Derek Anthony Seagrim 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.

Details

When he was 39 years old, Derek Seagrim was made a Temporary Lieutenant Colonel in the 7th Bn., The Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), British Army, Commander during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20/21 March 1943 at the Mareth Line, Tunisia, Lieutenant Colonel Seagrim's courage and leadership led directly to the capture of an important objective. When it appeared that the attack on the position would fail owing to the intensity of enemy fire, he placed himself at the head of his battalion and led them forward. He personally helped to place a scaling ladder over an anti-tank ditch and was the first across. Leading an attack on two machine-gun posts, he accounted for 20 of the enemy and when a counter-attack was launched next day he moved from post to post quite unperturbed, until it was defeated.

Further information

Born in Bournemouth on 24th September 1903 Derek was the third of five sons. His father was the Reverend Charles Seagrim and he was educated at the King Edward VI School, Norwich.

He received his commission into the Green Howards in 1923 and served in Jamaica, Palestine and China. He completed a three-year tour with the King's African Rifles in East Africa and, in 1939, returned to the 1st Battalion the Green Howards in Palestine as Intelligence Officer. At the outbreak of WWII, he was an Air Liaison Officer in East Africa before working on the staff for the Greek Campaign between 1941 - 42. He was given command of 7th Battalion the Green Howards at El Alamein in October 1942. He died at a military hospital near Sfax on 6th April 1943 after being severely wounded at the Battle of Wadi Akarit. He is buried in Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia, Plot XIV Row C Grave 21.

The medal

Derek Anthony Seagrim's medal are kept by his family

Reference

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission.