George Henry Wyatt VC - A local hero ?
Posted on 6th Nov 2023
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy, most conspicuous bravery, some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories
In the First World War it was awarded on 628 occasions , one of the first recipients was George Harry Wyatt in August 1914
It would seem he was a man with local connections ?
"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. At Landrecies, on the night of 25th-26th August, 1914, when a part of his Battalion was hotly engaged at the end of a street close to some farm buildings, the enemy, by means of incendiary bombs, set light to some straw stacks in the farmyard. Lance-Corporal Wyatt twice dashed out of the line under very heavy fire from the enemy, who were only 25 yards distant, and extinguished the burning straw. If the fire had spread it would have been quite impossible to have held our position.
"Also at Villa Cotteret, after being wounded in the head, Lance-Corporal Wyatt continued firing until he could no longer see owing to the blood which was pouring down his face. The Medical Officer bound up his wound and told him to go to the rear, but he at once returned to the firing-line and continued to fight."
Wyatt was promoted to Lance-Sergeant on 28 February 1917 and was demobilised on 14 January 1919. He later returned to the police force with and served in the Doncaster Police force until his retirement in 1934.
His local connection ?
He was a Freemason ! His Lodge was the Sun, Square and Compasses Lodge No. 119, which at that time held its lodge meetings in Whitehaven and is today based on the Masonic Centre in the center of Cleator Moor where the is remembered at this time of remembrance See attched Photo
