SHEFFIELD'S VICTORIA CROSS HOLDERS
Whilst researching the life and army career of Arnold Loosemore, I was informed that there were at least five other holders of the Victoria Cross that had a connection with the Sheffield area. The five were
George Lambert who received his award for his actions during the Indian Mutiny of 1857
James Firth received his Victoria Cross whilst serving with the Duke of Wellington Regiment in the Boer War 1901
John Raynes was the first Victoria Cross to be awarded to a soldier from Sheffield for his actions during the 1914 - 1918 War
Arthur Procter received the award for the bravery and courage he showed in an incident just prior to the Battle of the Somme in 1916
William Allen was a Captain with the Royal Army Medical Corps but attached to the 246th (West Riding) Brigade., Royal Field Artillery. He received his award for his actions in France in September 1916.
Of the six, only Arnold Loosemore was born, and buried in Sheffield. John Raynes and William Allen were both born in Sheffield but after the 1914 - 1918 war left Sheffield and are buried in Leeds and Bracklesham (West Sussex) respectively. George Lambert and Arthur Procter came from Northern Ireland and Bootle (Lancashire) but died in Sheffield. George is buried in Wardsend Cemetery whilst Arthur is remembered by a memorial tablet in Sheffield Cathedral. The initial indications were that James Firth was also born in Sheffield but an article in the Sheffield Star dated 16th March 2004 revealed that he was in fact born in Jarrow, Co Durham
Main Sources
This page was last updated on 19/03/07 10:44