Herbert Wallace Le Patourel
| Herbert Wallace Le Patourel | |
|---|---|
Wallace Le Patourel.
|
|
| Born | 20 June 1916 Guernsey, Channel Islands |
| Died | 4 September 1979 (aged 63) Chewton Mendip, Somerset |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1938–1962 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Unit | Royal Hampshire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Mentioned in dispatches |
| Relations | Professor John Le Patourel (brother) Sir William Ehrman (son-in-law) |
Brigadier Herbert Wallace Le Patourel VC (20 June 1916–4 September 1979) was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Herbert Wallace Le Patourel was born in Guernsey, Channel Islands on 20 June 1916. He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, and represented the school at shooting and hockey. On leaving school he took up a career in banking. He joined the British Army, being commissioned a second lieutenant into the Hampshire Regiment in 1938 and was promoted to captain in 1941, during the Second World War.
Le Patourel was 26 years old, and a temporary major in the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (later the Royal Hampshire Regiment), British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 3 December 1942 at Tebourba, Tunisia, enemy forces were holding high ground and resisting all efforts in dislodge them. Major Le Patourel called for four volunteers to go with him and they attacked and silenced several of the machine-gun posts. When all his men became casualties, he went on alone to engage the enemy, using his pistol and hurling hand grenades.
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