History Month Fact 5: Heroes
In more recent times the people of Thatcham have been justly proud of three men of the village, two of them brothers, who won the Victoria Cross for gallantry in action. In 1900AD, William House received the award for rescuing a wounded soldier while under enemy fire during the Boer War. In 1915AD, Alexander Buller Turner was mortally wounded in a single-handed grenade attack upon a German position. His medal was awarded posthumously. During the Second World War, his brother Victor was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the field while commanding a battalion of the Rifle Brigade with the Eighth Army in North Africa. Of course, we are justifiably proud of all our service men and women, past and present who fight for their country.