George Jarratt

He shielded wounded men from a grenade and gave up his life.

George Jarratt was born in Kennington, London, in July 1891. He worked as a junior clerk for the Beefeater gin company before the First World War. He married Gertrude Elkins in 1915, and their daughter Joyce was born the following year. After service in the Royal West Kent Regiment, he transferred to the 8th Royal Fusiliers and reached France in March 1917.

On 3 May 1917 near Pelves, during the Arras fighting, Corporal Jarratt was captured with wounded comrades and placed in a dugout. As British troops attacked to retake the position, a grenade landed among the prisoners. Jarratt immediately put both feet over it. The explosion caused fatal injuries but protected the wounded men, who were subsequently brought back to British lines.

He died before he could be evacuated, aged 25. His Victoria Cross was posthumous. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. His widow and daughter received his medal in July 1917.

Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion in deliberately sacrificing his life to save others. He had, together with some wounded men, been taken prisoner and placed under guard in a dug-out. The same evening the enemy were driven back by our troops, the leading infantrymen of which commenced to bomb the dug-outs. A grenade fell in the dug-out, and without hesitation Cpl. Jarratt placed both feet on the grenade, the subsequent explosion blowing off both his legs. The wounded were later safely removed to our lines, but Cpl. Jarratt died before he could be removed. By this supreme act of self-sacrifice the lives of these wounded were saved.