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In memoriam

Captain George Waller Vesey MC

 

 

Captain George Waller (or Walter) Vesey MC, 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. Formerly a Lieutenant in the North Irish Horse. Resident of Derrabard, Fintona, County Tyrone. Husband of Sybilla S Vesey of Down Lodge, East Harting, Petersfield, Hants. Son of Mr and Mrs G Lendrum, Corkhill, Kilskeery, County Tyrone. Embarked for France on 16 November 1915 with F Squadron North Irish Horse.

Vesey's Military Cross, notified in the London Gazette Supplement of 16 August 1918, came with the following citation:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a patrol and rushed and captured an enemy machine gun which was in action in a trench running out from our lines and killed several of the crew. He then established a block in the trench and so improved the position. His initiative and resource were a splendid example to his men."

Vesey died on 26 March 1918 as a result of wounds sustained near Guiscard on 24 March 1918 during the German 'Kaiserschlacht' Offensive, aged 34. Buried at Vignemont French National Cemetery, Oise, France, grave F.3.

The Battalion diary for 24 March 1918 states: "Remained at Fleuesle for the day, and fell back on Guiscard, remaining there for the night. Captain Partridge MC killed and Captain Vesey MC wounded during night."

The gravestone inscription reads:

CAPTAIN

G. W. VESEY. MC.

ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS

AND NORTH IRISH HORSE

26TH MARCH 1918 AGE 34

GOD LOVED HIM AND TOOK HIM

TO HIS HEAVENLY REST

 

Image kindly provided by Steve Rogers, Project Co-ordinator of the The War Graves Photographic Project, www.twgpp.org.