George Harry Wyatt


George Henry Wyatt VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

George Henry Wyatt was born on 5 September 1886 at Worcester, and enlisted into the Coldstream Guards, British Army on 23 November 1904 at Birmingham. He served with the 2nd Battalion of his regiment at home, and then with the 3rd Battalion, then serving in Egypt.
Transferring to the Reserves on 9 January 1909, he joined the Barnsley Borough Police. Wyatt was recalled to the Army at the outbreak of the First World War on 5 August 1914.

First World War

Wyatt was a 27 years old Lance-Corporal in the 3rd Battalion, the Coldstream Guards, stationed around Landrecies on the night of the 25/26 August, when the following action took place for which he was awarded his VC:
He was wounded again in February 1915 at Cuinchy and evacuated back to England, where he served the rest of the war, transferring to the 5th Battalion in August 1915. He was promoted to Lance-Sergeant on 28 February 1917 and was demobilised on 14 January 1919.

Later life

He returned to the police and served in the Doncaster Borough Police force until his retirement in 1934. He is buried at St John the Evangelist's Church, Cadeby, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Awards