George Ward Gunn

George Ward Gunn
Born	26 July 1912 Neston, Cheshire, England
Died	21 November 1941 Sidi Rezegh, Libya
Buried	Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Libya
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Victoria Cross Military Cross

George Ward Gunn VC MC (26 July 1912 - 21 November 1941) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Gunn was born in Neston, Cheshire. He was educated at Sedbergh School and Mostyn House.

He was 29 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, British Army during World War II when the action took place for which he was awarded the VC.

During the British attempt to relieve the siege of Tobruk, the Germans counter-attacked near the airfield of Sidi Rezegh.

On 21 November 1941 at Sidi Rezegh, Gunn was the commander of A Troop of J Battery. These four QF 2 pounder anti-tank guns mounted portee on trucks were part of a battery of twelve guns attached to the Rifle Brigade.

An attack earlier in the day was driven off but the main attack was by 60 German tanks. Gunn - in an unarmoured vehicle - drove between the guns under his command, encouraging and reorganising them as the battle progressed. Three guns and their crews were already knocked out when the last was hit. Except the sergeant, the crew were dead or disabled and the vehicle set alight. The battery commander Major Pinney attacked the flames and Gunn crossed the enemy fire to join him. Gunn took over the gun aiming and firing it with the sergeant acting as his loader. Despite enemy fire and the danger of the flames exploding the ammunition with which the portee was loaded, Gunn fired 40- 50 rounds from the QF 2 pounder gun and set two enemy tanks on fire before he himself was killed by being shot through the head.

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