Charles Allix Lavington Yate

Led nineteen survivors in a charge after ammunition ran out.

Charles Allix Lavington Yate served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry after entering the Army from Sandhurst in 1892. His career included frontier operations in India, service in the South African War and work as a military observer during the Russo-Japanese War. He also held staff appointments in South Africa and at the War Office, attaining Major in 1912.

On 26 August 1914 at Le Cateau, Major Yate commanded one of the two companies of the 2nd Battalion that remained in the trenches to the end. With the other officers killed or wounded and ammunition exhausted, he led nineteen survivors in a charge against the enemy. He was severely wounded and captured.

After his capture, Yate was held at Torgau and made repeated attempts to escape. He died in September 1914, although historical accounts differ over the circumstances of his final escape and death. The Victoria Cross was announced posthumously in November that year and presented to his widow in 1919. His courage at Le Cateau is remembered alongside the long career that preceded his final battle.

Official Victoria Cross citation:

Commanded one of the two Companies that remained to the end in the trenches at Le Cateau on 26th August, and, when all other officers were killed or wounded and ammunition exhausted, led his nineteen survivors against the enemy in a charge in which he was severely wounded. He was picked up by the enemy and has subsequently died as a prisoner of war.