Harry Cator VC

Name: Harry Cator

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: June 8, 1917

Service: Army

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Sergeant (later Captain)

Place/date of birth: Drayton, Norfolk/January 24, 1894

Date of bravery: April 9, 1917

London Gazette citation:

No. 5190 Sjt. Harry Cator, E. Surr. R.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.

Whilst consolidating the first line captured system his platoon suffered severe casualties from hostile machine gun and rifle fire. In full view of the enemy and under heavy fire Sjt. Cator with one man advanced across the open to attack the hostile machine gun. The man accompanying him was killed after going a short distance, but Sjt. Cator continued on, and picking up a Lewis gun and some drums on his way, succeeded in reaching the northern end of the hostile trench. Meanwhile, one of our bombing parties was seen to be held up by a machine gun. Sjt. Cator took up a position from which he sighted this gun and killed the entire team and the officer, whose papers he brought in.

He continued to hold that end of the trench with the Lewis gun with such effect that the bombing squad was enabled to work along, the result being that 100 prisoners and five machine guns were captured.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: MM

Place/date of death: Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norfolk/April 7, 1966

Grave/memorials: Sprowston Cemetery, near Norwich, Norfolk

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased from the Spink List, 1996

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum