Cuthbert Bromley

Seaford.

 

It was Cuthbert Bromley's leadership of the Lancashire Fusiliers at the landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915 that won him the Victoria Cross.

He had served in Africa and India with his regiment for 17 years, and as their adjutant had raised them to such efficiency that they were chosen to lead the advance against the mined and strongly entrenched beach between Cape Helles and Cape Tekke. Machine guns swept the narrow area available, but Bromley and his men leaped from their open boats and stormed the trenches. He received a bullet in his back, but said nothing about it.

Three days later the Fusiliers were ordered to leave their trenches and attack the enemy in the open. Bromley led them and they won, but he was wounded. A month later he was back in the trenches, though his wound was not healed. He led another attack across the open and again fell wounded, but bade his stretcher-bearers carry him on so that he could direct the attack. The attack failed, only ten men of his battalion coming out unscathed, and only 32 surviving.

Captain Bromley was sent into hospital St Alexandria, but he longed to be back, and as soon as he could hobble he managed to get on board ship again and was soon back on his way to Gallipoli. He never arrived, however, for his ship was torpedoed. It was like him to give up his place in the boats to others, and he was drowned.

With two of his men he was selected by his comrades as having performed the bravest acts of those heroic days and was awarded the V.C. after his death.

 

 

 

 

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