Thomas Steele
Sergeant, 1st. Battalion. Seaforth Highlanders
- Register No.
- 1182 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st. Battalion. Seaforth Highlanders all Seaforth Highlanders VCs →
- Date of action
- 22 February 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 6th February, 1891 at Oldham, Lancashire
- Died
- 11th July 1978 at Springhead, Oldham, Lancashire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 22nd February 1917, a strong counter attack, by the enemy, had regained some of the captured trenches, near Sanna-y-Yat, Mesopotamia, temporarily, . At a critical moment in the attack, Sergeant Steele, with the aid of a comrade, carried a machine gun into position. He continued to keep this gun firing. in the action, until he was relieved, thus being predominantly instrumental in keeping the line intact. During another counter-attack. some time later, which allowed the enemy to reoccupy a portion of the captured trenches. Sergeant Steele, rallying the men and encouraging them to remain in their trenches, and further leading a number of them forward, helping to re-establish the line. During this latter action he was severely wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
STEELE, Thomas. (reg No. 1182).
Sergeant. 1st. Battalion. Seaforth Highlanders *.
London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.
Born on 6th February, 1891 at Oldham, Lancashire.
Died on 11th July 1978 at Springhead, Oldham, Lancashire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 22nd February 1917, a strong counter attack, by the enemy, had regained some of the captured trenches, near Sanna-y-Yat, Mesopotamia, temporarily, . At a critical moment in the attack, Sergeant Steele, with the aid of a comrade, carried a machine gun into position. He continued to keep this gun firing. in the action, until he was relieved, thus being predominantly instrumental in keeping the line intact. During another counter-attack. some time later, which allowed the enemy to reoccupy a portion of the captured trenches. Sergeant Steele, rallying the men and encouraging them to remain in their trenches, and further leading a number of them forward, helping to re-establish the line. During this latter action he was severely wounded.
* Duke of Albany's Ross-shire Buffs.
* Duke of Albany's Ross-shire Buffs.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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