World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He was gazetted with the award on May 7, 1918 for his actions as a private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport), 141st Field Ambulance, of the British Army on April 9, 1919 near Bethune, France during the Spring (or Ludendorff) Offensive of World War I. Born in Birkdale, Lancashire, England, he excelled at cross-country running and cyclist and worked as a chauffeur. He joined the British Army following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914 and was sent to the Western Front in France. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On 9 April 1918 near Bethune, France, owing to an enemy attack, communications were cut off and the wounded could not be evacuated. The road was reported impassable but Private Masters volunteered to try to get through and after great difficulty succeeded, although he had to clear the road of all sorts of debris. He made journey after journey throughout the afternoon over a road which was being shelled and swept by machine-gun fire and once he was bombed by an aeroplane. The greater number of wounded (approximately 200 men) were evacuated by him as his was the only car which got through." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19), and the French Croix de Guerre. He died in Southport, Lancashire, England at the age of 86. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Royal Logistic Corps Museum in Camberley, Surrey, England.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He was gazetted with the award on May 7, 1918 for his actions as a private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport), 141st Field Ambulance, of the British Army on April 9, 1919 near Bethune, France during the Spring (or Ludendorff) Offensive of World War I. Born in Birkdale, Lancashire, England, he excelled at cross-country running and cyclist and worked as a chauffeur. He joined the British Army following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914 and was sent to the Western Front in France. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On 9 April 1918 near Bethune, France, owing to an enemy attack, communications were cut off and the wounded could not be evacuated. The road was reported impassable but Private Masters volunteered to try to get through and after great difficulty succeeded, although he had to clear the road of all sorts of debris. He made journey after journey throughout the afternoon over a road which was being shelled and swept by machine-gun fire and once he was bombed by an aeroplane. The greater number of wounded (approximately 200 men) were evacuated by him as his was the only car which got through." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19), and the French Croix de Guerre. He died in Southport, Lancashire, England at the age of 86. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Royal Logistic Corps Museum in Camberley, Surrey, England.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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