The
5th Royal Irish Lancers
Victoria
Cross winners of the
5th Royal Irish Lancers
Lieutenant Frederic Brooks Dugdale
Frederic Brooks Dugdale was an English lieutenant in
the 5th Royal Irish Lancers. He was born in Burnley, Lancashire
on 21 October 1877.
On 3 March 1901 near Derby, South Africa, Lieutenant Dugdale
was in command of a small outpost when, having been ordered
to retire, his patrol came under heavy fire at a range
of about 250 yards, and a sergeant, two men and a horse
were hit. Lieutenant Dugdale dismounted and put one of
the wounded men on his own horse. He then caught another
horse, galloped up to another wounded man and took him
up behind him, then brought both men safely out of action.
He was just 23 years old.
He was killed on 13 November 1902, whilst riding with
North Cotswold Hounds, at Gloucestershire, England - 13th
November 1901. He is buried in Gloucester and his grave
can be seen here.
His VC is publicly displayed at the The Queen's Royal
Lancers Regimental Museum (Belvoir Castle, Lincolnshire,
England)
Private George William Burdett Clare
George William Burdett Clare was a English Private in
the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, and won his V.C during the
First World War.
Known as Billy Clare, his parents lived in Plumstead,
South-East London, but he lived with his grandparents
in Anchor St, Chatteris (which was renamed Clare St in
his honour).
Formerly of the Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry where he
served for eight years, he registered for National Reserve
29 January 1914. He re-enlisted and was sent to Remounts,
France before joining the 5th RIL.
On 28th / 29th November 1917 at Bourlon Wood, France,
Private Clare, a stretcher-bearer, dressed wounds and
conducted the wounded to the dressing station under most
intense fire. At one period, when all the garrison of
a detached post had become casualties, he crossed to them
through very heavy fire and having dressed all the cases,
manned the post single-handed until a relief could be
sent. Then, after carrying a seriously wounded man through
intense fire to the dressing station, he went, still under
heavy fire, to every company post warning them that the
enemy were using gas shells. This gallant soldier was
subsequently killed. He was aged 28.
His VC is publicly displayed at the The Queen's Royal
Lancers Regimental Museum (Belvoir Castle, Lincolnshire,
England). A stained glass window was placed in the south
side of Chatteris parish church in his honour, depicting
Christ rewarding a faithful soldier; it was dedicated
in Sept 1918.
*Both of these Victoria Crosses are currently on display
at the Lancer's Museum in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
