George William Burdett Clare
Encyclopedia
George William Burdett Clare VC
(18 May 1889 – 29 November 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.
Clare was born on 18 May 1889 in St Ives
, Huntingdonshire to George and Rhoda Clare.
He was 28 years old, and a private
in the 5th Lancers (Royal Irish), he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 28/29 November 1917 at Bourlon Wood, France
during the Battle of Cambrai at which he was killed.
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.
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....
(18 May 1889 – 29 November 1917) 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.
Clare was born on 18 May 1889 in St Ives
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
St Ives is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England, around north-west of the city of Cambridge and north of London. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Huntingdonshire.-History:...
, Huntingdonshire to George and Rhoda Clare.
He was 28 years old, and a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 5th Lancers (Royal Irish), he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 28/29 November 1917 at Bourlon Wood, 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...
during the Battle of Cambrai at which he was killed.
Citation
His Victoria Cross will be displayed at the The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum at Thoresby Park, NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing
Cambrai Memorial to the Missing
The Cambrai Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorial for the missing soldiers of World War I who fought in the Battle of Cambrai on the Western Front.-Foundation:...
, France; in St Peter and St Paul's Church, Chatteris
Chatteris
Chatteris is a civil parish and one of four market towns in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely...
, Cambridgeshire and on Chatteris War Memorial.