Lance-Sergeant Douglas Belcher V.C
Lance-Sergeant Douglas Belcher of the London Rifle Brigade, the first Territorial, other than an officer to receive the Victoria Cross in the First World War. Before the war he was a salesman at Messrs. Waring and Gillow's Oxford Street store.On 13 May 1915, south of the Wieltje-St. Julien Road, Belgium, Belcher was in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork during continuous bombardment by the enemy. With very few men, Belcher elected to remain and try to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn, and with great skill he succeeded in his objective, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150-200 yards away, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. This bold action prevented the enemy breaking through and averted an attack on the flank of one of our divisions
