Gabriel Coury
Encyclopedia
Gabriel George Coury VC
(13 June 1896 – 2 February 1956), 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.
Born on 13 June 1896 in Liverpool to an Armenian father and French mother, he was educated at Stonyhurst College
from 1907 to 1913. He worked as an apprentice in a cotton brokerage when the war broke out. Coury volunteered to join Kitchener's New Army in 1914.
in the 3rd Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
, he performed deeds on 8 August 1916, near Arrow Head Copse, France
for which he was awarded the VC. His actions also earned him a promotion to full lieutenant.
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 transferred to the Royal Air Force
on its establishment, and he subsequently transferred to the RAF Administrative Branch on 20 September 1918. On 30 September 1918, Coury was promoted to temporary captain in the Medical section of the Administrative Branch. He mustered out as a captain
when the war ended.
broke out, Coury joined the Royal Army Service Corps
and participated in the Normandy Landings.
at Fulwood
Barracks in Preston, Lancashire.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(13 June 1896 – 2 February 1956), was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Born on 13 June 1896 in Liverpool to an Armenian father and French mother, he was educated at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
from 1907 to 1913. He worked as an apprentice in a cotton brokerage when the war broke out. Coury volunteered to join Kitchener's New Army in 1914.
Victoria Cross
While he was a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 3rd Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
The South Lancashire Regiment was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1958. It was formed as part of the Childers reforms as the Prince of Wales's Volunteers Regiment by the amalgamation of the 40th Regiment of Foot and the 82nd Regiment of Foot...
, he performed deeds on 8 August 1916, near Arrow Head Copse, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for which he was awarded the VC. His actions also earned him a promotion to full lieutenant.
Citation
Royal Flying Corps
On 15 November 1916, Lieutenant Coury was seconded to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
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 transferred to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on its establishment, and he subsequently transferred to the RAF Administrative Branch on 20 September 1918. On 30 September 1918, Coury was promoted to temporary captain in the Medical section of the Administrative Branch. He mustered out as a captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
when the war ended.
Post war
After the war, he returned to his old firm as a cotton broker. When World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, Coury joined the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
and participated in the Normandy Landings.
Legacy
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. His VC is on display at the Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museumat Fulwood
Fulwood, Lancashire
Fulwood is an unparished area of the City of Preston, Lancashire, England, about north of the city centre. It had a population of 33,171 in 2001.- Economy and society :Fulwood remains a distinctive division of Preston...
Barracks in Preston, Lancashire.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Liverpool)