Personal info
- Name: Thomas BRYAN
- D.O.B: 21st Jan, 1882
- D.O.A: 9th Apr, 1917
- D.O.D: 13th Oct, 1945
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Lance Corporal, 25th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers, 103rd Brigade, 34th Division
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Near Roclincourt, France 9 April 1917
9 April 1917
The First World War 1917
Slightly to the south-west of Vimy Ridge, the 25th and 27th Battalions The Northumberland Fusiliers, were among British troops seeking to sweep south-east towards Cambrai on the first day of the Battle of Arras. Near Roclincourt, north-east of Arras on the Thélus road, they came under heavy machine-gun fire from the German line. After an accompanying officer had been killed, Lance Corporal T Bryan although wounded in the right arm, advanced alone and disabled a particularly dangerous machine-gun, allowing his division to move forward. Private E Sykes distinguished himself by rescuing those wounded in the action.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery during an attack. Although wounded, this Non-commissioned Officer went forward alone, with a view to silencing a machine gun which was inflicting much damage. He worked up most skilfully along a communication trench, approached the gun from behind, disabled it and killed two of the team as they were abandoning the gun. As this machine gun had been a serious obstacle in the advance to the second objective, the results obtained by Lance-Corporal Bryan’s gallant action were very far-reaching.