Arnold Loosemore

Crawled Through Wire and Broke Enemy Fire With His Lewis Gun

Arnold Loosemore was born at Sheffield on June 7, 1896. He enlisted in the York and Lancaster Regiment in January 1915 and subsequently served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. After Gallipoli and Egypt, he went to France in 1916 and trained as a Lewis gunner.

On August 11, 1917, south of Langemarck, his platoon was halted by machine-gun fire. Loosemore crawled through partially cut wire with his Lewis gun and attacked a strong German party, helping his platoon consolidate its position. When a bomb destroyed his gun, he shot three attackers with his revolver. He later engaged snipers and brought a wounded comrade back through heavy fire. The Victoria Cross recognised these actions. King George V presented it at Buckingham Palace on January 2, 1918.

Promoted sergeant in 1918, Loosemore subsequently earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal. When an officer was wounded and a patrol scattered, he rallied the men and brought back the wounded; he also led his platoon in an attack under machine-gun fire. In October he was severely wounded and lost his left leg. After discharge, he attempted poultry farming and photography but struggled with disability and declining health. He married Amy Morton and had a son. He died at Sheffield on April 10, 1924, and was buried at Ecclesall.

**Victoria Cross citation**

“For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack on a strongly-held enemy position. His platoon having been checked by heavy machine gun fire, he crawled through partially cut wire, dragging his Lewis gun with him, and single-handed dealt with a strong party of the enemy, killing about twenty of them, and thus covering the consolidation of the position taken up by his platoon. Immediately afterwards his Lewis gun was blown up by a bomb, and three enemy rushed for him, but he shot them all with his revolver. Later, he shot several enemy snipers, exposing himself to heavy fire each time. On returning to the original post he also brought back a wounded comrade under heavy fire at the risk of his life. He displayed throughout an utter disregard of danger.”