World War I Double Victoria Cross Recipient. He was a British medical doctor, Olympic athlete and only one of three to be awarded two Victoria Crosses. Educated at Liverpool College and Trinity College, he graduated first in his class in 1907, then studied medicine. In 1908, with his twin brother Christopher, he represented Britain in the Olympic Games, in the 400 meters event. In 1909, he joined the Oxford University Officer Training Corps Medical Unit, passed the examination that allowed him to join the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons and worked in the Royal Southern Hospital, before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1913. With the outbreak of World War I, he served as a Captain attached to the Liverpool Scottish Regiment, on the Western Front. On the August 7, 1916, the Liverpool Scottish Regiment was ordered to attack Guillemont, France. Of the 620 men who took part in the offensive, 106 of the men were killed and 174 were wounded. This included Captain Chavasse who was hit by shell splinters while rescuing men in no-mans-land. For this he was awarded his first Victoria Cross on October 26, 1916. During the Battle of Wieltje, Belgium, July 31, to August 4, 1917, Captain Chavasse although severely wounded early in the action whilst carrying a wounded soldier to the Dressing Station, he refused to leave his post. For two days he not only continued to perform his duties, but in addition went out repeatedly under heavy fire to search for and attend to the wounded who were lying out. Worn with fatigue and faint with his wound, he assisted to carry in a number of badly wounded men, over heavy and difficult ground. He later subsequently died of his wounds. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, he was posthumously awarded his second Victoria Cross on September 14, 1917. Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, was Britain's most highly decorated serviceman of World War I.
World War I Double Victoria Cross Recipient. He was a British medical doctor, Olympic athlete and only one of three to be awarded two Victoria Crosses. Educated at Liverpool College and Trinity College, he graduated first in his class in 1907, then studied medicine. In 1908, with his twin brother Christopher, he represented Britain in the Olympic Games, in the 400 meters event. In 1909, he joined the Oxford University Officer Training Corps Medical Unit, passed the examination that allowed him to join the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons and worked in the Royal Southern Hospital, before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1913. With the outbreak of World War I, he served as a Captain attached to the Liverpool Scottish Regiment, on the Western Front. On the August 7, 1916, the Liverpool Scottish Regiment was ordered to attack Guillemont, France. Of the 620 men who took part in the offensive, 106 of the men were killed and 174 were wounded. This included Captain Chavasse who was hit by shell splinters while rescuing men in no-mans-land. For this he was awarded his first Victoria Cross on October 26, 1916. During the Battle of Wieltje, Belgium, July 31, to August 4, 1917, Captain Chavasse although severely wounded early in the action whilst carrying a wounded soldier to the Dressing Station, he refused to leave his post. For two days he not only continued to perform his duties, but in addition went out repeatedly under heavy fire to search for and attend to the wounded who were lying out. Worn with fatigue and faint with his wound, he assisted to carry in a number of badly wounded men, over heavy and difficult ground. He later subsequently died of his wounds. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, he was posthumously awarded his second Victoria Cross on September 14, 1917. Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, was Britain's most highly decorated serviceman of World War I.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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