William Ratcliffe
Private, 2nd Battalion. South Lancashire Regiment
- Register No.
- 1021 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion. South Lancashire Regiment all South Lancashire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 14 June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- the 2nd August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 21st March 1882 at West Derby, Liverpool
- Died
- 26th March 1963 at Liverpool, Lancashire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
After an enemy trench had been captured at Messines, Belgium, on the 14th June 1917, a machine-gun position was firing on his comrades from the rear. Private Ratcliffe located the gun's position and single-handedly charged it, bayoneting the crew. He then brought the enemy gun into action in the front line. This soldier had displayed gallantry and great resource on many previous occasions, setting a fine example to his comrades
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RATCLIFFE, William. (reg No. 1021).
Private. 2nd Battalion. South Lancashire Regiment * London Gazetted on the 2nd August 1917.
Born on 21st March 1882 at West Derby, Liverpool.
Died on 26th March 1963 at Liverpool, Lancashire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: After an enemy trench had been captured at Messines, Belgium, on the 14th June 1917, a machine-gun position was firing on his comrades from the rear. Private Ratcliffe located the gun's position and single-handedly charged it, bayoneting the crew. He then brought the enemy gun into action in the front line. This soldier had displayed gallantry and great resource on many previous occasions, setting a fine example to his comrades.
*Prince of Wales' Volunteers.
Additional information:. No. 2251 Private Ratcliffe was the subject of an article in the Observer on 14th October 1917. "Lord Derby was present yesterday evening at a dinner and presentation given at Liverpool by the National Union of Dock Labourers to one of their members, Private Ratcliffe, of the South Lancashire Regiment, who won the Victoria Cross for brave and distinguished conduct in the Messines ridge fighting. Lord Derby, responding to the toast of 'Navy and Army,' said that he was glad to find the proposed monetary presentation to Private Ratcliffe was not to take place, as it was against the military regulations to reward a man with money for doing his duty. But he cordially approved, as everyone else would, of the proposal to recognise their hero's bravery by making the presentation when he returned to civil life. He ventured to hope that at the present time there were no social graces. They were all British, fighting for a good cause. Many honours carried little weight in foreign countries, but the Victoria Cross was a soldier's honour known throughout the world as one which carried real merit, and if he could do anything by granting extra leave to enable Private Ratcliffe to earn the suggested Bar by matrimony, he would be pleased to do so. (Laughter).
Additional information
No. 2251 Private Ratcliffe was the subject of an article in the Observer on 14th October 1917. "Lord Derby was present yesterday evening at a dinner and presentation given at Liverpool by the National Union of Dock Labourers to one of their members, Private Ratcliffe, of the South Lancashire Regiment, who won the Victoria Cross for brave and distinguished conduct in the Messines ridge fighting. Lord Derby, responding to the toast of 'Navy and Army,' said that he was glad to find the proposed monetary presentation to Private Ratcliffe was not to take place, as it was against the military regulations to reward a man with money for doing his duty. But he cordially approved, as everyone else would, of the proposal to recognise their hero's bravery by making the presentation when he returned to civil life. He ventured to hope that at the present time there were no social graces. They were all British, fighting for a good cause. Many honours carried little weight in foreign countries, but the Victoria Cross was a soldier's honour known throughout the world as one which carried real merit, and if he could do anything by granting extra leave to enable Private Ratcliffe to earn the suggested Bar by matrimony, he would be pleased to do so. (Laughter).
*Prince of Wales' Volunteers.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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