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frequently driven off he always returned, carrying ammunition, laying and firing the gun himself, taking first one and then another of the detachment to assist him. When the enemy advanced he pulled his gun out of the pit, and engaged a machine gun at 500 yards, knocking it out with a direct hit. All day he held the enemy in check, firing with open sights at enemy parties in full view at 300 to 800 yards, and thereby saved his guns, which were withdrawn at nightfall. He had previously been awarded the
Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry.
302:. During an enemy advance, when their forces were within a few hundred yards of him, both to the front and on one flank, and though plagued by snipers, Sergeant Gourley managed to keep one gun firing. At one point he pulled the gun out of the pit and engaged a machine-gun at 500 yards, knocking it out with a direct hit. All day he held the Germans in check, firing over open sights on enemy parties, thereby saving his guns, which were withdrawn at nightfall.
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344:, travelling widely to open up new business for the company. On his retirement a director of the company spoke of "...his quiet, gentle courteousness and his readiness to do all he could for other people. In fact he was a jolly good man to have beside you when you were in trouble". In 1925, the Gourley family moved to Hill Close, School Lane, off Column Road, Grange,
377:
The
Trustees of The Cyril Edward Gourley Victoria Cross Endowment, Registered Charity 525987, set up in his honour after the First World War from local donations, provide grants to University Students who attended schools, or reside in the Hoylake and West Kirby area, subject to certain conditions.
312:
For most conspicuous bravery when in command of a section of howitzers. Though the enemy advanced in force getting within 400 yards in front, between 300 and 400 yards to one flank and with snipers in the rear, Sjt. Gourley managed to keep one gun in action practically throughout the day. Though
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348:; the house was later renamed Gourley Grange and the lane renamed Gourley's Lane in his honour. The gardens created by the Gourley family have now been redeveloped as a small housing estate.
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Gourley was originally denied an officer's commission due to "defective eyesight", but, after being made a second lieutenant in the RFA, later rose to the rank of
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in D (Howitzer) Battery of 276th (West
Lancashire) Brigade, RFA, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
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in
September 1915. His battery was transferred to CCLXXVI (276) Brigade in 1916. In September 1917, he was serving near
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of the III Wessex
Brigade, RFA, TF, was also awarded the VC while serving in a trench mortar battery.
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Sergeant
Gourley is reputed to be the only Territorial gunner ever to win the VC; in fact, Sergeant
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History of the 359 (4th West Lancs.) Medium
Regiment R.A. (T.A.) 1859–1959
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for conspicuous gallantry in putting out a fire near an ammunition dump.
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The
Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges)
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In 1952, Gourley, "a modest, kindly and courteous gentleman", moved to
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298:, Sergeant Gourley was in command of a section of howitzers of the
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History of the Royal
Regiment of Artillery: Western Front 1914–18
309:
No. 681886 Sjt. Cyril Edward
Gourley, M.M., R.F.A. (West Kirby).
641:
A History of Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby, 1636-1976
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Printers, 1919/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2002,
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His VC, along with his other medals which include the
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Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
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British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
629:(Supplement). 13 February 1918. pp. 2004–2005.
436:"Medal entitlement of Captain Cyril Edward Gourley"
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286:On 30 November 1917 at Little Priel Farm, east of
247:Gourley had joined 7th Lancashire Battery of the
819:The Story of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division
946:People educated at Calday Grange Grammar School
844:, Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1986,
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522:(Supplement). 17 September 1917. p. 9607.
921:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
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16:English Victoria Cross recipient (1893–1982)
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195:(19 January 1893 – 31 January 1982) was a
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814:, Liverpool: 359 Medium Regiment, 1959.
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941:Alumni of the University of Liverpool
916:British Army personnel of World War I
458:"Sergeant Cyril Edward Gourley VC MM"
249:IV West Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade
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859:, Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992,
773:. Naval & Military Press Ltd.
713:The Register of the Victoria Cross
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966:Military personnel from Liverpool
223:Cyril Edward Gourley was born in
936:Recipients of the Military Medal
279:Gourley was 24 years old, and a
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305:The citation for his VC reads:
300:55th (West Lancashire) Division
911:Royal Field Artillery officers
906:Royal Field Artillery soldiers
878:Location of grave and VC medal
340:From 1919, Gourley worked for
1:
233:Calday Grange Grammar School
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961:Territorial Force officers
956:Territorial Force soldiers
741:VCs of the First World War
855:Norman E. H. Litchfield,
738:Gliddon, Gerald (2004) .
374:. Gourley never married.
56:31 January 1982 (aged 89)
30:
547:Litchfield, Appendix II.
176:Croix de guerre (France)
243:First World War service
788:Murphy, James (2008).
716:. This England. 1997.
438:. victoriacross.org.uk
392:Royal Artillery Museum
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239:, graduating in 1913.
951:Burials in Merseyside
253:Royal Field Artillery
148:Royal Field Artillery
126:Years of service
770:Monuments to Courage
267:and was awarded the
237:Liverpool University
187:Cyril Edward Gourley
25:Cyril Edward Gourley
794:Pen and Sword Books
667:, pp. 193–194.
655:, pp. 192–193.
610:, pp. 189–191.
626:The London Gazette
519:The London Gazette
323:, 13 February 1918
756:978-0-75-247668-1
747:The History Press
639:Protheroe, M. J.
533:National Archives
464:. 2 November 2010
390:, is held by the
296:Battle of Cambrai
257:Territorial Force
203:recipient of the
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120:British Army
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901:1982 deaths
896:1893 births
621:"No. 30523"
514:"No. 30287"
442:17 February
351:During the
158:World War I
890:Categories
881:(Cheshire)
823:Daily Post
696:Findagrave
594:Farndale,
422:References
368:West Kirby
346:West Kirby
219:Early life
88:Allegiance
76:West Kirby
598:, p. 250.
560:pp. 35–42
398:Footnotes
382:The medal
360:Haslemere
229:Liverpool
225:Wavertree
129:1914–1919
82:, England
65:, England
59:Haslemere
48:, England
46:Liverpool
836:Gen Sir
767:(2000).
468:9 August
336:Post-war
316:—
281:sergeant
215:forces.
106:Service/
574:History
558:History
330:captain
209:British
201:English
184:Captain
138:Captain
863:
848:
829:
810:Anon,
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777:
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643:(1976)
572:Anon,
556:Anon,
372:Wirral
364:Surrey
292:France
164:Awards
117:
108:branch
97:
80:Wirral
70:Buried
63:Surrey
288:Epehy
265:Ypres
861:ISBN
846:ISBN
827:ISBN
798:ISBN
775:ISBN
751:ISBN
718:ISBN
470:2014
444:2015
235:and
211:and
144:Unit
134:Rank
53:Died
40:Born
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193:MM
190:VC
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