William Henry Short (VC)

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William Henry Short VC (4 February 1884-6 August 1916) 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 29 years old, and a private in the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own), (Green Howards) British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 August 1916 at Munster Alley, Contalmaison, France, during the Battle of the Somme, Private Short was foremost in the attack, bombing the enemy with great gallantry, when he was wounded in the foot. He was urged to go back, but refused, and continued to throw bombs. Later his leg was shattered by a shell and he was unable to stand, so he lay in the trench, adjusting detonators and straightening the pins of bombs for the other men to throw. He died before he could be carried out of the trench.

The award was gazetted on 9 September 1916. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Green Howards Museum (Richmond, Yorkshire, England).

[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)