Alfred Alexander Burt VC (3 March 1895 – 9 June 1962) was an English recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

forces.

Details

Burt was employed as a gas fitter for the Broxbourne Gas Company and had enlisted as a

territorial A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, belonging or connected to a particular country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually a geographic area which has not been granted the powers of self-government, ...

soldier in the Hertfordshire Regiment in 1911. On the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he was mobilised and arrived on the Western Front in November 1914 with 1/1st battalion of the Hertfordshires. On the date of the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross, he was aged 20 years, and serving as a

corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...

. The 27 September 1915 was the third day of the British offensive known as the

Battle of Loos The Battle of Loos took place from 1915 in France on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front, during the First World War. It was the biggest British attack of 1915, the first time that the British used Chemical weapons in World War I, ...

and his battalion was preparing to assault the German lines beside Cuinchy. The citation for the medal reads: He received his medal from the

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

in March 1916 and returned to the front to serve for the remainder of the war, being promoted to the rank of

Sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...

. On 11 November 1920 he was among the 100 strong honour guard of Victoria Cross holders in the interment of the Unknown Warrior at

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

. He died at the age of 67 in Chesham in 1962, his health having suffered from complications caused by his exposure to a gas attack during the war.http://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/page_id__675_path__0p4p55p.aspx "Hertford's Victoria Cross winner", retrieved: 20 September 2012 There is a road named in his honour in Chesham; Alfred Burt VC close.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is held at the Hertford Museum as part of the Hertfordshire Regiment collection.

References

Bibliography

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Hertfordshire)''

Herts Memories
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burt, Alfred Alexander 1895 births 1962 deaths People from Hertford Hertfordshire Regiment soldiers British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross British Army personnel of World War I British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Hertfordshire People from Chesham Territorial Force soldiers