Arnold Loosemore
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Arnold Loosemore VC DCM (7 June 1896, Sheffield, England - 11 April 1924) 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.
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[edit] Details
He was 21 years old, and a private in the 8th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 11 August 1917 south of Langemarck, Belgium, during the attack on a strongly held enemy position and his platoon having been held up by heavy machine-gun fire, Private Loosemore crawled through partially cut wire, dragging his Lewis gun with him and single-handed dealt with a strong party of the enemy, killing about 20 of them. Immediately afterwards his Lewis gun was destroyed and three of the enemy rushed at him, but he shot them with his revolver. Later he shot several enemy snipers, and on returning to the original post he brought back a wounded comrade under heavy fire.
[edit] Further information
- He later achieved the rank of sergeant.
- An image of Sgt Loosemore is viewable in the entrance to the United Kingdom Public Records Office in Kew.
[edit] The medal
- The medal is privately owned and not on public display.
[edit] Grave
All Saints Churchyard in Ecclesall, Sheffield, South yorkshire
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
[edit] External links
- The Chris Hobbs Site
- Location of grave and VC medal (South Yorkshire)
- Arnold Loosemore at Find A Grave