Colonel Patrick Anthony Porteous VC (1 January 1918 – 9 October 2000) was a Scottish recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

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

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and Commonwealth forces.

Second World War

Porteous was commissioned in the

Royal Regiment of Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

in 1937. On 26 August 1940 he was promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

. On 19 August 1942, he was 24 years old and a temporary major attached to No. 4 Commando when he did the deed for which he was awarded the VC, during the Dieppe Raid. The citation was published in a supplement to the '' London Gazette'' of 2 October 1942 and read:

Later career

In spite of severe wounds, Porteous went on to make a full recovery and had a distinguished military career in Palestine,

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and

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. Following the war he was confirmed in the rank of captain, promoted to major in 1950, lieutenant colonel on 1 May 1959, and rose to the rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

before he retired in 1970. He had the honour of being in the leading car at the late

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's 100th Birthday Parade, before his death in October 2000, aged 82.

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(West Sussex)''
Imperial War Museum Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porteous, Patrick Anthony 1918 births 2000 deaths People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire British Army personnel of World War II Royal Artillery officers British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross People from Abbottabad British Army Commandos officers British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross British people in colonial India Military personnel of British India

Second World War

Later career

References

Further reading

External links