Personal info
- Name: Arnold LOOSEMORE
- D.O.B: 7th Jun, 1896
- D.O.A: 11th Aug, 1917
- D.O.D: 10th Apr, 1924
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Private, 8th Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, 32nd Brigade, 11th Division
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Near Langemark, Belgium 11 August 1917
11 August 1917
The First World War 1917
On 11 August 1917, 8th Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment mounted attacks on German positions on the east bank of the Steenbeek, north of Ypres, in preparation for a British attack on Langemark. Private A Loosemore distinguished himself by his gallantry during an assault by Y and Z Companies on one such position, known as Wellington Farm. British troops were eventually forced by heavy German machine-gun fire to withdraw from the position.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack on a strongly-held enemy position. His platoon having been checked by heavy machine gun fire, he crawled through partially cut wire, dragging his Lewis gun with him, and single-handed dealt with a strong party of the enemy, killing about twenty of them, and thus covering the consolidation of the position taken up by his platoon. Immediately afterwards his Lewis gun was blown up by a bomb, and three enemy rushed for him, but he shot them all with his revolver. Later, he shot several enemy snipers, exposing himself to heavy fire each time. On returning to the original post he also brought back a wounded comrade under heavy fire at the risk of his life. He displayed throughout an utter disregard of danger.