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A minute later a fall of masonry blocked the door by which the party had entered. The only exit into the street was under fire at point-blank range. The street was also swept by fire of machine guns at close range. Observing that an enemy sniper was causing heavy casualties to a party in a house across the street, Pte. Lester exclaimed, " I'll settle him," and, dashing out into the street, shot the sniper at close quarters, falling mortally wounded at the same instant. This gallant man well knew it was certain death to go into the street, and the party opposite was faced with the alternative of crossing the fire-swept street or staying where it was and being shot one by one. To save their lives he sacrificed his own.
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For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice during the clearing of the village of
Neuvilly, on 12th October, 1918, when, with a party of about seven men under an officer, he was the first to enter a house from the back door, and shot 2 Germans as they attempted to get out by the front door.
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Lester was part of the
British offensive which was steadily pushing the German front line back. They encountered stiff resistance, the Germans were determined to prevent a rout of the "impregnable"
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and in
December that year he was drafted to France with the 10th Battalion of that regiment. In going overseas he relinquished the rank of Sergeant Instructor and reverted to Private.
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In the winter of 1918, now promoted to corporal, Lester was wounded during the massive German offensive and was sent to
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for treatment. On leaving hospital he returned to
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Pictures from the past: A unique collection of photographs of old
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and fighting for survival. It was 12 October 1918, in driving rain and sleet, that the 22 year-old
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in the 10th
Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers performed a deed for which he was awarded the VC.
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213:(18 February 1896 – 12 October 1918) was an English soldier in the
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Communal
Cemetery Extension, France, located three miles north of
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His VC is on display in the Lord
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and in
September was sent back to the front in France.
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British World War I recipients of the
Victoria Cross
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413:(Supplement). 13 December 1918. p. 14778.
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16:Recipient of the Victoria Cross
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558:Royal Warwickshire Regiment
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428:Gliddon, Gerald (2014) .
385:. The author. sec. Irby.
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143:South Lancashire Regiment
63:12 October 1918 (aged 22)
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577:(1688–1968)
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405:"No. 31067"
271:Kinmel Park
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217:during the
157:World War I
865:Categories
710:Robert Gee
635:Jack Youll
391:B0016593RY
353:References
349:, London.
267:Shropshire
253:chapel in
86:Allegiance
790:John Lynn
499:News item
328:Le Cateau
251:Methodist
243:Liverpool
124:1916–1918
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495:"France"
324:Neuvilly
306:corporal
247:organist
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318:Legacy
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473:ISBN
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269:and
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