William Ratcliffe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Ratcliffe
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| Born | 18 January 1884 Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 26 March 1963 (aged 79) Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Buried |
Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool, England
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | The South Lancashire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal |
William Ratcliffe (born January 18, 1884 – died March 26, 1963) was an English soldier. He received the Victoria Cross (VC) and the Military Medal (MM). The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy. It is given to British and Commonwealth soldiers.
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Early Life and Joining the Army
William Ratcliffe was born in Liverpool, England, on January 18, 1884. His parents were William and Mary Ann Ratcliffe. He went to St. Vincent de Paul's Roman Catholic School in Liverpool.
After school, William worked for a short time on the docks in Liverpool. When he was 17, he joined the British Army. He served in South Africa during the Second Boer War. He also served in India.
He first joined the South Lancashire Regiment. Later, he moved to the Durham Light Infantry. By 1914, he had left the army. He was back working on the Liverpool docks.
World War I Hero
When World War I started in 1914, William quickly rejoined the army. He enlisted with the South Lancashire Regiment in August 1914. He showed great courage during the war.
He earned two important awards for his bravery. These were the Military Medal and the Victoria Cross. He received these awards during the Battle of Messines (1917).
What Happened at Messines?
On June 14, 1917, William Ratcliffe was a private in the 2nd Battalion. This was during the Battle of Messines in Messines, Belgium. His unit had just captured an enemy trench.
Suddenly, Private Ratcliffe saw an enemy machine-gun firing at his friends from behind them. Without waiting for orders, he bravely rushed the machine-gun position all by himself. He used his bayonet to defeat the enemy crew. Then, he quickly moved the machine-gun to the front line. He used it to help his own side.
William Ratcliffe had shown amazing bravery before this day too. His actions saved many lives.
Life After the War
In 1929, the Prince of Wales invited all Victoria Cross winners to a special dinner. It was held at the House of Lords in London. William Ratcliffe was worried he couldn't go because he didn't have enough money.
When a newspaper wrote about his problem, the people of Liverpool helped him. They raised money so he could buy a new suit. This way, he could attend the important event.
William continued to work on the Liverpool Docks. He worked there until an accident in the 1940s made him retire early.
In 1956, he attended another big event. This was the 100-year celebration of the Victoria Cross. It took place in Hyde Park, London. Queen Elizabeth II reviewed all the living Victoria Cross holders. For this event, the Victoria Cross Association paid for his new suit and his place to stay.
William Ratcliffe passed away on March 26, 1963, at the age of 79. He is remembered as a true hero.
The Victoria Cross Medal
William Ratcliffe's Victoria Cross medal is very important. It is currently on loan to the Imperial War Museum. You can see it in Lambeth Road, London.
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