George Boyd-Rochfort
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George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort VC (1 January 1880-7 August 1940) was born in Middleton, County Westmeath, and was an Irish 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.
He was 35 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the Scots Guards, British Army, (Special Reserve, attached to 1st Battalion ) during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 3 August 1915 between Cambrin and La Bassée, France, a German trench-mortar bomb landed on the side of the parapet of the communication trench in which Second Lieutenant Boyd-Rochfort was standing close to a small working party of his battalion. Instead of stepping back into safety he shouted to his men to look out, rushed at the bomb, seized it and hurled it over the parapet where it at once exploded. This combination of presence of mind and courage saved the lives of many of the working party.
He later achieved the rank of captain. He died at Dublin 7 August 1940.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Scots Guards RHQ) (London, England).
[edit] References
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
- Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Westmeath, Ireland)
