Frank Bernard Wearne

Frank Bernard Wearne
Born	1 March 1894 Kensington, London
Died	28 June 1917 (aged 23) France
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Second lieutenant
Unit	Essex Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I †
Awards	Victoria Cross

Frank Bernard Wearne VC (1 March 1894 – 28 June 1917) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Before joining the British Army he attended Bromsgrove School.^[1] Wearne was 23 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, British Army, attached to the 11th Battalion during the Great War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 28 June 1917 east of Loos, France, Second Lieutenant Wearne, commanding a small party in a raid on the enemy's trenches, had gained his objective in the face of fierce opposition and managed to maintain his position against repeated counter-attacks. Then, realising that if the left flank was lost his men would have to give way, he leaped onto the parapet and followed by his left section, ran along the top of the trench firing and throwing bombs. While doing this he was severely wounded, but continued directing operations until he received two more wounds, the second mortal.^[2][3]

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Frank Bernard Wearne at Find a Grave
• VC on display at Spinks part of Lord Ashcroft's VC collection