Cyril Edward Gourley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cyril Edward Gourley
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| Born | 19 January 1893 Liverpool, England |
| Died | 31 January 1982 (aged 89) Haslemere, Surrey, England |
| Buried |
Grange Cemetery, West Kirby, Wirral, England
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Royal Field Artillery |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal Croix de guerre (France) |
Captain Cyril Edward Gourley was a very brave British Army officer. He received the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest award for courage in the face of the enemy. This special medal is given to soldiers from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. Cyril Gourley was born in England in 1893 and lived until 1982.
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Early Life and School
Cyril Edward Gourley was born in Wavertree, a part of Liverpool. He went to Calday Grange Grammar School and then studied at Liverpool University. He finished his university studies in 1913.
Serving in World War I
In May 1914, Cyril Gourley joined the army. He was part of the Royal Field Artillery, which used big guns called howitzers. When World War I started in August 1914, he was sent to the Western Front in France in September 1915.
In September 1917, while serving near Ypres, he showed great bravery. He helped put out a fire near an ammunition dump (a place where bombs and bullets are stored). For this brave act, he was given the Military Medal.
Winning the Victoria Cross
Cyril Gourley was 24 years old and a sergeant when he earned the Victoria Cross. This happened on November 30, 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai in France.
He was in charge of a group of howitzers. The enemy soldiers were very close, just a few hundred yards away. Even with enemy snipers (hidden shooters) nearby, Sergeant Gourley kept one of his big guns firing.
At one point, he pulled the gun out of its pit. He then aimed it at an enemy machine-gun about 500 yards away. He fired and hit it directly, knocking it out! All day long, he stopped the German advance. He fired at enemy groups he could see clearly. Because of his amazing courage, his guns were saved and could be moved away safely that night.
His award citation said he showed "most conspicuous bravery" and kept his gun in action almost all day. It mentioned he carried ammunition, aimed, and fired the gun himself. He even got other soldiers to help him. His actions truly held the enemy back.
Even though he was first told he couldn't become an officer because of his eyesight, Cyril Gourley later became a second lieutenant. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain.
Life After the War
After the war ended in 1919, Cyril Gourley started working for a company called Lever Brothers. He traveled a lot for his job, helping the company start new businesses.
During the Second World War, he continued to serve. He was a firewatcher in Liverpool, helping during many of the air raids on the city. This meant he helped deal with fires caused by bombs.
In 1952, Cyril Gourley moved to Haslemere, Surrey. He passed away there on January 31, 1982, at 89 years old. He is buried in Grange Cemetery in West Kirby, Wirral. A lane in West Kirby was even renamed Gourley's Lane in his honor.
A special charity fund was set up in his name after World War I. It helps university students from the Hoylake and West Kirby areas.
His Medals
Cyril Gourley's Victoria Cross, along with his other medals like the Croix de Guerre (a French medal), are kept at the Royal Artillery Museum.
