This plaque is part of the Harrogate Cenotaph, Yorkshire.
Harrogate born recipients.
This plaque is dedicated to the memory of the men whose service to their country earned the highest military honour.
THE VICTORIA CROSS
Remember
T/2nd Lieutenant Donald Simpson BELL. V.C.
9th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. Born 3rd December 1880. Awarded the cross; 5th July 1916 at the Somme, France. Killed in action 10th July 1916. He was a professional footballer.
London Gazette, dated 9 September 1916
La Boiselle, Somme, France, 5 July 1916, T / Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, 9th Bn, The Yorkshire Regiment.
Citation.
For most conspicuous bravery ( Horseshoe Trench, France ). During an attack a very headvy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine-gun. Lieutenant Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corporal Colwill and Private Batey, rushed across the open under heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel with bombs.
This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this gallant officer lost his life performing a similar act of bravery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Simpson_Bell
http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/vc-winners-yorkshires/html-files/vcgc-bell.htm
Private 1053 Charles HULL. V.C. and Croix De Guerre. 21st Empress of India's Lancers.. Born 24th July 1890. Awarded the cross 5th September 1915 on the North West Frontier, India. Died at Leeds 13th February 1953.
Charles Hull was a Private, Shoeing Smith 1053 in the 21st Lancers who was born in Harrogate in 1890 and died on February 30 1953 in Leeds. On 5 September 1915 at Hafiz Kor, North West Frontier, India, Private Hull (later Corporal) rescued Captain Geoffrey Ernest Douglas Learoyd from certain death at the hands of the tribesmen. The latter’s horse had been shot and Private Hull took the officer up behind on his own horse, under heavy fire at close range, and galloped away to safety.
Captain Learoyd died on the 29th October 1918 from illness in India. (Buried in Guides Chapel New Cemetery, Mardan. 66.) and is commemorated on the India Gate, Delhi Memorial, India
http://www.memorialstovalour.co.uk/vc651.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hull
http://www.harrogatepeopleandplaces.info/ww1/soldiers/h/hull-charles.htm
Sergeant Robert GRANT. V.C. 1st/5th Regiment of Foot, later The Northumberland Fusiliers. Born Harrogate 1837. Awarded the cross 24th September 1857 at Alumbagh, India. Sergeant Grant went, under very heavy fire, to save the life of private E Deveney whose leg had been shot away. With the help of Lieutenant Brown, Sergeant Grant carried the wounded man to the safety of the camp. On the 10th March 1863 he married Maria Ann Mann Smith at St John's church, Hackney, London. He was a private soldier serving with the 5th Fusiliers. He was the son of James Grant. Died in London 7th March 1867.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Grant_(VC)
http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbgrantr.htm
