Robert Vaughan Gorle

Robert Vaughan Gorle VC (6 May 1896 - 10 January 1937) 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.

Details

He was 22 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the "A" Bty. 50th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 1 October 1918 at Ledeghem, Belgium, Lieutenant Gorle was in command of an 18-pounder gun working in close conjunction with the infantry. He brought his gun into action in the most exposed position on four separate occasions and disposed of enemy machine-guns by firing over open sights under direct fire. Later, when the infantry were driven back, he galloped his gun in front of the leading troops and twice knocked out enemy machine-guns which were causing the trouble. His disregard of personal safety was a magnificent example to the wavering line which rallied and re-took the northern end of the village.

The medal

His medal was last known to be in the possession of his grandson, Davi vincent in Harare, Zimbabwe and not on public display.

References

*"Monuments to Courage" (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*"VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918" (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)