Victoria Cross: W. T. Dartnell

WILBUR TAYLOR DARTNELL

Temporary Lieutenant, 25th (Service) Battalion (Frontiersmen), The Royal Fusiliers

Born: 6 April 1885, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died: 3 September 1915, Maktau, British East Africa

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery near Maktau (East Africa) on 3rd September, 1915.
During a mounted infantry engagement the enemy got within a few yards of our men, and it was found inpossible to get the more severely wounded away. Lieutenant Dartnell, who was himself being carried away wounded in the leg, seeing the situation, and knowing that the enemy's black troops murdered the wounded, insisted on being left behind in the hopes of being able to save the lives of the other wounded men.
He gave his own life in the gallant attempt to save others.

[London Gazette issue 29414 dtd 23 Dec 1915, published 21 Dec 1915.]


Note: British East Africa is now Kenya.