Richard William Leslie Wain

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Richard William Leslie Wain VC (5 December 1896-20 November 1917) was a Welsh 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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Wain was born in Penarth, South Wales and was educated at Penarth Grammar School. He was 20 years old, and an Acting Captain in the 'A' Battalion, Tank Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 November 1917 at Marcoing, near Cambrai, France, Captain Wain and one man were the only survivors when his tank was disabled by a direct hit near an enemy strong-point which was holding up the attack. Although bleeding profusely, Captain Wain refused the attention of the stretcher bearers, rushed from behind the tank with a Lewis gun and captured the strong-point, taking about half the garrison prisoners. Despite his severe wounds he then picked up a rifle and continued to fire at the enemy until he received a fatal wound in the head. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.