George Thomas Dorrell
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military person Lieutenant-Colonel George Thomas Dorrell, VC, MBE (7 July 1880 – 7 January 1971) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Military career
Joining the British Army at the age of 15, Dorrell served in the Second Boer War.
He was 34 years old, and a Battery Sergeant Major in 'L' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, British Army during World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Involvement in the Action at Néry
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On 1 September 1914, at Néry, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, including the officer (Edward Kinder Bradbury) in command, who, although having had one leg taken off by a shell, continued to direct the firing until he died. Battery Sergeant-Major Dorrell then took over command with the support of a sergeant (David Nelson) and continued to fire one of the guns until all the ammunition was expended.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
Later career
As well as receiving the VC, Dorrell was commissioned as an officer. He returned to the Western Front in January 1916 as a Captain and officer commanding A Battery, 119th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, in 38th (Welsh) Division. In early 1916 he regularly acted as commander of 119th Bde. In May 1916 his battery transferred to 122nd Bde.<ref name = WD119A>119th Brigade War Diary, December 1915–February 1917, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 95/2546/1.</ref><ref name = WDCRA1>38th Divisional Artillery War Diary 1 December 1915–31 August 1916, TNA file WO 2542/1.</ref>
As brevet lieutenant colonel, Dorrell served as a company commander in the Home Guard during World War II.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.
References
Bibliography
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1880 births
- 1971 deaths
- Military personnel from the City of Westminster
- People from Paddington
- Royal Horse Artillery soldiers
- Royal Artillery officers
- British Home Guard officers
- British Army personnel of the Second Boer War
- British Army personnel of World War I
- British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Lieutenant colonels