Walter Leigh Rayfield
Private, 7th Battalion. British Columbia Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 1024 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 7th Battalion. British Columbia Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 7th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 2–4 September 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 14th December 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 7th October 1881 at Richmond, Surrey
- Died
- 19th February 1949 at Toronto, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- in Soldier's Plot, Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Canada
Digest of citation
East of Arras, France, from the 2nd to 4th September 1918, during operations, Private Rayfield rushed ahead of his company, to a trench occupied by a large number of the enemy, where he bayoneted two of them and took 10 prisoners. Later, on locating an enemy sniper, who was causing many casualties, Private Rayfield, with great skill, and under constant rifle fire, engaged the sniper. Then rushing the section of trench from where the sniper had operated, he so demoralised the enemy, by his daring and calm, that 30 more of them surrendered to him. Regardless of his own personal safety, he left , under cover of heavy machine-gun fire, to carry in a badly wounded comrade. "His indomitable courage, cool foresight and daring reconnaissance were invaluable to his Company Commander and an inspiration to all ranks."
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RAYFIELD, Walter Leigh. (reg No. 1024).
Private. 7th Battalion. British Columbia Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 14th December 1918.
Born on 7th October 1881 at Richmond, Surrey.
Died on 19th February 1949 at Toronto, Canada.
Memorial on grave in Soldier's Plot, Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads: East of Arras, France, from the 2nd to 4th September 1918, during operations, Private Rayfield rushed ahead of his company, to a trench occupied by a large number of the enemy, where he bayoneted two of them and took 10 prisoners. Later, on locating an enemy sniper, who was causing many casualties, Private Rayfield, with great skill, and under constant rifle fire, engaged the sniper. Then rushing the section of trench from where the sniper had operated, he so demoralised the enemy, by his daring and calm, that 30 more of them surrendered to him. Regardless of his own personal safety, he left , under cover of heavy machine-gun fire, to carry in a badly wounded comrade. "His indomitable courage, cool foresight and daring reconnaissance were invaluable to his Company Commander and an inspiration to all ranks." Additional information:. No. 2204279, Private W. L. Rayfield was presented with the Victoria Cross at an Investiture held a Buckingham Palace on 8th March 1919, by His Majesty King George V. He was promoted Corporal on 27th September, 1918 and then to Acting Sergeant on 7th January 1919. He left the Army on 25th May 1919. He was unmarried.
Additional information
No. 2204279, Private W. L. Rayfield was presented with the Victoria Cross at an Investiture held a Buckingham Palace on 8th March 1919, by His Majesty King George V. He was promoted Corporal on 27th September, 1918 and then to Acting Sergeant on 7th January 1919. He left the Army on 25th May 1919. He was unmarried.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: in Soldier's Plot, Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Canada
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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