Personal info
- Name: Harry CATOR
- D.O.B: 24th Jan, 1894
- D.O.A: 9th Apr, 1917
- D.O.D: 7th Apr, 1966
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Sergeant, 7th Battalion The East Surrey Regiment, 37th Brigade, 12th Division
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Monchy-le-Preux, France 9, 11 April 1917
9, 11 April 1917
The First World War 1917
On 9 April 1917, the first day of the Battle of Arras, 7th Battalion The East Surrey Regiment was involved in an attack on the German line near Monchy-le-Preux, north of the Cambrai road, just over 5 miles east of Arras. The German defences included many small redoubts
Citation
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.