Sergeant Ormsby also held the Military Medal (MM).
Additional information
Sergeant Ormsby also held the Military Medal (MM).
Regimental Museum (Doncaster).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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