2nd Lt George Gunn VC MC

George Ward Gunn was born in Neston, Cheshire on 26 July 1912. His father was a doctor but after schooling at Sedbergh George went to London to be an articled clerk and later a charted accountant. When war broke out he enlisted into the RA as a gunner. A few months later he undertook officer training and was commissioned in August 1940. In 1941 he was awarded the MC for his bravery at Tobruk on 4th and 5th Jan. On 21 Nov 1941 at Sidi Rezegh in Libya his ‘A’ Troop of four anti-tank guns went into action against an overwhelming force of German armour. Gunn drove around in an unarmoured car encouraging his men. When three of his guns were destroyed and the team on the fourth were nearly all put out of action, he took charge of the gun and, despite the portee (truck used to carry the gun) being on fire and in imminent danger of exploding he managed to fire 50 rounds from the Quick-Fire 2-pounder and put two enemy tanks out of action. As he was doing this he was shot in the head and killed. His place was taken by the battery commander Major Pinney. As a result of the brave action, the Battery was awarded the honour SIDI REZEGH and 2nd Lieutenant George Ward Gunn was posthumously awarded the VC. he was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Libya.

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