Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke

Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke
Born 8 June 1919
Southport, Lancashire
Died 23 April 1943
Guiriat El Atach, Tunisia
Buried at Massicault War Cemetery
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Rank Lieutenant
Unit Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
Battles/wars World War II †
Awards Victoria Cross
Relations Peter Sandys-Clarke (grandson)

Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke VC (8 June 1919 – 23 April 1943) 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.

Background

He was born in Southport,[1][2] and was educated at Uppingham School. He married Dorothy Irene Deakin at the United Reformed Church in Belmont, Lancashire in 1941,[3] and they lived in Egerton, near Bolton.

Details

Sandys-Clarke was a 23-year-old lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), British Army during the Second World War when he was awarded the VC.

On 23 April 1943 at Guiriat El Atach, Tunisia, Lieutenant Clarke's company was counter-attacked and almost wiped out, he being the sole remaining officer. Although wounded in the head, he gathered a composite platoon together and advancing to attack the position again met heavy fire from a machine-gun post. He manoeuvred his men to give covering fire and then tackled the post single-handed, killing or capturing the crew and knocking out the gun. He dealt similarly with two other posts and then led his platoon to the objective, but was killed when he later went forward to tackle two sniper posts single-handed.[4]

Further information

Sandys-Clarke was related to four other recipients of the award:

The medal is retained by his family and is not on public display.

References

  1. ↑ "Birth Index entry: Clarke, Wilward A. S.". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 30 April 2011..
  2. ↑ Find-A-Grave profile for Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Lancashire BMD. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36071. p. 2937. 25 June 1943. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
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