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Historical records matching George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, VC
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About George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, VC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Boyd-Rochfort
George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort VC DL (1 January 1880 – 7 August 1940) was an Irish 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.
Early life
Boyd-Rochfort was born at Middleton Park House, County Westmeath, Ireland on 1 January 1880.
Military career
Boyd-Rochfort was 35 years old, and a second lieutenant in the Scots Guards, British Army, (Special Reserve, attached to 1st Battalion) during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 3 August 1915 between Cambrin and La Bassée, France, a German trench-mortar bomb landed on the side of the parapet of the communication trench in which Second Lieutenant Boyd-Rochfort was standing close to a small working party of his battalion. Instead of stepping back into safety he shouted to his men to look out, rushed at the bomb, seized it and hurled it over the parapet where it at once exploded. This combination of presence of mind and courage saved the lives of many of the working party.
Boyd-Rochfort later achieved the rank of captain.
Later life
Boyd-Rochfort was a noted jockey and after the war become a racehorse trainer like his brother Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. He died at Dublin on 7 August 1940.
The Medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Scots Guards RHQ) in Wellington Barracks, London.
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George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, VC's Timeline
| 1880 |
January 1, 1880
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Middleton Park House, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
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| 1940 |
August 7, 1940
Age 60
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Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Medal Entitlement: Victoria Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal (1914-20), Victory Medal (1914-19) + MiD Oakleaf, King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
George was the eldest son of Major Rochfort Hamilton Boyd. His father died when George was 11, and terms of the will stated that the boys would henceforth be named Boyd-Rochfort.
He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, where he was Master of Beagles, and upon graduation he ran the family estates. He spent his leisure time big-game hunting, horse racing (he rode the winners of the Westmeath Gold Cup and National Hunt Cup), and playing polo. In the last week of August 1914 he was seriously injured in a polo match which resulted in a lengthy hospital stay which meant he could not enlist until 1915.
Boyd-Rochfort was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards and he was awarded the Victoria Cross for action in trenches south of the La Bassée Canal between La Bassée and Cambrin, France, August 3, 1915.
At about 0200 hours Boyd-Rochfort was in charge of a work detail assigned to improve a communications trench when a German trench-mortar shell landed on the edge of the trench parapet beside a group of workers. Boyd-Rochfort was standing close and shouted a warning, ran toward the group, grabbed the shell, and heaved it back over the parapet. It blew up almost immediately, nearly burying Boyd-Rochfort and the other members of the detail. Fortunately, no one was hurt; the only loss was Boyd-Rochfort’s hat. the parapet where it at once exploded.
Boyd-Rochfort was later promoted to Captain and served as Adjutant of the Guards Division.
After the war he concentrated on raising horses at Middleton Park, breeding the winners of the 1936 St. Leger and 1937 Ascot Gold Cups. George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort died from complications after surgery in a Dublin private nursing facility in August, 1940.
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