Samuel Frickleton
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Front row, Sg. J.D. Hinton, Lt. K. Elliott, Cpt. C.H. Upham, Sg. A.C. Hulme, Cpt. S. Frickleton, Lt. J.G. Grant.
Samuel Frickleton was a New Zealander 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 26 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 7 June 1917 at Messines, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Frickleton, although slightly wounded, dashed forward at the head of his section, pushed into our barrage and personally destroyed with bombs an enemy machine-gun and crew which was causing heavy casualties. He then attacked a second gun killing all the crew of 12. By the destruction of these two guns he undoubtedly saved his own and other units from very severe casualties. During the consolidation of this position he received a second severe wound.
He is also considered Scottish. He later achieved the rank of captain. His gave/memorial is Taita Serviceman's Cemetery, Naenae, New Zealand. Plot 1188. Headstone.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
[edit] External links
- Frickleton S.F.
- New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (brief biography details)
