Harold Ackroyd VC

Name: Harold Ackroyd

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: September 6, 1917

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Southport, Lancashire/July 18, 1877

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

Date of bravery: July 31/August 1, 1917

London Gazette citation:

T./Capt. Harold Ackroyd, M.C., M.D., late R.A.M.C. (attd. R. Berks. R.).

For most conspicuous bravery.

During recent operations Capt. Ackroyd displayed the greatest gallantry and devotion to duty. Utterly regardless of danger, he worked continuously for many hours up and down and in front of the line tending the wounded and saving the lives of officers and men. In so doing he had to move across the open under heavy machine gun, rifle and shell fire. He carried a wounded officer to a place of safety under very heavy fire. On another occasion he went some way in front of our advanced line and brought in a wounded man under continuous sniping and machine gun fire.

His heroism was the means of saving many lives, and provided a magnificent example of courage, cheerfulness, and determination to the fighting men in whose midst he was carrying out his splendid work.

This gallant officer has since been killed in action.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: MC

Place/date of death: Ypres, Belgium/August 11, 1917

Grave/memorials: Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium; Royston War  Memorial, Hertfordshire; Southport Garden of Remembrance, Merseyside; Guy’s Hospital, London; RAMC College, Millbank, London

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2003

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