Regimental History
Victoria Cross Holders of the King's Own Royal Regiment
Private Harry Christian VC
Victoria Cross awarded to Private Harry Christian, number 10210, 2nd
Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Born in 1891 at Wallthwaite, Pennington near Ulverston, Harry Christian
was educated at the National School in Ulverston. After several farming
jobs he enlisted in the King’s Own in 1910 and was posted to the 2nd
Battalion in India. Having returned to England with his unit in December
1914, he went to France in February 1915 and was awarded the Victoria
Cross for gallantry at Givenchy on 18th October, during the Battle of
Loos.
The citation in the 'London Gazette' is as follows:-
“For most conspicuous bravery. He was holding a crater with five or six
men in front of our trenches. The enemy commenced a very heavy
bombardment of the position with heavy Minenwerfer bombs, forcing a
temporary withdrawal. When he found that three men were missing, Pte.
Christian at once returned alone to the crater, and, although bombs were
continually bursting actually on the edge of the crater, he found, dug
out, and carried one by one into safety all three men, thereby
undoubtedly saving their lives. Later he placed himself where he could
see the bombs coming, and directed his comrades when and where to seek
cover.”
He was subsequently badly wounded and returned home. In September 1917
he received his Victoria Cross from King George V in Glasgow. This was
the first Victoria Cross to be awarded to the Regiment in the war. He
later returned to the 2nd Battalion in Salonika and was eventually
discharged in 1919. For 40 years he was landlord at the Park Head Inn,
Egremont, Cumberland and was a lifelong member of the Regimental
Association. He died at Thornhill, Egremont, on 2nd September 1974, aged
82.
His Victoria Cross, and other medals, were purchased in 1974 by the
King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
Private Harry Christian VC
Accession Number: KO1117/01 and KO2590/378
Private Harry Christian VC.
Accession Number: KO1301/01
Private Harry Christian receives his Victoria Cross from King George V
during a royal visit to Glasgow, September 1917.
Accession Number: KO1117/08
Medal group of Private Harry Christian, VC.
Accession Number: KO1117/01-06
The reverse of Private Harry Christian's Victoria Cross, which shows his
name, rank, number, unit and the date for the award.
Accession Number: KO1117/01
Victor Comic which details the award of the VC
to Private Harry Christian.
Only a proportion of our collections
are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display
in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of
our collections which are held in store.
