Harry Greenwood
Harry Greenwood | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1881 Victoria Barracks, Windsor |
| Died | 5 May 1948 (aged 66) Wimbledon, London |
| Buried | Putney Vale Cemetery, London |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Royal Pioneer Corps |
| Battles / wars | Second Boer War First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order & Bar Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Greenwood, VC, DSO & Bar, OBE, MC (25 November 1881 – 5 May 1948) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Early life
[edit]Greenwood was born in Victoria Barracks, Windsor, the eldest of nine children to Charles Greenwood and Margaret Abernethy.[1]
Military career
[edit]Greenwood was 36 years old, and an acting lieutenant colonel in the 9th Battalion, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, British Army, during the First World War, when he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 23 October 1918 at Ovillers, France, when the advance of the battalion was checked by enemy machine gun fire, Lieutenant-Colonel Greenwood single-handedly rushed the position and killed the crew. Subsequently, accompanied by two runners, he took another machine-gun post, but then found that his command was almost surrounded by the enemy, who started to attack. Repulsing this attack, the colonel led his troops forward, capturing the last objective with 150 prisoners, eight machine guns, and one field gun. On 24 October he again inspired his men to such a degree that the last objective was captured and the line held in spite of heavy casualties.[2]
In WW2, Greenwood changed to a training role. Number 12 Primary Training Centre (PTC) was formed at Liverpool June 1940. Moved to Pheasy Farm, Birmingham July 1941. Moved to Oldham March 1942. Moved to Prestatyn July 1943. This Centre controlled a large school for potential NCOs and for providing Cooks for Corps Units at home and overseas. In addition during the heavy air raids on Liverpool the Centre gave continuous help in rescue and demolition work, during which operations nearly 50 Pioneers lost their lives. The average strength of the staff of this Centre during that period was 350. Throughout the whole period 12 Holding and Training Unit was commanded by Lt Col H Greenwood VC DSO OBE MC[3].
Later life
[edit]Greenwood died in Wimbledon, aged 66 and is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery. His medal is held at the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum in Doncaster.
References
[edit]- ^ Windsor Council Archived 2012-12-24 at archive.today
- ^ "No. 31082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1918. p. 15117.
- ^ https://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/history_training.htm
Further reading
[edit]- Valour Beyond All Praise: Harry Greenwood VC (Derek Hunt 2003)
External links
[edit]- News item "Harry Greenwood's Victoria Cross donated to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum"
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1881 births
- 1948 deaths
- Military personnel from Windsor, Berkshire
- British Army personnel of the Second Boer War
- British Army personnel of World War I
- British Army personnel of World War II
- British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry officers
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- Burials at Putney Vale Cemetery
- Royal Pioneer Corps officers
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross