George William Burdett Clare
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George William Burdett Clare VC (May 18, 1889 - November 29, 1917) 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.
He was 28 years old, and a private in the 5th Lancers (Royal Irish), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28/29 November 1917 at Bourlon Wood, France, Private Clare, a stretcher-bearer, dressed wounds and conducted the wounded to the dressing station under most intense fire. At one period, when all the garrison of a detached post had become casualties, he crossed to them through very heavy fire and having dressed all the cases, manned the post single-handed until a relief could be sent. Then, after carrying a seriously wounded man through intense fire to the dressing station, he went, still under heavy fire, to every company post warning them that the enemy were using gas shells. This gallant soldier was subsequently killed.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum, Belvoir Castle, Lincolnshire, England.
He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing, France; in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire and on Chatteris War Memorial.
