William Amey

He stormed enemy posts under fire then captured their crews.

William Amey was born in Birmingham on 5 March 1881. He worked in brass manufacturing and later made chandeliers. During the First World War he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served in France.

On 4 November 1918, at Landrecies, Lance-Corporal Amey led his section against a machine-gun position under heavy fire. He drove its defenders into a farm and captured prisoners and guns. He then attacked another post alone, killed two defenders and held the survivors in a cellar until help arrived. A further assault secured more prisoners and helped the battalion reach its objective at the Sambre Canal. His actions earned the Victoria Cross. He also received the Military Medal for gallantry during the war’s final days.

Promoted corporal, he was demobilised in 1919. King George V presented his VC at Buckingham Palace that February. Amey settled in Leamington Spa, worked as an agent and became active in the British Legion. He married Evelyn Haines in 1938. He died at Warneford Hospital, Leamington Spa, on 28 May 1940.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery on 4th November, 1918, during the attack on Landrècies, when owing to fog many hostile machine-gun nests were missed by the leading troops. On his own initiative he led his section against a machine-gun nest under heavy fire, drove the garrison into a neighbouring farm, and finally captured about 50 prisoners and several machine guns. Later, single-handed, and under heavy fire, he attacked a machine-gun post in a farmhouse, killed two of the garrison, and drove the remainder into a cellar until assistance arrived. Subsequently, single-handed, he rushed a strongly held post, capturing 20 prisoners. He displayed throughout the day the highest degree of valour and determination.

Eighth Supplement to The London Gazette of 28 January 1919. 31 January 1919, Numb. 31155, p. 1505