George Ward Gunn
Encyclopedia
George Ward Gunn VC
MC
(26 July 1912 - 21 November 1941) 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.
, and a former pupil of Sedbergh School
and Mostyn House.
He was 29 years old, and a second lieutenant
in the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
, British Army
during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
During the British attempt to relieve the siege of Tobruk
the Germans counter attacked near the airfield of Sidi Rezegh. Gunn was the commander of A Troop of J Battery
. The battery was equipped with anti-tank guns mounted portee
On 21 November 1941 at Sidi Rezegh, Libya
, an attack by 60 German tanks was countered by the four anti-tank guns ("A Troop") under the command of Second Lieutenant Gunn.
During the engagement this officer drove from gun to gun in an unarmoured vehicle, encouraging his men, and when three of his guns were destroyed and the crew of the fourth, except the sergeant, were all dead or disabled, he took charge of this remaining weapon, the portee of which was alight. There was danger of the flames exploding the ammunition with which the portee was loaded, but he managed to fire 50 rounds from the QF 2 pounder
gun and set two enemy tanks on fire before he himself was killed by being shot through the head.
After he was killed, the battery commander Major Pinney, who had aided Ward by dealing with the ammunition fire, took over the gun and continued the action. As a result of the battery's actions, it was given the honour title
"Sidi Rezegh".
A memorial to him stands in his old school, Sedbergh
, and at Mostyn House commemorating his brave deeds. In his home town of Neston there is a Street named after him, Gunn Grove, and a memorial in the Parish Church, (St Mary & St Helen's).
, England.
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....
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(26 July 1912 - 21 November 1941) 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.
Life
Gunn was born in Neston, CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, and a former pupil of Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
and Mostyn House.
He was 29 years old, and a second lieutenant
Second 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 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based in Caen Barracks, Hohne, Germany.-Current role:...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
During the British attempt to relieve the siege of Tobruk
Siege of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
the Germans counter attacked near the airfield of Sidi Rezegh. Gunn was the commander of A Troop of J Battery
J (Sidi Rezegh) Battery Royal Horse Artillery
J Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. They are currently based in Caen Barracks in Hohne, Germany....
. The battery was equipped with anti-tank guns mounted portee
Portee
A portee is a truck that carries a gun on its bed, such that the gun is not affixed permanently to the vehicle, can be quickly unloaded, and can be fired from the truck....
On 21 November 1941 at Sidi Rezegh, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, an attack by 60 German tanks was countered by the four anti-tank guns ("A Troop") under the command of Second Lieutenant Gunn.
During the engagement this officer drove from gun to gun in an unarmoured vehicle, encouraging his men, and when three of his guns were destroyed and the crew of the fourth, except the sergeant, were all dead or disabled, he took charge of this remaining weapon, the portee of which was alight. There was danger of the flames exploding the ammunition with which the portee was loaded, but he managed to fire 50 rounds from the QF 2 pounder
Ordnance QF 2 pounder
The Ordnance QF 2-pounder was a British anti-tank and vehicle-mounted gun, employed in the Second World War. It was actively used in the Battle of France, and during the North Africa campaign...
gun and set two enemy tanks on fire before he himself was killed by being shot through the head.
After he was killed, the battery commander Major Pinney, who had aided Ward by dealing with the ammunition fire, took over the gun and continued the action. As a result of the battery's actions, it was given the honour title
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
"Sidi Rezegh".
A memorial to him stands in his old school, Sedbergh
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
, and at Mostyn House commemorating his brave deeds. In his home town of Neston there is a Street named after him, Gunn Grove, and a memorial in the Parish Church, (St Mary & St Helen's).
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum in WoolwichWoolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, England.