Arthur Vickers VC (2 February 1882 – 27 July 1944) was an

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soldier and a recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

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and

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forces. He was also awarded the French

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

Details

Vickers was 33 years old, and a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in the 2nd Battalion,

The Royal Warwickshire Regiment The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, previously titled the 6th Regiment of Foot, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. The regiment saw service in many conflicts and wars, including the Second Boer Wa ...

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

when the deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation stated: He received his medal from

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Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

in 1916.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of

sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

, and served in the army until 1935. He died in Birmingham in 1944 and is buried at the city's

Witton Cemetery Witton Cemetery (), which opened in Witton in 1863 as Birmingham City Cemetery, is the largest cemetery in Birmingham, England. Covering an area of , it once had three chapels; however, two of these were demolished in 1980. The cemetery would ...

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire) The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire) is situated on the first floor of St John's House in Warwick, England. History The trustees of the museum joined forces with Warwickshire County Council to acquire the building in 196 ...

, Warwick, England.

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vickers, Arthur 1882 births 1944 deaths Military personnel from Birmingham, West Midlands British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers soldiers British Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross