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Navigation Title:<\/b><\/td>Pte Godley (Sidney Frank)<\/td><\/tr>'); metaDataWindow.document.write('
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Victoria Cross

(The highest award for valour)

Royal Fusiliers

  Pte GODLEY, Sidney Frank 

line

Campaign:    

First World War

Age:

25

Nationality:  

English

Deed:      

On 23 August 1914 at Mons, Belgium, Private Godley took over a machine-gun on Nimy Bridge when the lieutenant DEASE, M.J. in charge of the section had been mortally wounded. Private Godley held the enemy from the bridge single-handed for two hours under very heavy fire and was wounded twice. His gallant action covered the retreat of his comrades, but he was eventually taken prisoner. His final act was to destroy the gun and throw the pieces into the canal.

First private soldier to be awarded the VC in the First World War.

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