Maurice James Dease
Lieutenant, 4th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 320 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 4th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers all Royal Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 August 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 15th November, 1898 on this day → all of 1898 →
- Born
- 28th September, 1889 at Coole, County West Meath, Ireland
- Died
- 23rd August, 1914 at Mons, Belgium. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- St Synmphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium. Mentioned on a plaque on Nimy Bridge, Belgium and also in Westminster Cathedral. Memorial not known
Digest of citation
On 23rd August 1914 at Mons, Belgium, Nimy Bridge was being defended by a single company of Royal Fusiliers and a machine gun section with Lieutenant Dease in command. The gunfire was intense, and the casualties were heavy, but the lieutenant went on firing in spite of his wounds, until he was hit for the 5th time and was carried away to a place of safety where he Died on. A private* of the same Battalion who had been assisting the Lieutenant while he was still able to operate the guns, took over, and alone he used the gun to such a good effect that he covered the retreat of his comrades. On 2nd September, 1898 at the Battle of Khartoum, Sudan top after the charge, Lieutenant De Montmorency returned to help a second Lieutenant who was lying surrounded by a great many Dervishes. The Lieutenant drove the Dervishes off and, finding that the officer was dead, put the body on his horse which then broke away. Another Lieutenant * and a corporal then came to his assistance and he was able to rejoin the Regiment which are begun to open fire on the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DEASE, Maurice James. (reg No. 320).
Lieutenant 4th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 16th November, 1914.
Born on 28th September, 1889 at Coole, County West Meath, Ireland.
Died on 23rd August, 1914 at Mons, Belgium. (killed in action)
Memorial at St Synmphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium. Mentioned on a plaque on Nimy Bridge, Belgium and also in Westminster Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: On 23rd August 1914 at Mons, Belgium, Nimy Bridge was being defended by a single company of Royal Fusiliers and a machine gun section with Lieutenant Dease in command. The gunfire was intense, and the casualties were heavy, but the lieutenant went on firing in spite of his wounds, until he was hit for the 5th time and was carried away to a place of safety where he Died on. A private* of the same Battalion who had been assisting the Lieutenant while he was still able to operate the guns, took over, and alone he used the gun to such a good effect that he covered the retreat of his comrades.
* S F Godley. (reg No. 456).
Additional information: Lieutenant Dease was the first person to be decorated with the Victoria Cross in World War One.
DE MONTMORENCY, The Hon. Raymond Harvey Lodge Joseph. (reg No. 321). Lieutenant (later Captain) 21st Lancers (Empress of India's).
London Gazetted on 15th November, 1898.
Born on 5th February 1867 at Montreal, Canada.
Died on 23rd February 1900 at Dordrecht, Cape Colony, South Africa.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 2nd September, 1898 at the Battle of Khartoum, Sudan top after the charge, Lieutenant De Montmorency returned to help a second Lieutenant who was lying surrounded by a great many Dervishes. The Lieutenant drove the Dervishes off and, finding that the officer was dead, put the body on his horse which then broke away. Another Lieutenant * and a corporal then came to his assistance and he was able to rejoin the Regiment which are begun to open fire on the enemy.
* P A Kenna. (Reg No. 676).
Additional information
Lieutenant Dease was the first person to be decorated with the Victoria Cross in World War One. DE MONTMORENCY, The Hon. Raymond Harvey Lodge Joseph. (reg No. 321). Lieutenant (later Captain) 21st Lancers (Empress of India's).
* S F Godley. (reg No. 456).
* P A Kenna. (Reg No. 676).
Born on 5th February 1867 at Montreal, Canada.
Died on 23rd February 1900 at Dordrecht, Cape Colony, South Africa.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St Synmphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium. Mentioned on a plaque on Nimy Bridge, Belgium and also in Westminster Cathedral. Memorial not known
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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