Tom Fletcher Mayson

Stormed Two Machine Guns Alone to Win the Victoria Cross

Tom Fletcher Mayson VC was a British Army soldier who earned the Victoria Cross by attacking two enemy machine-gun positions single-handed and defending an isolated post near Wieltje, Belgium, on 31 July 1917.

Born on 3 November 1893 at Silecroft, Cumberland, Mayson attended Whicham School and worked as a farm labourer before enlisting on 16 November 1914. He served with the 1/4th Battalion, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, arriving in France in May 1915. Wounds and periods of hospital treatment interrupted his service, but he repeatedly returned to his battalion.

During the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 23-year-old lance-sergeant’s platoon came under machine-gun fire from its flank. Without waiting for orders, Mayson advanced alone and attacked the gun with grenades. He pursued the surviving crew into a dugout, then later overcame a second machine-gun position. His courage continued during a German counter-attack, when he commanded an isolated post until his ammunition was exhausted.

Official Victoria Cross Citation London Gazette, 14 September 1917, page 9533:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when with the leading wave of the attack his platoon was held up by machine gun fire from a flank.

Without waiting for orders, L/Sjt. Mayson at once made for the gun, which he put out of action with bombs, wounding four of the team. The remaining three of the team fled, pursued by L/Sjt. Mayson to a dugout into which he followed them, and disposed of them with his bayonet.

Later, when clearing up a strong point, this non-commissioned officer again tackled a machine gun single-handed, killing six of the team.

Finally, during an enemy counter-attack, he took charge of an isolated post, and successfully held it till ordered to withdraw as his ammunition was exhausted.

He displayed throughout the most remarkable valour and initiative.”

King George V presented Mayson with his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 28 November 1917. He subsequently served with the Chinese Labour Corps before returning to England and being released from service in March 1919.

Mayson resumed civilian life as a farm labourer and later worked as a greenkeeper. In 1935 he married Sarah Eleanor Sharp. During the Second World War he served with HM Coastguard; he also served as a special constable. In later life he worked at Sellafield before retiring through ill health in 1957.

He died at Barrow-in-Furness on 21 February 1958, aged 64, and was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Whicham. His Victoria Cross was left to the church and placed on loan to the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum in Lancaster, which holds his other medals.