Laurence Calvert (16 February 1892 – 6 July 1964) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

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

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and Commonwealth forces. Calvert was 26 years old, and a sergeant in the 5th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry,

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, on 12 September 1918 at

Havrincourt Havrincourt () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in Hauts-de-France in France. The inhabitants are called ''Havrincourtois''. Situation The village lies about 14 kilometres south-west of Cambrai near the Havrincourt service area on ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

at the

Battle of Havrincourt The Battle of Havrincourt was a World War I battle fought on 12 September 1918, involving the British Third Army (under the command of General Sir Julian Byng) against German troops, including those of the 3rd and 10th Corps, in the town of Havrin ...

, the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The full citation was published in a supplement to the ''London Gazette'' of 12 November 1918 (dated 15 November 1918): He was also awarded the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...

(MM), and the Belgian Order of Leopold (with palm), in the grade of Chevalier.

The Medal

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Essex)'' * Fullsizeoutput 901

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calvert, Laurence 1892 births 1964 deaths King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry soldiers British Army personnel of World War I British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Recipients of the Military Medal British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Leeds