Gabriel Coury

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Photo submitted by Martin Hornby - (Gallaher Cigarette Cards)

Gabriel George Coury VC (13 June 1896 - 1956-02-23), 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.

Gabriel Coury was educated at Stonyhurst College from 1907-1913, before volunteering to join Kitchener's New Army in 1914.

He was 20 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers), British Army, attached to 1/4th Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 8 August 1916, near Arrow Head Copse, France, Second Lieutenant Coury was in command of two platoons ordered to dig a communication trench. By his fine example and utter contempt of danger he kept up the spirits of his men and completed his task under intense fire.

Later when his battalion had suffered severe casualties and the Commanding Officer had been wounded he went out in broad daylight in full view of the enemy, found his Commanding Officer and brought him back to the new advanced trench over ground swept by machine-gun fire.

On 15 November 1916, Lieutenant Coury was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps as a flying officer (observer). He was appointed a flying officer on 20 September 1917, although his seniority was dated from 28 August 1917.

On 1 April 1918, Coury was automatically transferred to the Royal Air Force on its establishment and he subsequently transferred to the Administrative Branch on 20 September 1918.

On 30 September 1918, Coury was promoted to Temporary Captain in the Medical section of the Administrative Branch.

[edit] References

Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)

Coury is honoured in a memorial which can be found in the main hall of his former school, St. Francis Xavier College, Liverpool.The current school site is on Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool L25 6EG.