Benjamin Handley Geary

Benjamin Handley Geary VC

Benjamin Handley Geary was born in Marylebone, London, on 29 June 1891. He was educated at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury, and Keble College, Oxford, before becoming a schoolmaster. Following the outbreak of the First World War, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment on 15 August 1914 and was subsequently attached to the regiment’s 1st Battalion in France. (queensroyalsurreys.org.uk⁠)

On 20 April 1915, during the savage fighting for Hill 60 near Ypres, Geary led his platoon across exposed ground under intense enemy fire and took up a position in the left-hand crater at the summit. With him were surviving soldiers of the Bedfordshire Regiment and a small number of reinforcements.

The position was subjected to heavy artillery fire that shattered its defences, followed by repeated German bombing attacks throughout the night. The crater became crowded with dead and wounded, but Geary continued to direct its defence. He personally used a rifle, threw hand grenades and repeatedly exposed himself to the light of enemy flares so that he could identify the direction of each attack. Between assaults, he organized ammunition supplies and arranged for reinforcements.

The official citation stated that the attacks were repulsed largely because of Geary’s personal gallantry, determination and example. Shortly before daybreak on 21 April, he was severely wounded by a rifle bullet to the head. His Victoria Cross was announced in the London Gazette on 15 October 1915, and he received the medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 9 December 1915. (The Gazette⁠)

Geary’s wound cost him the sight of his left eye and seriously impaired the sight in his right. Despite this, he later undertook ground duties with the Royal Flying Corps and returned to France in 1916. In January 1918, he rejoined the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment in Italy and commanded a company as an acting captain. He later returned to France, where he was wounded for a second time. He retired from the British Army in 1919 with the rank of captain. (Wikipedia⁠)

After the war, Geary entered the Anglican ministry and served for a time in the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. He later emigrated to Canada. At the beginning of the Second World War, he joined the Canadian Army and served with the rank of major.

From 1947 until 1971, Geary served as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Following his retirement, he continued his association with the Legislature as its historian.

Major Benjamin Handley Geary VC died at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, on 26 May 1976, aged 84. He was buried in St Mark’s Cemetery at Niagara-on-the-Lake. His Victoria Cross and accompanying medal group are held by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (Wikipedia⁠)