Sir Arnold Horace Santo Waters, (23 September 1886 – 22 January 1981) was a British engineer, soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces.

Details

He was 32 years old, and an acting major in the 218th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War at the second battle of the Sambre when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC: On 4 November 1918 near

Ors Ors () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located on the Sambre–Oise Canal, in a small wood called Bois l'Évêque. History The commune was an area of intense fighting in November 1918 for control of the canal. Sec ...

, France, Major Waters, with his Field Company, was bridging the Oise-Sambre Canal under artillery and machine-gun fire at close range, the bridge being damaged and the building party suffering severe casualties. All Major Waters' officers had been killed or wounded and he at once went forward and personally supervised the completion of the bridge, working on cork floats while under such intense fire that it seemed impossible that he could survive. The success of the operation was entirely due to his valour and example.

Further information

Later he was knighted, becoming Sir Arnold Waters. He was the President of the Institution of Structural Engineers in 1933–34 and 1943–1944, the only person to hold the post twice.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the

Royal Engineers Museum The Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive is a military engineering museum and library in Gillingham, Kent. It tells the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and British military engineering in general. History The 'Ravelin Building', ...

, Chatham, Kent.

References

External links

Royal Engineers Museum
Sappers VCs

''(Warwickshire)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, Arnold Horace Santo 1886 births 1981 deaths Engineers from Plymouth, Devon Royal Engineers officers British Army personnel of World War I British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Recipients of the Military Cross Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Knights Bachelor Presidents of the Institution of Structural Engineers British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Plymouth, Devon