Michael Wilson Heaviside

Michael Wilson Heaviside VC: The Stretcher-Bearer Who Crossed No Man's Land

For four days and three nights, a wounded British soldier lay trapped in a shell hole close to enemy lines. On 6 May 1917, Private Michael Wilson Heaviside risked his life to save him, performing an act of courage that earned the Victoria Cross.

Born on 28 October 1880 in Gilesgate, Durham, Heaviside worked as a coal miner before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps. During the Second Boer War, he served as a stretcher-bearer in South Africa, including service associated with No. 11 General Hospital at Kimberley. After returning to civilian life, he resumed mining.

When the First World War began, Heaviside re-enlisted in September 1914. He reached France in June 1915 and subsequently served with the 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.

During fighting near Fontaine-lès-Croisilles on 6 May 1917, a wounded soldier was spotted signalling desperately with an empty water bottle, approximately forty yards from the German position. Enemy snipers and machine guns made a daylight rescue almost impossible.

Heaviside volunteered to take food and water across the exposed ground. Crawling through heavy enemy fire, he reached the casualty, provided assistance and promised to return. That evening, accompanied by two comrades, he rescued the wounded man and brought him back to safety.

For this remarkable bravery and devotion to duty, Heaviside was awarded the Victoria Cross, announced in the London Gazette on 8 June 1917, issue 30122, page 5705. King George V presented the decoration at Buckingham Palace on 21 July 1917.

Discharged in June 1919, Heaviside returned to mining at Craghead. He also received the King George VI Coronation Medal in 1937.

He died on 26 April 1939, aged 58, and was buried in St Thomas' Churchyard, Craghead. His courage remains an enduring example of the extraordinary risks soldiers took to save their wounded comrades.