George Henry Tatham Paton

Rallied his surrounded company and carried wounded to safety

George Henry Tatham Paton was born at Innellan, Argyllshire, on 3 October 1895. Commissioned into the London Regiment in 1914, he transferred to the Grenadier Guards in 1916. He fought on the Somme and became an Acting Captain in 1917. His leadership under an artillery barrage at Third Ypres earned the Military Cross.

On 1 December 1917, near Gonnelieu during the Battle of Cambrai, the withdrawal of a neighbouring unit exposed his company's flank. With his men almost surrounded, Paton moved openly under close enemy fire to reorganise their defence. He personally carried wounded men away and was the last to leave the village.

When German troops repeatedly counter-attacked the new position, he stood on the parapet to encourage resistance. Mortally wounded while setting that example, he remained with his command to the end. His Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously. He was twenty-two when he died and was buried in Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery British Extension, France.

Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and selfsacrifice. When a unit on his left was driven back, thus leaving his flank in the air and his company practically surrounded, he fearlessly exposed himself to re-adjust the line, walking up and down within fifty yards of the enemy under a withering fire. He personally removed several wounded men, and was the last to leave the village. Later, he again re-adjusted the line, exposing himself regardless of all danger the whole time, and when the enemy four times counterattacked he sprang each time upon the parapet, deliberately risking his life, and being eventually mortally wounded, in order to stimulate his command. After the enemy had broken through on his left, he again mounted the parapet, and with a few men—who were inspired by his great example—forced them once more to withdraw, thereby undoubtedly saving the left flank.