Thomas Bryan (VC)

He worked around the gun and disabled it despite his wounds.

Thomas Bryan was born at Lye, near Stourbridge, in 1882. His family moved to Castleford, where he became a miner and played professional rugby league. Married to Sarah Smart, he enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers in April 1915 and went to France that December.

During the attack near Roclincourt on 9 April 1917, a machine gun was inflicting heavy losses. Although wounded, Bryan advanced alone along a communication trench, approached from behind and disabled the gun, killing two of its crew. His action removed a major obstacle and earned the Victoria Cross.

Discharged through wounds in 1918, he returned to mining around Castleford and Doncaster. Ill health eventually forced him to leave the pits, and he ran a greengrocery business. He died at Bentley near Doncaster on 13 October 1945 and was buried with military honours at Arksey.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery during an attack. Although wounded, this Non-commissioned Officer went forward alone, with a view to silencing a machine gun which was inflicting much damage. He worked up most skilfully along a communication trench, approached the gun from behind, disabled it and killed two of the team as they were abandoning the gun. As this machine gun had been a serious obstacle in the advance to the second objective, the results obtained by Lance-Corporal Bryan’s gallant action were very far-reaching.

Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8 June 1917. 8 June 1917, Numb. 30122, p. 5705