Bertram Best-Dunkley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertram Best-Dunkley
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|---|---|
| Born | 3 August 1890 York, England |
| Died | 5 August 1917 (aged 27) Pilckem Ridge, Passchendaele salient, Belgium |
| Buried |
Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Proven
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | -1917 † |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | The Lancashire Fusiliers |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Bertram Best-Dunkley was a very brave English soldier. He lived from 1890 to 1917. He received the Victoria Cross (VC). This is the highest award for bravery. It is given to soldiers in the British and Commonwealth forces. It honors amazing courage when facing the enemy.
Contents
A True Hero: Bertram Best-Dunkley
Early Life and Military Service
Bertram Best-Dunkley was born in York, England. This was on August 3, 1890. Before he joined the army, he was a teacher. He taught at Tienstin Grammar School.
He became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army. This is a high rank. He served during the First World War. This big war lasted from 1914 to 1918. He fought on the Western Front. This was a major battle area in Belgium and France.
His Amazing Bravery
On July 31, 1917, Lieutenant-Colonel Best-Dunkley was 26 years old. He was leading his soldiers in Belgium. They were attacking a place called Pilckem Ridge. This was part of a bigger battle called the Battle of Passchendaele.
His soldiers were moving forward. But they suddenly faced heavy machine gun fire. The enemy was in places they thought were already captured. The attack became very messy.
Lieutenant-Colonel Best-Dunkley acted quickly. He ran forward to his soldiers. He gathered them together. Then, he personally led them to attack the enemy positions. Even though many soldiers were lost, they captured the positions.
He kept leading his soldiers. They did not stop until they reached all their goals. Without his brave actions, the attack might have failed.
Later that day, the enemy tried to attack them back. Lieutenant-Colonel Best-Dunkley quickly gathered his headquarters staff. He led them to fight the enemy. They successfully pushed the enemy back.
Sadly, this brave officer was badly wounded. He died from his wounds two days later. This was on August 5, 1917. He was only 27 years old.
Remembering a Brave Soldier
There is a special marble plaque for Bertram Best-Dunkley. It is in the entrance hall of Tienstin Grammar School. This is where he used to teach. Part of the plaque was damaged during a war. This happened when Japanese troops occupied China.
Bertram Best-Dunkley is remembered for his incredible courage. He showed great leadership and bravery. He put his life at risk to protect his soldiers and achieve their mission.
