William Henry Short
Private, 8th Battalion. Yorkshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 1141 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 8th Battalion. Yorkshire Regiment (register: Green Howards) all Green Howards VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 August 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 9th September 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 4th February 1884 at Eston, near Middlesbrough, Yorkshire
- Died
- in action on 6th August 1916 at Munster Alley, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery, France and commemorated in Eston Cemetery, Yorkshire
- Medal held by
- The Green Howards Museum, Richmond, Yorkshire
Digest of citation
Amongst the foremost during a bombing attack on the enemy on 6th August 1916, at Munster Alley, France, Private Short was severely wounded in the foot. Although urged to, he refused to go back for dressings and continued throwing bombs. Unable to stand, after his leg had been shattered by a shell, he sat, helping his comrades, by adjusting detonators and straightening pins for the bombs. For almost a year previously, he had always volunteered for dangerous assignments. He had always set a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SHORT, William Henry. (reg No. 1141).
Private. 8th Battalion. Yorkshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 9th September 1916.
VC Medal's Custodian is The Green Howards Museum, Richmond, Yorkshire.
Born on 4th February 1884 at Eston, near Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
Killed in action on 6th August 1916 at Munster Alley, France.
Memorial on grave at Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery, France and commemorated in Eston Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Digest of Citation reads: Amongst the foremost during a bombing attack on the enemy on 6th August 1916, at Munster Alley, France, Private Short was severely wounded in the foot. Although urged to, he refused to go back for dressings and continued throwing bombs. Unable to stand, after his leg had been shattered by a shell, he sat, helping his comrades, by adjusting detonators and straightening pins for the bombs. For almost a year previously, he had always volunteered for dangerous assignments. He had always set a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty.
Additional information:. Private Short's Victoria Cross was awarded to his father, Mr J Short, at an Investiture on the 29th November 1916.
Additional information
Private Short's Victoria Cross was awarded to his father, Mr J Short, at an Investiture on the 29th November 1916.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery, France and commemorated in Eston Cemetery, Yorkshire
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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