Personal info

  • Name: George JARRATT
  • D.O.B: 22nd Jul, 1891
  • D.O.A: 3rd May, 1917
  • D.O.D: 3rd May, 1917
  • Award: Victoria Cross
  • Occupation at time of action: Corporal, 8th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers, 36th Brigade, 12th Division
  • Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
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Sources & Acknowledgements

Near Pelves, France 3 May 1917

3 May 1917

More details about:
The First World War 1917 

On 3 May 1917 to the south of the River Scarpe, 8th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers was involved in an attempt to capture Pelves, a village due east of Arras. Roeux, to the north of the river was still in German hands and the attack failed. Corporal G Jarratt was taken prisoner but gave his life in dampening the explosion from a bomb thrown into the dug-out where he and other prisoners were being kept, when 7th Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment pressed on with the assault.

Citation

 For most conspicuous bravery and devotion in deliberately sacrificing his life to save others. He had, together with some wounded men, been taken prisoner and placed under guard in a dug-out. The same evening the enemy were driven back by our troops, the leading infantrymen of which commenced to bomb the dug-outs. A grenade fell in the dug-out, and without hesitation Cpl. Jarratt placed both feet on the grenade, the subsequent explosion blowing off both his legs. The wounded were later safely removed to our lines, but Cpl. Jarratt died before he could be removed. By this supreme act of self-sacrifice the lives of these wounded were saved. 

Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8 June 1917. 8 June 1917, Numb. 30122, p. 5705

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