Albert Edward Shepherd
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Albert Edward Shepherd (11 January 1897 - 23 October 1966) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 20 years old, and a private in the 12th (S) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 20 November 1917 at Villers Plouich, France, when his company was held up by a machine-gun at point-blank range, Private Shepherd volunteered to rush the gun and although ordered not to, rushed forward and threw a Mills bomb killing two gunners and capturing the gun. The company, continuing its advance, came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire and when the last officer and NCO had become casualties, Private Shepherd took command of the company, ordered the men to lie down and went back some 70 yards to get the help of a tank. He then returned to his company and led them to their last objective.
He later achieved the rank of corporal.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum (Winchester, England).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (South Yorkshire)
