George Sanders VC

Name: George Sanders

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: September 9, 1916

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: New Wortley, Leeds, Yorkshire/July 8, 1894

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Corporal (Captain)

Date of bravery: July 1, 1916

London Gazette citation:

For most conspicuous bravery. After an advance into the enemy’s trenches, he found himself isolated with a party of thirty men. He organised his defences, detailed a bombing party, and impressed on his men that his and their duty was to hold the position at all costs.

Next morning he drove off an attack by the enemy and rescued some prisoners who had fallen into their hands. Later two strong bombing attacks were beaten off. On the following day he was relieved after showing the greatest courage, determination and good leadership during 36 hours under very trying conditions.

All this time his party was without food and water, having given all their water to the wounded during the first night. After the relieving force was firmly established, he brought his party, nineteen strong, back to our trenches.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: MC

Place/date of death: St James’s Hospital, Leeds, Yorkshire/April 4, 1950

Grave/memorials: Cottingley Crematorium, Leeds, Yorkshire, with his ashes scattered on Lawn One/Plaque outside City Art Gallery, Leeds, Yorkshire, and commemorated at the Leeds (TA) Museum, Carlton Old Barracks, Leeds, Yorkshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Dix Noonan Webb, London, 2017

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum