The Viscount John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereka Gort
(reg No. 466)
- Unit
- (reg No. 466) all (reg No. 466) VCs →
- London Gazette
- 27th November, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 10th July 1886 on the Isle of Wight
- Died
- 31st March 1946 at London
- Memorial / grave
- the St John the Baptist Church at Penshurst, Kent
Digest of citation
On 27th September 1918 at the Canal du Nord near Flesquieres, France, Lieutenant Colonel Gort led his battalion under very heavy fire and although wounded, when the Battalion was held up, he went across open ground to obtain assistance from a tank and personally led it to best advantage. He was again wounded but after lying on a stretcher for a while, insisted on getting up and directing the further attack which resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and numerous machine-guns. He refused to leave the field until the success signal had gone up on the final objective
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GORT, The Viscount John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereka.
(reg No. 466). Lieutenant Colonel. Commanding 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
London Gazetted on 27th November, 1918.
Born on 10th July 1886 on the Isle of Wight.
Died on 31st March 1946 at London.
Memorial at the St John the Baptist Church at Penshurst, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 27th September 1918 at the Canal du Nord near Flesquieres, France, Lieutenant Colonel Gort led his battalion under very heavy fire and although wounded, when the Battalion was held up, he went across open ground to obtain assistance from a tank and personally led it to best advantage. He was again wounded but after lying on a stretcher for a while, insisted on getting up and directing the further attack which resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and numerous machine-guns. He refused to leave the field until the success signal had gone up on the final objective.
Additional information:. Field-Marshal Gort was at a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB), a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), a holder of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and 2 Bars, a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) and Military Cross (MC). He had an extensive military career during which time he was Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1937-39 after which he became C-in-C British Field Force until 1940. From 1940-41 he was the Inspector-General of the Home Guard as well as having the responsibility to the Forces for training. He served as Aide-de-Camp to King George VI until 1944, during which time he was also C-in-C Gibraltar until 1942, followed by C in C Malta from 1942-44. From 1944-45 he was the High Commissioner and C-in-C for Palestine as well as High Commissioner for Trans Jordan. He was the Commandant the Honourable Artillery Company 1943-46. He was the father in-law of Major W P Sidney VC. (reg No. 1143).
Additional information
Field-Marshal Gort was at a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB), a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), a holder of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and 2 Bars, a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) and Military Cross (MC). He had an extensive military career during which time he was Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1937-39 after which he became C-in-C British Field Force until 1940. From 1940-41 he was the Inspector-General of the Home Guard as well as having the responsibility to the Forces for training. He served as Aide-de-Camp to King George VI until 1944, during which time he was also C-in-C Gibraltar until 1942, followed by C in C Malta from 1942-44. From 1944-45 he was the High Commissioner and C-in-C for Palestine as well as High Commissioner for Trans Jordan. He was the Commandant the Honourable Artillery Company 1943-46. He was the father in-law of Major W P Sidney VC. (reg No. 1143).
Lieutenant Colonel. Commanding 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: the St John the Baptist Church at Penshurst, Kent
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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