George Roupell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Roupell
|
|
|---|---|
Lieutenant Roupell from The War Illustrated, 10 July 1915
|
|
| Born | 7 April 1892 Tipperary, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 4 March 1974 (aged 81) Shalford, Surrey, England |
| Buried |
Guildford Crematorium, Surrey, England
|
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1912–1946 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Service number | 5360 |
| Unit | East Surrey Regiment |
| Commands held | 114th Infantry Brigade (1943) 36th Infantry Brigade (1939–40) 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment (1935–39) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Russian Civil War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches Order of St George, 4th Class (Russia) Croix de Guerre (France) |
George Rowland Patrick Roupell (born April 7, 1892 – died March 4, 1974) was a brave soldier in the British Army. He earned the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage a soldier can get in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. He rose to the rank of Brigadier, a very senior officer position.
Contents
Early Life and Army Career
George Roupell was born into a family of soldiers. His father, Francis F. F. Roupell, also served in the British Army. He even led a battalion of the East Surrey Regiment.
George went to Rossall School and then the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. This is where officers are trained for the army. He officially joined the East Surrey Regiment in 1912. By 1914, he was a lieutenant, just before the First World War began.
Heroism in World War I
When the war started, George Roupell's unit, the 1st Battalion the East Surreys, went to Belgium. They were part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
First Battles
Roupell led his platoon in the Battle of Mons in August 1914. This was one of the BEF's first big fights. He kept a diary during the war, which shares interesting stories. He even wrote about having to gently tap his soldiers to get their attention. He reminded them to aim low, as they had been taught.
Soon after, during the retreat from Mons, Roupell fought in the first Battle of the Aisne. He faced heavy enemy fire while crossing the Aisne River. His unit suffered many losses.
Victoria Cross Award
In early 1915, fighting continued around Ypres. George Roupell was 23 years old when he showed amazing bravery. This act earned him the Victoria Cross.
On April 20, 1915, his company was in a trench on "Hill 60." The area was heavily bombed all day. Even though he was hurt in several places, he stayed at his post. He led his company in fighting off a strong German attack.
During a quiet moment, he quickly had his wounds treated. Then he insisted on going back to his trench. The bombing started again. As evening came, his company was very weak. He went to his headquarters to explain the situation. He brought back more soldiers, moving through heavy enemy fire. With these new troops, he held his position all night. He stayed until his battalion was replaced the next morning.
He was one of the few survivors from his company. His courage and determination inspired his men. They held on until the very end.
King George V personally gave Roupell his Victoria Cross on July 12, 1915. He also received other awards for his bravery. These included the Russian Order of St George and the French Croix de Guerre.
Later War Service
In October 1916, Roupell was on a ship called TSS The Queen. It was captured and sunk in the English Channel. Luckily, he survived. He continued to serve in various roles until the war ended.
Between the World Wars
After World War I, Roupell was promoted to acting lieutenant colonel. He led a battalion from late 1918 to early 1919.
Adventures in Russia
In 1919, he joined an allied force sent to Russia. They were there to support the Tsarist Russians in their Civil War. During a visit to a Tsarist unit, the soldiers rebelled. Roupell and others were taken prisoner near Arkhangelsk. They were sent to Moscow but were later sent home in 1920.
Family Life and Career Growth
In 1921, George Roupell married Doris P. Sant. They had a daughter, Phoebe, in 1922, and a son, Peter, in 1925.
Roupell continued his army career. He served in places like Gibraltar, India, and Sudan. He also attended the Staff College, Camberley, which is for advanced military training. From 1929 to 1931, he worked at the Royal Military College of Canada. In 1934, he spent a year with British troops in China. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1935.
World War II and Escape
When the Second World War began in September 1939, Roupell was promoted to colonel. He became an acting brigadier and took command of the 36th Infantry Brigade.
Battle of France
His brigade was sent to France in April 1940. They became part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The German army pushed forward, cutting off the BEF from the rest of France.
Roupell's brigade headquarters near Doullens was attacked. When told about the danger, he famously said: "Never mind the Germans. I'm just going to finish my cup of tea." On May 20, 1940, his headquarters was taken over. Roupell told his surviving soldiers to split into small groups. They were to try and find other Allied troops.
Hiding and Return
Roupell, along with a captain and a French interpreter, managed to avoid capture. They hid during the day and walked at night for over a month. They found a farm near Rouen, where the two officers stayed for almost two years. They worked as farm laborers.
With help from the French Resistance, they moved through France. They then crossed into Spain, which was not fighting in the war. Finally, they boarded a ship in Gibraltar and returned to the United Kingdom.
Later War Service
After returning, he commanded the 114th Infantry Brigade from March to November 1943. This brigade did not see battle. He was then appointed garrison commander at Chatham, where he stayed until he retired.
After the War
In 1946, George Roupell officially retired from the army. He was given the honorary rank of brigadier. In 1953, he became a Deputy lieutenant of Surrey.
In 1954, Roupell was appointed Colonel of the East Surreys. He was the last person to hold this role. In 1959, the East Surrey Regiment joined with another to form the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment. He was also made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1956.
George Roupell passed away in Shalford, Surrey, on March 4, 1974. He was 81 years old.
